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Dental Hygiene Program
 
Dental Hygiene Program

 

Dental Hygiene Program

DEH 101/175
PRECLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE LECTURE & PRECLINIC SUPPLEMENTAL LECTURE /3(3-0-0) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program.
Includes basic dental hygiene theory and development of basic clinical skills. Lectures, demonstrations, and laboratory experiences are related to dental hygiene patient treatment, including: aseptic techniques and practices; medical histories, including the medically compromised patient; extraoral and intraoral examination; recognition, detection, and documentation of dental restorations, carious lesions, and anomalies. 

DEH 102 
PRECLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE CARE/3(0-6-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Required laboratory in conjunction with DEH 101. Introduction to the clinical environment, the fundamentals of instrumentation using detection instruments and universal scalers, with guided practice sessions on models, manikins, and student partners.

DEH 103
DENTAL ANATOMY & HISTOLOGY/3(2-2-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Introduction to principles of dental anatomy, oral embryology and histology; functional characteristics of the human deciduous, mixed, and permanent dentitions; related oral structures. Accomplished by participation in classroom activities and lab assignments.

DEH 104
DENTAL RADIOLOGY/3(2-2-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program.
Introduces principles of x-radiation production and safety factors; application and theory of properly exposing, processing, mounting and evaluating radiographs; identification of normal anatomic landmarks and pathologic conditions. Focuses on utilization of the laboratory in performing procedures necessary to produce quality radiographs.

DEH 111
DENTAL & MEDICAL EMERGENCIES/2(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Introduces the management of emergency situations in the dental office setting. Emphasizes reduction of risk for emergencies, identification and management of anxiety, and stress recognition protocol. Provides practical skills applicable to dental hygienists and the scope of responsibility for medical emergency management as dictated by state dental practice law. Covers the basic categories of emergencies, causes and management. Includes content and use of emergency kits and oxygen support systems.

DEH 112
DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC LECTURE/2(0-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Focuses on prevention through patient education. Which includes dental hygiene clinical procedures, such as assessment, instrument sharpening, sealants, selective coronal polishing, fluoride applications, and treatment planning as well as instrumentation instruction.

DEH 116 
PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY & SPECIAL NEEDS PATIENTS/(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program.
Patients Focuses on application of the basic sciences in maintaining healthy oral tissues for all patient populations. Emphasizes plaque and plaque related diseases and the basic philosophy involved in controlling and/or preventing disease. Course addresses the role of the dental hygienist in etiology, epidemiology of disease, primary preventive efforts, oral health education, nutrition and dietary measures, and preventive agents.

DEH 122/175
PERIODONTICS I/ IMMUNOLOGY ASPECTS OF PERIO DISEASE/3(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of first-semester DEH course work. 
Introduces the principles of periodontics. Focuses on recognition of the tissues in health and disease, macro and microanatomy of the periodontium, and histopathology of periodontal diseases and other related gingival conditions. Provides the theory and discussion of periodontal assessment, etiology, epidemiology, inflammatory process/immune response, and the AAP classification system.

DEH 123
HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY/1(1-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Focuses on the study of head and neck anatomy with emphasis on the muscles of mastication, the lymphatics, the TMJ, the nerve and vascular supply, and the oral cavity.

DEH 170
CLINICAL PRACTICE OF DENTAL HYGIENE I/3(0-6-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Provides clinical experience in patient skills assessment, instrumentation and additional preventative and prophylactic clinical procedures, while promoting and emphasizing professionalism and a strong sense of team participation and work ethic.

DEH 171
CLINIC PRACTICE OF DENTAL HYGIENE 1-A/3(3-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Continues patient care sessions for the performance of traditional dental hygiene treatment. Enables the student to provide treatment to periodontally involved patients utilizing advanced instrumentation and power scaling.

DEH 126
DENTAL MATERIALS/3(2-1-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program.
Introduction to principles of the physical and chemical properties and proper manipulation of dental materials utilized by dentists and their auxiliaries..

DEH 132
APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY/2(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Covers general pharmacology and reviews drugs that may influence the management of dental hygiene patients. Enables the student to develop sufficient knowledge of pharmacology to permit safe and effective medical evaluation of patients for dental hygiene treatment.

DEH 133
LOCAL ANESTHESIA/2(1-1-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
This course covers neurophysiology and pharmacology of local anesthetic agents.  Mastery of the armamentarium and techniques of regional anesthesia in dentistry are emphasized.  The concepts, principles and administration of nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation are also covered.  Prevention and treatment of anesthetic complications are reviewed and practiced.

DEH 138
NITROUS OXIDE/OXYGEN SEDATION/1(0.8-0.27-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Provides a working knowledge of the latest equipment and methods of nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation administration in the dental office.

DEH 201
CLINIC 2 LECTURE (Clinic 1-A Lecture)/2(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Continues development of clinical skills with an introduction to Gracey curets, developing treatment plans for the periodontal patient and establishing maintenance schedule for oral health. Addresses special techniques for calculus detection. Allows student to demonstrate and practice through lab activities. Focuses on the patient with special needs. Student has sophomore standing in Dental Hygiene Program.

DEH 221
ETHICS & PRACTICE MANAGEMENT/2(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Focuses on the transition from an educational environment to a working dental business.  Enables the student to learn management skills of operating a dental office.  Emphasizes opportunities for self-exploration in development of personal and professional goals.  Examines professional ethics, legal issues, and the relationship to the licensed practice of dental hygiene.

DEH 204
COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH I/2(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Course provides instruction in the concepts, methods and issues of dental public health. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based criteria for effective promotion and prevention of dental disease in the public health setting. Concepts of dental health education and program planning in the community setting are reinforced through case based materials, including methods of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of effectiveness. Course activities will reinforce skills in speaking and writing effectively in preparation for the subsequent community dental health field experience course.

DEH 213
GENERAL AND ORAL PATHOLOGY /3(3-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Focuses on the fundamentals of general pathology and the disease process. Covers oral pathology with emphasis on recognition and identification of pathologic conditions that most frequently occur around the oral cavity. Helps students identify appropriate referral mechanisms to render a definitive diagnosis.

DEH 225
COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH II: FIELD EXPERIENCE/1(0.5-0.5-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Provides practical application of community dental health theory and opportunities to conduct needs assessments on a variety of populations. Emphasizes meeting the educational needs of specific populations through program planning, implementation and evaluation. Incorporates supervised field experiences in low-income, school and other public facilities as well as private health and education oriented organizations.

DEH 242
PERIODONTICS II/2(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Second-semester DEH course work. 
Continues to explore theoretical/clinical preparations with emphasis on dental hygiene process of care, treatment planning, non-surgical treatment, evaluation of treatment, and maintenance needs of the periodontal patient. Develops research and decision making skills with use of library and Internet resources relating to risk factors, etiologic agents, and treatment modalities. Includes comprehensive periodontal assessment, supplemental diagnostics, periodontal pharmacology, and evidence based treatment planning.

DEH 270
CLINICAL PRACTICE OF DENTAL HYGIENE II/7(0-0-14)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
This course covers patient care sessions for the performance of traditional dental hygiene treatment. Continues and expands periodontal patient care and special needs patient care sessions. focuses on clinical competence in treatment planning, margination and polishing of restorations, chemotherapeutics, nutrition counseling, and OSHA compliance in the delivery of patient care. Also focus on the continued ability of the student clinician to self-assess his/her own clinical progress and competence.

DEH 268
CLINICAL THEEORY OF DENTAL HYGIENE PRACTICE II/2(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
This course is designed to teach the dental hygiene student how to relate the biologic rationale for various treatment procedures to the conceptual understanding of the various periodontal disease processes. Advanced periodontal debridement is discussed, with its application to specific root morphology. Various supplemental treatment modalities is discussed, along with rationale and indication for their use.

DEH 271
CLINICAL PRACTICE OF DENTAL HYGIENE III/7(0-0-14)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program.
Continues patient care session with emphasis on attaining a level of competency and efficiency for successful performance in clinical board exams and private practice. Focuses on clinical skill development in tobacco cessation, product selection, patient communications, curettage and special topics developed patient treatments. Provides elective extra-mural clinical sites for additional practice.

DEH 285
CLINICAL THEORY OF DENTAL HYGIENE PRACTICE III/2(2-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. 
Serves as the capstone course of the final semester of a two-year curriculum. Prepares the student for two major goals: basic competence for transition to provision of dental hygiene services in private practice; and the ability to successfully pass both written National Boards examinations and regional dental hygiene clinical examinations. Emphasizes the application of case based learning. Major topics include: cosmetic bleaching, air powered polishing devices, application of the re-evaluation process in treatment planning for periodontally involved cases, preparation for the CRDTS regional clinical exam process, application of an effective tobacco cessation process, technique and process for gingival curettage, technique and process for amalgam polishing and margination, care of cosmetic dental restorations, and maintenance of implants.

 

Optional Dental Hygiene Electives Course Descriptions:

HPR 175
INTRODUCTION TO THE DENTAL HYGIEN PROFESSION/1(1-0-0) 
An Introduction to fundamental concepts and practices related to dentistry and dental hygiene in particular, and as they relate to other healthcare professions. Topics include professionalism, the history of dental hygiene, basic oral anatomy, and the dental specialties. Two hours of observation in CNCC's Dental Hygiene clinic will be required. (This course is not required for entry into the dental hygiene program, but is strongly recommended.)

HPR 180
PRE-DENTAL HYGIENE INTERNSHIP/0.5-6

Provides students with the opportunity to supplement coursework with practical work experience related to their educational program.  Students work under the immediate supervision of experienced personnel at the business location and with the direct guidance of the instructor.

HPR 175
NATIONAL BOARD PREPARATION/1(1-0-0)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program.
Provides formal review sessions for second year dental hygiene students preparing to sit for the National Board Examination in March.

DEH 275
SPECIAL TOPICS/1-6
Provides students with a vehicle to pursue in depth exploration of special topics of interest.

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