2025-2026 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Aug 22, 2025  
2025-2026 Pierce College Catalog
Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)

DHYG 287 Restorative Dentistry and Dental Materials II (3 credits)



Course Description
The first in the series developing knowledge and skills in dental hygiene restorative dentistry. Introduces the placement and finishing of dental amalgam and composite restorations on the adult dentition.

Course Content
Ergonomics in restorative dentistry as assistant and operatory
Four-handed dental assisting skills
Tissue retraction and instrument transfer 
Strategies to maintain a clear operating field
Infection control in restorative dentistry
Rubber dams
Rubber dam placement 
High and low volume evacuation
Restorative dental materials’ properties
Amalgam
Composite
Other restorative materials applicable to Washington State dental hygiene licensure
Greene Vardiman Black (G.V. Black’s) carious lesion and restorative classifications
Dental restorative instruments for placement and finishing of dental restorations
Dental nomenclature/cavity preparation
Dental burs
Dental restorative instrument identification
Dental matricies and wedging systems associated with composite restorations
Dental matricies and wedging systems associated with amalgam restorations
Dental liners and base materials
Placement and finishing of Class I, II, III and V composite restorations on the permanent dentition
Placement and finishing of Class I, II, III and V amalgam restorations on the permanent dentition
History of dental composite materials
Properties and manipulation of composite materials
History of dental amalgam materials
Properties and principles of dental amalgam materials
Safe management of dental mercury
Evidence-based science on safety of mercury in dental amalgam
Dental contamination 
Restorative communication skills
Restorative nomenclature, terminology, and vocabulary
Communication of restorative procedures to patient
Principles of occlusion related to placement and finishing of Principles of occlusion and proximal relationships as related to placement and finishing of restorations
Includes continuation of content and progressive outcomes from subsequent linked course DHYG 277

Student Outcomes
  1. Apply principles of safety, ergonomics, and infection control while performing dental restorative techniques as an operator and as a dental assistant.
  2. Demonstrate placement of matrix and wedge application on permanent typodont dentition. 
  3. Describe the purpose and placement technique of varnishes, liners, sealers and bases. 
  4. Demonstrate isolation techniques and placement for finishing of amalgam and composite restorations on the permanent typodont dentition.   
  5. Demonstrate placement and finishing of amalgam and composite restorations on the permanent typodont dentition.
  6. Describe occlusion in restorative dentistry for permanent dentition.
  7. Explain the purpose and procedure of placing and finishing amalgam and composite restorations.


Degree Outcomes
PROGRAM OUTCOMES: This course is part of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene Degree. Please refer to the Dental Hygiene Competency Map for detail of the Program Competencies this course addresses. Each competency is identified at a level of skill by the terms Introductory (I), Developing (D), or Competent (C). The map also shows the alignment between each Program Competency and the Pierce College Core Ability(ies).

Core Abilities

Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Graduates will evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and generate ideas; construct informed, meaningful, and justifiable conclusions; and process feelings, beliefs, biases, strengths, and weaknesses as they relate to their thinking, decisions, and creations.

Lecture Contact Hours 15
Lab Contact Hours 30
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 45

Potential Methods
Written exam
Lab activities
Instructor observation
Formal assessment
Self-evaluation
Student proficiency
Peer evaluation
ePortfolio
Clinical (Acceptable, Improvable, Standard Not Met)
AIS Evaluation Criteria and/or Pierce College Global Rubrics



Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)