DHYG 321 Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene Practice III (6 credits)
Prerequisite Current enrollment in Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene program.
Course Description
The third in the clinical series to further development of application and synthesis of dental hygiene theory and techniques required for the safe, legal, and effective practice of clinical dental hygiene.
Course Content
Evidence-based theory and science of infection and exposure control Ergonomic body mechanics related to patient and operator positioning. Developing manual and magnetostrictive dental instrumentation: grasp, fulcrum, instrument design and identification, adaptation, initiation of motion, proper selection, care and storage (mirror, probe, explorer, sickle scalers, universal curettes, Gracey curettes, files, ultrasonic inserts, etc.) Advanced instrument sharpening Dental air and water tip use, care and storage High and low velocity suction use, care and storage Patient vital signs; normal and abnormal Comprehensive health and dental history (including a social, family, medical, medications, etc.) Extra-oral examination and interpretation Intra-oral examination and interpretation Periodontal probing, assessment, and interpretation Tooth charting Radiographic technique, evaluation, and interpretation Caries risk assessment Periodontal risk assessment Alterations to care Occlusion classifications and Angle’s classification of occlusion. Patient management and referrals (Including fear/anxiety management) Patient oral health self-care assessment and education Academic and clinical policies and procedures Legal patient chart entries Proper use, care and maintenance of the dental unit and related dental equipment Clinical chairside reference materials Dental hygiene terminology, vocabulary, and communications Accurate and ethical self-assessment of clinical patient care and outcomes
Student Outcomes
- Demonstrate correct infection control procedures and processes (safe, legal, and professional responsibility) in the dental hygiene clinical setting.
- Apply further development of dental hygiene evidence-based theory, ergonomics, and safe dental hygiene instrumentation and practice management in the dental hygiene clinical setting on patients (adult-adolescent-pedo-geriatric) with minimal to moderate oral disease complexities.
- Interpret evidence-based research related to dental hygiene clinical and assessment skills.
- Implement appropriate resources for safe clinical dental hygiene skills.
- Apply accurate and ethical use of electronic health records, documentation, and referrals.
- Analyze dental hygiene clinical and assessment skills focused on legal compliance, safety, and patient outcomes.
Degree 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.
Effective Communication: Graduates will be able to craft and exchange ideas and information in a variety of situations, in response to audience, context, purpose, and motivation.
Lecture Contact Hours 0
Lab Contact Hours 120
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 120
Potential Methods
Class discussion Task or clinical proficiencies Instructor observations Lab activity/project Patient clinical practice Patient interview Peer evaluation Role playing/simulations Self evaluation Instructor evaluation ePortfolio
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