Preclinical Dental Hygiene Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

DHYG-1431-001 Preclinical Dental Hygiene

Prerequisites

Course Description

Foundational knowledge for performing clinical skills on patients with emphasis on procedures and rationale for performing dental hygiene care. Introduction to ethical principles as they apply to dental hygiene care.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(4 sem hrs; 2 lec, 6 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Course Textbooks

Students MUST have the current edition of ALL required textbooks.

1.         Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, Esther Wilkins; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 11^th Edition.

2.         Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation, Jill Neild-Gehrig; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 7^th Edition.

3.         Student Workbook for Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, 11^th Edition, Charlotte Wyche, Esther Wilkins; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

4.         Patient Assessment Tutorials: A Step-By-Step Guide for the Dental Hygienist, 3^rd Edition, Jill Neild-Gehrig; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

5.         Professionalism in Health Care: A Primer for Career Success, Sherry Makely; Pearson, 4^th Edition.

6.         Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice, 4^th Edition,  Michele Leonardi Darby, BSDH, MS;   Margaret Walsh, RDH, MS, MA, EdD; Saunders Publisher   

7.         Amarillo College DHYG 1431: Preclinical Dental Hygiene Learning Modules and Evaluations

8.         Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program Manual

9.         Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program: Work Ethics Program

 

Supplies

Course Supply List

1.         Library Card for AC and/or city library
2.         Computer and Internet Access, printer, print cartridges
3

Student Performance

Course Description

Foundational knowledge for performing clinical skills on patients with emphasis on procedures and rationale for performing dental hygiene care. Introduction to ethical principles as they apply to dental hygiene care.

(4 semester hours; 2 lecture; 6 lab)

 

End-of-Course Outcomes

Explain the procedures and the rationale for dental hygiene care; demonstrate basic dental hygiene instrumentation skills; and define ethical principles related to dental hygiene care.

 

Course Meeting Days and Times

Lecture:         Mondays 9:00 - 11:00 Jones Hall, Room 110

Laboratory:    Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:30 - 4:30 Jones Hall, Dental Lab Room 136 and/or Dental Clinic Room 112

 

Course Overview

DHYG 1431 is a course designed to teach the sequence and procedures that are followed to perform a preventive dental prophylaxis.  Areas of study will focus on the role of the dental hygienist, diseases of importance, management of medical emergencies, infection control, dental hygiene instrumentation, use of equipment, techniques of positioning, and preventive measures to teach the patient.  Unit and chapter learning objectives will be found in the student workbook at the beginning of each unit of study and each chapter.  The learning objectives will coordinate with the materials presented in lecture, handouts, reading assignments, online assignments, workbook exercises, quizzes, examinations, and laboratory practicals. 

 

Students with Disabilities

"Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center Room 119, Phone 371 -5436) as soon as possible.”

 

The Amarillo College Catalog

The Amarillo College Academic Catalog can be viewed at:  http://catalog.actx.edu. 

 

Instructor Objectives for the Course

Chapter objectives will coordinate with the materials presented in lecture, handouts, reading assignments, and examinations.  Learning the objectives will be required of the student in order to be successful in the completion of the written and practical examinations and in laboratory exercises. Given the course textbooks, personal notes, handouts, and other course materials, the student should:

1.         Learn the terminology, facts, theories, methods, and principles, associated with Dental Hygiene as outlined in the daily objectives and in the course schedule.

2.         Apply the knowledge learned to a laboratory simulation or clinical patient.

3.         Evaluate the learning experiences as measured by the course objectives.

 

The student will know that these goals have been successfully completed if after evaluated by course instructor, a minimal grade of 75 or greater is earned.

 

Course Objectives

 

Chapter 1 The Professional Dental Hygienist (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to the professional dental hygienist
• Define the scope of dental hygiene practice
• Identify and define the components of the Dental Hygiene Process of Care
• Identify and apply components of the Dental Hygiene Code of Ethics
• Explain legal, ethical, and personal factors affecting dental hygiene practice
• Apply concepts in ethical decision making

Chapter 4 Infection Control: Transmissible Diseases (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to control of infectious diseases
• Explain the infectious process and discuss methods of preventing transmission of infection
• Identify and distinguish pathogens transmissible by the oral cavity
• Identify oral lesions related to various infectious agents

Chapter 5 Exposure Control: Barriers for Patient and Clinician (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to exposure control, clinical barriers, and latex allergies
• Apply and remove clinical barrier materials without cross-contamination
• Identify and explain the rationale for hand washing and other exposure-control techniques during patient care
• Identify criteria for selecting appropriate protective barrier materials

Chapter 6 Infection Control: Clinical Procedures (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to clinical procedures for infection control
• Identify basic considerations, guidelines, procedures, and methods for prevention of disease transmission
• Describe characteristics of an optimal treatment room and instrument-processing center
• Select appropriate disinfection, sterilization, and storage methods for clinical instruments and materials

• Identify procedures for management of an exposure incident

 Chapter 7 Patient Reception and Ergonomic Practice (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to patient reception and ergonomic practice
• Prepare the treatment room for patient reception
• Identify and discuss components of safe and efficient patient positioning
• Identify and practice factors that contribute to ergonomic dental hygiene practice

 Chapter 12 The Health History (Darby)

• Explain the purpose of the health history, including legal and ethical issues regarding health record documentation
• Gather information pertinent to the health history by utilizing the technique of patient-centered interviewing
• Discuss decision making after the health history is obtained, including:
  • Recognize implications of client health status for dental hygiene care
  • Understand the rationale and indications for pre-procedure prophylactic antibiotics
  • Identify the need for consultation and collaboration with other healthcare professionals in order to develop an individualized dental hygiene care plan

Chapter 10 Vital Signs (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to recording vital signs
• Identify the four vital signs and describe the range of expected values
• Describe procedures for determining and recording a patient’s temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure
• Discuss the importance of regular determination of vital signs for a patient receiving dental hygiene care

Chapter 14 Pharmacologic History (Darby)

• Discuss the importance of taking a comprehensive pharmacologic history and explain the first step of compiling the medication list
• Identify fundamental questions to gather a comprehensive pharmacologic history, and do the following:
  • Describe adverse drug events, including side effects, drug toxicity, and drug hypersensitivity reactions
  • Describe common side effects caused by medications
  • Discuss strategies to improve client compliance with medication use
  • Discuss dental hygiene interventions to manage the oral side effects of medications

Chapter 10 Medical Emergencies (Darby)

• Discuss prevention of medical emergencies, including how to recognize persons at risk for a medical emergency
• Delineate protocols for performing Basic Life Support in adults, children, and infants
• Discuss cardiac arrest and the protocol for management of the situation
• Describe protocols for managing victims with mild (partial) airway obstruction and sever (complete) airway obstruction
• Discuss the administration of oxygen
• Discuss appropriate use of equipment and drugs included in a basic kit for managing medical emergencies in the oral care environment
• Identify signs and symptoms of specific medical emergencies and appropriate treatment for each

Chapter 15 Extraoral and Intraoral Clinical Assessment (Darby)

• Discuss the clinical assessment, including recognition of normal head and neck anatomic structures, common signs of oral disease, and deviations from normal
• Conduct the extraoral clinical assessment, including proper methods and sequence
• Conduct the intraoral clinical assessment, including proper methods and sequence
• Describe and document significant findings in the client’s record using precise descriptive terms, including appropriate follow-up and referral when atypical or abnormal tissue changes warrant further medical or dental evaluation
• Discuss cancers affecting the head and neck, including:
  • Explain oral self-examination techniques to the client
  • Explain the use of biopsy as well as other methods for early detection of oral cancer

Chapter 19 Periodontal and Risk Assessment (Darby)

• Define risk assessment and its significance
• Identify, give examples, and assess modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors that affect onset, progression, and severity of periodontal disease and health maintenance
• Explain the clinical application of risk assessment, including
  • Identify the six basic tools needed to assess clinical parameters
  • Describe healthy periodontium by clinical signs and histologic characteristics
  • Describe diseased periodontium by clinical signs and histologic characteristics
  • Distinguish among varying types of gingivitis and periodontitis

• Discuss radiographic assessment, including evaluation of radiographs for signs of periodontal disease
• Discuss assessment of periodontal disease activity, including methods of microbiologic identification of periodontitis
• Describe indices for measuring periodontal diseases
• Explain proper documentation and record keeping
• Define a decision-making matrix and explain its significance

Chapter 16 Dentition Assessment (Darby)

•    Discuss the purpose and methods of documentation including charting and the responsibilities of the dental hygienist
•    Differentiate between the tooth numbering systems
•    Discuss the classifications of dental caries and restorations
•    Discuss tooth assessment and detection of signs of dental caries
•    Explain the dentition and periodontal charting, including application of charting symbols to a case study
•    Discuss occlusion and common problems of occlusion
•    Distinguish between the classification of malocclusion and the sub-types
•    Discuss the primary occlusion

Chapter 19 Dental Biofilm and Other Soft Deposits (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to oral soft deposits
• Differentiate dental biofilm from pellicle, materia alba, and food debris in terms of composition, significance, and detection
• Discuss the implications of dental biofilm in terms of periodontal disease and caries
• Describe the essentials for dental caries as well as other contributing factors

Chapter 20 Calculus (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to dental calculus
• Describe calculus in terms of type, location, distribution, occurrence, appearance, and consistency
• Describe calculus formation, composition, and attachment
• Discuss the significance of calculus

Chapter 21 Dental Stains and Discolorations (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to dental stains and discolorations
• Classify and document various stains as to their location and source

Chapter 26 Hand-Activated Instrumentation (Darby)

• Discuss basic dental hygiene instrument design and classify an instrument and its use based upon variations in instrument shank length, curvature, flexibility, blade type, and blade-to- shank angulation
• Discuss the classifications of instruments, including:
  • Describe assessment instruments, their design, and uses
  • Customize fulcrum placement for a tooth surface
  • Describe treatment instruments, their design, and uses
  • Explain proper blade adaptation and angulation
  • Define the stroke principles of blade angulation, adaptation, and activation
  • Describe protective scaling strategies and reinforcement scaling
  • Identify intraoral and extraoral fulcrums for periodontal instrumentation

• Describe the value of dental perioscopy
• Describe the methods, techniques, and importance of instrument sharpening
• Discuss how to prevent and manage instrument tip breakage

Chapter 27 Ultrasonic Instrumentation (Darby)

• Discuss power-driven instrumentation used in oral prophylaxis, nonsurgical periodontal therapy, and periodontal maintenance therapy, including:
  • Discuss strategies for appropriate insert or tip selection based on client needs
  • Apply correct procedures for ultrasonic instrumentation using standard and thin designs
  • Compare and contrast magnetostrictive and piezoelectric instrumentation
• Explain health-related outcomes of using ultrasonic instrumentation
• Discuss ultrasonic instrumentation in practice, including indications, precautions, and contraindications for ultrasonic instrumentation
• Demonstrate proper instrumentation technique

Chapter 44 Extrinsic Stain Removal (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to removal of extrinsic dental stain

• Identify the science, effects, indications, contraindications, precautions, and procedures for selective dental polishing
• Describe polishing agents, instruments, and techniques used for removal of extrinsic stains
• Document removal of tooth stain in patient record

Chapter 23 Toothbrushing (Darby)

• Describe characteristics of acceptable manual toothbrush designs
• Describe characteristics and modes of action of power toothbrush designs
• Discuss toothbrushing instruction, including differentiation among toothbrushing methods including indications, limitations, and impact on oral tissues
• Discuss soft- and hard-tissue lesions, including factors that cause tissue lesions, and the significance of a clean tongue and toothbrush
• Discuss the dental hygiene process of care and toothbrushing, including the sharing of evidence-based decision making with clients regarding selection and use of a toothbrush based on specific client needs

Chapter 24 Mechanical Oral Biofilm Control: Interdental and Self-Care Devices (Darby)

• Discuss the selection of self-care devices, including the significance of removing or reducing interdental and subgingival plaque biofilm
• Discuss the types of non-powered interdental and supplemental self-care devices, including:
  • Appropriate use of non-powered self-devices designed for interdental and subgingival biofilm removal
  • Recommendations for the appropriate device(s) for clients based on efficacy, client needs, and preferences
• Discuss types of powered interdental and supplemental self-care devices, including:
  • Appropriate use of powered self-care devices designed for interdental and subgingival biofilm removal
  • Recommendations for the appropriate device(s) for clients based on efficacy, client needs, and preferences

Chapter 23 Planning for Dental Hygiene Care (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to planning dental hygiene care
• Identify and explain assessment findings and individual patient factors that affect patient care
• Identify additional factors that can influence planning for dental hygiene care
• The evidence-based decision-making process to determine patient care recommendations

Chapter 24 The Dental Hygiene Care Plan (Wilkins)

• Identify and define key terms and concepts related to the written dental hygiene care plan

• Identify the components of a dental hygiene care plan
• Write dental hygiene diagnostic statements on the basis of assessment findings
• Prepare a written dental hygiene care plan
• Apply procedures for discussing a care plan with a dentist and the patient
• Identify and apply procedures for obtaining informed consent

                 

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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Expected Student Behavior

No behavior expectations available

Grading Criteria

No grading criteria available

Attendance

Attendance Policy

“Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class in accordance with the requirements of the course as established by the instructor.”  (Amarillo College Student’s Rights and Responsibilities Publication)

 

Due to the tremendous amount of information contained in this course, the student who plans to succeed should also plan to attend all course sessions regularly and promptly.  Without question, the instructor expects each student to be present at each session.  Unfortunately, no one has ever developed a short cut which will replace hours of actual experience needed to master a new skill; therefore, students must be present to acquire the specific knowledge in this subject. 

 

Absences will be monitored and evaluated to determine the student’s final course grade.  The student may have no more than 1 absence in this course without affecting the final grade.  Beginning with the 2^nd absence, 2 points will be deducted from the final grade; on the 3^rd absence, 3 points will be deducted; on the 4^th absence, 4 points will be deducted.  On the occurrence of the 5^th absence, the student will fail the course and be required to repeat the course.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each lecture and lab session.  Students not present when attendance is taken will be counted as absent. The student is expected to be present in class at the time class/lab is scheduled to begin. STUDENTS, WHO ARE LATE TO CLASS OR LAB OR WHO LEAVE CLASS OR LAB EARLY, WILL BE COUNTED AS ABSENT.  The student will receive 2 bonus points to the final grade of this course if the student has perfect attendance for the semester.  

Attendance Columns in the BlackBoard Gradebook are indicated as follows: