DENH 1040 - Principles I: Foundations of Dental Hygiene

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3
Course Description: This course is the first in a series of principles courses providing students with fundamental dental hygiene theory. Topics include the history, philosophy, theories, and ethics relevant to the dental hygiene discipline. Topics related to patient care include patient assessment and education, etiology and prevention of oral diseases, infection/exposure control, and hazardous materials, patients’ rights, and the management of patient records. Acceptance into Century College’s Dental Hygiene Program is required.
MnTC Goals
NA

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): DENH 1045
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. History of Dental Hygiene

2. Dental Hygiene Process of Care (A.D.P.I.E.D)

3. Patient Assessment including:

Medical, dental and social health history
Health status
Intra and extra oral conditions
Dental assessment
Periodontal assessment
Risk assessment
Oral hygiene status

4. Cariology

5. Patient education and counseling

Health promotion and disease prevention
Indices
Use of oral health devices and products

6. Legal aspects of dental hygiene practice; training related to:

HIPAA
Infection control
Safe handling of hazardous materials
Patients’ rights
Documentation

7. Cultural competency and health literacy

8. Documentation and management of the dental patient’s record

9. Evidence-based decision-making

10. Emergency Management

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course students will be able to:

1. discuss the theory of dental hygiene.

2. describe the history of dental hygiene and current roles in the profession of dental hygiene.

3. identify infection control practices and safe handling of hazardous materials as defined by OSHA and the CDC.

4. identify emergency management strategies.

5. discuss each element of comprehensive patient assessment.

6. discuss the dental hygienist’s role in health promotion and disease prevention.

7. compare preventive dentistry products and techniques.

8. recognize appropriate management and legal requirements of the patient record.

9. select appropriate dental hygiene strategies based on patient characteristics.

10. analyze the cultural influences on the provision of care.

11. apply the evidence-based decision-making process to patient care.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies NA
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
None
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
None

Practicum hours per week: 0

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