Course Outline for Dental Hygiene 71A
Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene

Effective: Fall 2022
SLO Rev: 12/28/2016

Catalog Description:

DHYG 71A - Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene

4.00 Units

Laboratory and clinical experiences in patient assessment, dental hygiene care planning, goal setting and implementation of instrumentation techniques for providing prevention- oriented dental care and non-surgical periodontal therapy. Emphasis on post-treatment evaluation. Application of theory to the treatment of clinical patients.
Corequisite: DHYG 60 and DHYG 69A and DHYG 71S.
CB03: TOP Code 1240.20 - Dental Hygienist*
Course Grading: Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 2.00 36.00 72.00 108.00
Clinical 2.00 108.00 0.00 108.00
Total 4.00 144.00 72.00 216.00

Measurable Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. describe and demonstrate methods of sterilization and disinfection for dental instruments, supplies, equipment and demonstrate maintenance of asepsis for dental hygiene therapy;
  2. demonstrate appropriate body mechanics and correct positioning options for the patient and operator during instrumentation;
  3. collect and record data from the patient interview: medical/dental history and synopsis;
  4. utilize the medical history and patient interview, collect and document information pertinent to the patient's medical and dental status;
  5. describe and demonstrate the correct technique for taking vital signs (pulse, respiration, temperature and blood pressure);
  6. demonstrate and identify the uses for assessment instruments, including the periodontal probe, explorer, and mouth mirror;
  7. identify normal intraoral and extraoral structures and note any deviations in the treatment record;
  8. demonstrate techniques and proper procedure for performing a thorough periodontal assessment;
  9. describe the uses and limitations of the universal curettes and sickle scalers in scaling and root planing;
  10. record and describe the appearance of the periodontium;
  11. complete dental hygiene documentation following patient treatment according to clinical guidelines;
  12. demonstrate use of the dental hygiene universal periodontal probe, explorers, curettes and sickle scalers on a typodont and a student partner;
  13. prepare and record medical and dental histories on all student partners who are seen as patients.
  14. record complete dental restorative charting on a student partner and on all clinical patients;
  15. recognize the categories of tooth discolorations and stains;
  16. identify the indications and contraindications for selective polishing;
  17. provide an appropriate rationale for the application of topical fluorides;
  18. demonstrate technique, procedures and precautions for applying topical fluoride;
  19. demonstrate the principles of instrument sharpening for proper sharpening of curettes and sickle scalers;
  20. demonstrate the technique of use of the Gracey curette on a student partner;
  21. discuss dental hypersensitivity management in relation to periodontal instrumentation.

Course Content:

  1. Medical/Dental History
    1. patient interview
    2. documentation
  2. Taking and Recording of Vital Signs
    1. pulse
    2. respiration 
    3. temprature
    4. blood pressure
  3. Infection Control/Asepsis
    1. methods of sterilization and disinfection
    2. sterilization of instruments 
    3. equipment maintenance
  4. Patient/Operator Positioning
    1. ergonomics
  5. Dental Operatory 
    1. operation and maintenance
  6. Instrumentation 
    1. assessment instruments
      1. the periodontal probe
      2. explorers
    2. universal curettes
    3. gracey curettes
    4. sickle scalers
  7. Treatment Record Documentation
    1. electronic dental records
      1. restorative charting
      2. periodontal exam
      3. treatment planning
      4. clinical notes
  8. Extraoral/Intraoral Examination 
    1. normal structures
    2. deviations from normal
    3. documentation
    4. treatment record
  9. Assessments
    1. personal plaque control
    2. periodontal evaluation eecord
      1. technique demonstration
      2. description
      3. documentation
    3. restorative charting
  10. Dental Hygiene Care
    1. scaling & root planing
      1. area specific curettes
    2. selective polishing
      1. dental stains
      2. contraindications
    3. Fluoride Therapy
      1. rationale for application
      2. technique
      3. procedure
      4. precautions
      5. dentinal hypersensitivity management
  11. Instrument Sharpening
    1. technique

 

Methods of Instruction:

  1. Lectures
  2. Presentation of audio-visual materials
  3. Class and group discussions
  4. Verbal explanation and demonstration.
  5. Practice/Demonstration
  6. Distance Education
  7. Professionalism

Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:

1. Typical Assignments
  1. Observe an RDH in private practice and write a brief essay on observations made.
  2. Research assigned medical condition, list questions to ask patient regarding condition, and list common medications associated with condition.
  3. Group project: Research assigned cultural group and create a presentation based on findings and any relevance to dental hygiene care.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
  1. Quizzes
  2. Skills checksheets
  3. Chapter outline worksheets
  4. Midterm clinical/didactic exams
  5. Clinical proficiencies
  6. Final clinical/didactic exams
3. Student Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Describe and utilize infection control protocols for prevention of disease transmission
  2. Apply the medical history and patient interview to determine patient's medical and dental status and identify specific conditions that may indicate the need for a physician consultation
  3. Demonstrate and explain the extra/intraoral examination procedure including the normal clinical appearance of associated anatomical structures and common abnormalities
  4. Describe and demonstrate use of the periodontal probe, explorer, universal curet and sickle scalers on a student partner

Textbooks (Typical):

  1. Nield-Gehrig, Jill (2016). Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation (8th). Jones and Bartlett Learning.
  2. Nield-Gehrig, Jill (2017). Patient Assessment Tutorials (4th). Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.
  3. Wilkins, E. (2020). Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist (13th). Jones and Bartlett Learning.
  4. Wynn, R. (2020). Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry (26th). Lexicomp.
Additional Materials:
  • Instrument kits
  • Protective clothing, eyewear, masks, gloves

Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:

Laboratory and clinical experiences in patient assessment, dental hygiene care planning, goal setting and implementation of instrumentation techniques for providing prevention- oriented dental care and non-surgical periodontal therapy. Emphasis on post-treatment evaluation. Application of theory to the treatment of clinical patients
Corequisite: DHYG 60 and DHYG 69A and DHYG 71S.