Course Outline for Dental Hygiene 57
Expanded Functions for the Dental Hygienist

Effective: Fall 2022
SLO Rev: 09/04/2021

Catalog Description:

DHYG 57 - Expanded Functions for the Dental Hygienist

2.00 Units

Dental hygiene advanced clinical functions including clinical practice in administration of local anesthetics, topical anesthetic agents, nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia and soft tissue curettage.
Corequisite: DHYG 54 and DHYG 81A.
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 1.00 18.00 36.00 54.00
Clinical 1.00 54.00 0.00 54.00
Total 2.00 72.00 36.00 108.00

Measurable Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. assess a patient's medical and dental history and devise a sequential treatment plan so the patient is treated completely and efficiently;
  2. assess patients' medical history to determine their suitability to receive local anesthesia and determine what precautions, if any, should be taken prior to administering local anesthetic;
  3. discuss methods of anxiety control and articulate methods of introduction of local anesthetic and nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia;
  4. identify the advantages and disadvantages of administering local anesthesia and nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia in the practice of dental hygiene;
  5. identify the indications and contraindications to administering local anesthesia and nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia;
  6. identify the complications which may result from the administration of anesthetic agents and the proper management or emergency procedures to use in response to these complications;
  7. calculate the maximum safe dosage of local anesthetic for any given patient;
  8. identify the armamentarium required for administration of local anesthetic;
  9. identify which nerve, teeth, and soft tissue structures are anesthetized for each of the intraoral injections;
  10. successfully administer local anesthesia following procedural guidelines;
  11. describe the signs and symptoms of nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia;
  12. identify the components, safety features and recommended maintenance of the nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia equipment;
  13. describe and demonstrate the procedures for administering nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia;
  14. successfully administer nitrous oxide/oxygen following procedural guidelines;
  15. identify the goals and rationale for soft tissue curettage procedures;
  16. assess patients' medical history to determine their suitability to have soft tissue curettage procedures and determine what precautions if any should be taken prior to performing soft tissue curettage;
  17. identify the armamentarium required for soft tissue curettage procedures;
  18. describe the stages of the healing process and explain any possible interferences;
  19. document dental hygiene expanded functions according to course guidelines;
  20. identify safety measures to prevent occupational exposure during the administration of nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia and local anesthesia;
  21. identify and describe 4 different topical anesthetics;
  22. discuss the role of neurophysiology in local anesthetic use;
  23. describe the pharmacologic action of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors;
  24. identify and describe the function of alternative assisted delivery devices of local anesthetics;
  25. select the proper local anesthetic agent for use on a patient after assessing medical history following proper treatment protocols.

Course Content:

  1. Review of the Human Needs Theory as related to pain control procedures
    1. Protection from health risks
    2. Freedom from fear and stress
    3. Freedom from pain
    4. Skin and mucous membrane integrityo of the head and neck
  2. Review of head and neck anatomy, trigeminal nerve and its branches as related to local anesthesia
  3. Local anesthetic agents: topical
    1. Indications and contraindications for use
    2. Techniques and procedures for application
  4. Patient assessment and anesthetic agents selection
    1. Indications and contraindications for use
  5. Dental emergencies
    1. Local and systemic complications
    2. Legal considerations
  6. Nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia
    1. Indications and contraindications for use
    2. N2O/O2 equipment
    3. Administration of nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation
  7. Indications and contraindications for the use of expanded functions:
    1. Local anesthetic
    2. Nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia
    3. Soft tissue curettage
  8. Administration of local anesthetics
    1. Techniques and procedures for administration of local anesthesia
  9. Soft tissue curettage
    1. Indications and contraindications for soft tissue curettage
  10. Treatment planning of advanced functions

Methods of Instruction:

  1. Audiovisual aids
  2. Case Studies
  3. Lecture/Discussion
  4. Demonstration/Exercise
  5. Clinic
  6. Practice/Demonstration
  7. Written assignments
  8. Distance Education

Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:

1. Typical Assignments
  1. Chapter assignments
  2. Local anesthetic dosage calculation case study worksheet
  3. N20/02 sedations activity stations worksheet
  4. Soft Tissue Curettage (STC) discussion assignment
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
  1. Quizzes
  2. Written Competency Evaluations
  3. Case Based Midterm Examination
  4. Case Based Final Examination
  5. Clinical Competency Evaluations
3. Student Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. determine patient suitability to receive local anesthesia based on patient's medical and dental history;
  2. properly prepare armamentarium for administration of local anesthesia;
  3. determine dosage and administer appropriate local anesthesia based on patient assessments and need, to a level of competency;
  4. administer N2O/O2 sedation based on patient assessments and need, to a level of competency;
  5. treatment plan and administer soft tissue curettage based on a clinical patients periodontal assessment, to a level of competency;
  6. identify possible medical emergencies related to the administration of local anesthesia, and identify methods of prevention and treatment.

Textbooks (Typical):

  1. Malamed, S. (2020). Handbook of Local Anesthesia (7th). Elesvier.
  2. Boyd, L. D., Mallonee, L. F., & Wyche, C. J. (2021). Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist (13th). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Additional Materials:
  • Protective clothing, eye wear, gloves, mask
  • Local anesthetic syringe, needle capper
  • Instrument kit
  • Skull (Purchased for DH61)

Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:

Dental hygiene advanced clinical functions including clinical practice in administration of local anesthetics, topical anesthetic agents, nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia and soft tissue curettage.
Corequisite: DHYG 54 and DHYG 81A.