Course Outline for Dental Hygiene 81B
Clinical Practice II

Effective: Fall 2024
SLO Rev:
Catalog Description:

DHYG 81B - Clinical Practice II

5.00 Units

Continuation of clinical experience with a variety of clinical cases of adults and children to include a broad spectrum of clinical applications.
Corequisite: DHYG 58 and DHYG 80B and DHYG 82B and DHYG 83.
1240.20 - Dental Hygienist*
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Clinical 5.00 270.00 0.00 270.00
Total 5.00 270.00 0.00 270.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. scale and root plane teeth using a systematic order, appropriate type, sharp and correctly contoured instrument within minimum time and trauma;
  2. polish teeth, restorations and fixed appliances using appropriate abrasives and polishing agents;
  3. recognize clinically and discuss the value of preventive periodontal therapy and the role of the hygienist in this activity;
  4. demonstrate consistency in performing soft tissue curettage on selected clinic patients using appropriate local anesthetic agents;
  5. expose, process, mount, and interpret diagnostically acceptable radiographic surveys on clinic patients;
  6. adapt and perform dental hygiene procedures for a variety of patients with special needs;
  7. use the intra-oral camera;
  8. maintain accurate, complete dental records;
  9. perform margination and restoration polishing on a variety of clinical patients;
  10. demonstrate clinical competency in infection control techniques/prevention of disease transmission;
  11. apply ethical reasoning to dental hygiene practice;
  12. serve all clients in the community without discrimination;
  13. provide humane and compassionate care to all patients/clients;
  14. demonstrate honesty in relationships with patients/clients, colleagues, and other professionals;
  15. ensure the privacy of the patient/client during treatment and confidentiality of patient/client records;
  16. adhere to state and federal laws governing the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene;
  17. obtain, review, and update vital signs, medical history, family history, social history, and dental history while recognizing cultural differences in populations;
  18. manage the patient/client chart as a legal document and maintain its accuracy;
  19. determine medical conditions that require special precaution or consideration prior to and/or during dental hygiene treatment;
  20. identify the patient/client at risk for a medical emergency and manage the patient/client care to prevent an emergency;
  21. perform a comprehensive examination using clinical, radiographic, periodontal and dental charting, as well as other data collection procedures to assess the patient's/client's needs;
  22. determine priorities and establish oral health goals with the patient/client and/or guardian as an active participant;
  23. establish a planned sequence of educational and clinical services based on the dental hygiene diagnosis which includes etiology, prognosis, and treatment alternatives;
  24. obtain the patient's/client's informed consent based on a thorough case presentation;
  25. make appropriate referrals to other health care professionals;
  26. use accepted infection control procedures;
  27. provide an environment conducive to health by applying basic and advanced principles of dental hygiene instrumentation without causing trauma to hard or soft tissue;
  28. control pain and anxiety during treatment through the use of accepted clinical and behavioral management strategies;
  29. select and administer the appropriate antimicrobial or antibiotic agent with pre- and post-treatment instructions;
  30. provide adjunct dental hygiene services that can be legally performed in the State of California;
  31. evaluate the effectiveness of planned clinical and education services and modify as necessary;
  32. determine the appropriate maintenance schedule;
  33. provide subsequent treatment or referrals based on evaluation of findings;
  34. administer pain control therapies during treatment;
  35. perform soft tissue curettage;
  36. utilize power scaling;
  37. evaluate and identify teeth which meet the placement criteria for an Interim Therapeutic Restoration (ITR) including: patient factors, tooth factors, acceptability of lesion for treatment, and risks and benefits of ITR placement;
  38. determine and implement proper follow-up protocols after ITR placement, including identification of potential adverse outcomes.
Course Content:
  1. Scaling and root planing
  2. Instrument sharpening
  3. Periodontal assessments and restorative charting
  4. CaMBRA assessment
  5. Treatment planning
  6. Role of the dental hygienist in preventive periodontics
  7. Soft tissue curettage and local anesthesia
  8. Radiographic technique and interpretation
  9. Nitrous oxide sedation
  10. Pediatric, adolescent, geriatric, adult and special needs patients
  11. Placement of subgingival antibacterials and topical anesthetics
  12. Dental sealants
  13. Placement, evaluation and follow-up of Interim Therapeutic Restorations
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Case presentation
  2. Clinic
  3. Demonstration/Exercise
  4. Demonstration
  5. Online Assignments
  6. Practice/Demonstration
  7. Clinical practice in the dental hygiene clinic and extended facilities
  8. Directed conferences
  9. Seminars
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Complete a chart audit form for each of your patient completions. Include all necessary forms with all the required signatures.
  2. Provide comprehensive dental hygiene services to clinical patients based on your assessments and as outlined on your treatment plan for each patient.
  3. Complete a dental hygiene care plan for a pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric and special needs patient, to include at least two measurable goals for each care plan.
  4. Place and evaluate up to a total of 10 Interim Therapeutic Restorations (continuation of DH81A); provide appropriate follow-up care.
  5. Enter all patients, scheduled treatment, and treatment completions in the Consutl Pro dental office management system.
  6. Coomplete and pass four identified Test Cases
  7. Administer local anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide sedation
  1. Attendance
  2. Clinical competencies
  3. Completion of minimum requirements
  4. Radiographic evaluation
  5. Midterm clinical conference
  6. Daily clinical evaluation
  7. Assigned activities
  8. Clinical performance
  9. Final Performance Evaluation
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Develop, present and implement a comprehensive, evidence based dental hygiene care plan
  2. Identify and implement appropriate pain control procedures
  3. Identify, place, evaluate and determine proper follow-up for an Interim Therapeutic Restoration (ITR)
  4. Plan and implement a dental hygiene care plan based on identified medical/health conditions of the patient
  5. Identify patient need and administer advanced periodontal care techniques including: soft tissue curettage, subgingival irrigation to a level of competency
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Darby (2021). Comprehensive Review of Dental Hygiene (9th Edition). C.V. Mosby.
  2. Bowen, D. M. & Pieren, J. A. (2023). Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice, (5th). Elsevier.
  3. Daniel & Harfst (2007). Concepts, Cases, and Competencies (2nd). Mosby.
  4. Gehrig, J. S., Sroda, A. & Saccuzzo, D. (2020). Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation (8th). Walters Klluwer.
  5. Jeske, A. H. (2021). Mosby’s Dental Drug Guide Reference (13th). Elsevier.
  • Instrument kits
  • Protective clothing, eyewear, masks, gloves
  • Power scaling unit
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Continuation of clinical experience with a variety of clinical cases of adults and children to include a broad spectrum of clinical applications.
Corequisite: DHYG 58 and DHYG 80B and DHYG 82B and DHYG 83.
Discipline:
Dental Technology