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Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Theory Objectives
1. List and evaluate roles and functions of the dental hygienist.
2. Identify and differentiate components of the dental hygiene
process.
3. Compare and contrast the concepts of clients/patients.
4 Identify and contrast phases of dental hygiene care, assessment,
problem identification, planning and implementation, and outcome
evaluation.
5. Describe the design features and limitation of the various
instrument handles and shanks.
6. Describe the goals, components, advantages, and disadvantages of
recording patient health history.
7. Differentiate between a dental history and a medical history and
explain the rationale and implication for each notation of the history
form.
8. List the regimen for patients requiring pre-medication according
to the American Heart association guidelines.
9. Identify the role of sub acute bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis
in patient care.
10. Analyze and articulate various significant acute and chronic
diseases and medication triangulation as related to dental health.
11. Evaluate contraindications when patients present with high blood
pressure and when medical consultation is required.
12. Describe normal healthy clinical appearance of gingival tissues
and the etiological and risk factors associated with periodontal diseases.
13. Describe and evaluate the appropriate records and documentation of
periodontal assessments.
14. Discuss the uses and limitations of the universal curettes and
sickle scalers in scaling and root planning.
15. Describe different types of assessment instruments, their uses,
and adaptation techniques.
Clinical Objectives
1. Identify and demonstrate the operation and maintenance of the
equipment in the dental treatment area.
2. Apply infection control techniques for prevention of disease
transmission through demonstration of proper pre- and post-appointment
operatory preparation procedures, instrument recirculation methods, and
aseptic technique.
3. Demonstrate good practices of patient reception, comfort,
psychological preparation for procedures, and patient dismissal.
4. Cite and discuss the importance of ergonomics at chairside.
5. Demonstrate correct preparation and placement of treatment water
prior to, during, and after procedures.
6. Demonstrate the ergonomic principles of operator positioning,
patient positioning, equipment positioning, and instrumentation.
7. Demonstrate assessment skills designed to identify oral health in
order to plan treatment with the goal of delivering comprehensive dental
hygiene care.
8. Apply techniques of insertion, adaptation, angulation, and lateral
pressure for assessment and working strokes.
9. Differentiate between wrist motion and digital motion.
10. Demonstrate procedures and techniques for scaling and root-
planning instruments used for implementation of initial periodontal
maintenance and oral prophylaxis with universal curets and scalers.
11. Differentiate among illumination, transillumination, and
retraction.
12. Evaluate and record patient's vital signs, blood pressure, and
respiration rates.
13. Demonstrate effective clinical charting to include various types
of lesions, modes of palpation, calculus, and levels of plaque.
14 List clinical characteristics of healthy and diseased gingiva and
techniques and modes of recording of periodontal probing.
15. Demonstrate professionalism through personal appearance, attitude,
and conduct appropriate for the learning environment, as well as for
rendering patient care.
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I. Theory
A. Overview of Dental Hygiene Process and role of registered dental
hygienist in California
1. Define dental hygiene
2. Four dental hygiene models
3. Roles of the dental hygienist
4. Dental hygiene paradigm
B. Dental Hygiene Process
1. Concepts of clients/patients
2. Patient reception and comfort
3. Psychological preparation
C. Phases of Hygiene Care
1. Assessment
2. Problem identification
3. Planning and implementation
4. Outcome evaluation
D. Infection/Hazard Control Management for SRJC Clinic (clinical only)
1. Equipment operation and maintenance
2. Personal protection
3. Instrument recirculation
4. Chemical management
5. Infectious waste management
6. Dental unit water treatment
7. Follows safety regulations
E. Operator/client positioning
1. Seat and dismiss the patient
2. Operator zones of activity
3. Position of the dental light
4. Ergonomics at chairside
F. Dental hygiene assessments
1. Personal, medical, and dental history
2. Vital signs
3. Intra-extra oral examination (didactic only)
4. American Heart Association premedication recommendations
5. Indications for medical consultation
G. Gingival tissue
1. Normal
2. Clinical appearance
3. Periodontal disease and risk factors
II. Clinical
A. Evaluation of periodontal integrity
1. Detection and description of hard and soft deposits
2. Periodontal probing
3. Bleeding points
4. Recession
5. Gingival description
B. Instrumentation fundamentals and design
1. Grasp and fulcrum
2. Mouth mirrors
3. Adaptation techniques
4. Periodontal probes
5. Calculus detection instruments
6. Universal curets
7. Scalers
C. Introduction to techniques and practice on typodonts
1. Probe
2. Explorers 11/12
3. Universal curets
4. Universal scalers
D. Introduction to instrument sharpening
1. Rationale
2. Sharpening stones
3. Technique
4. Testing for sharpness
E. Documentation
1. Patient records
2. Charting records
F. Professionalism
1. Honesty in actions and relationships
2. Attitude of concern, respect, and cooperation
3. Managing time well
4. Follows safety regulations
5. Responsibility for assigned clinical duties
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Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist:Wilkins, Esther M., Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 9th Edition, 2005.
Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice, Darby and Walsh, Elsevier Saunders,
2nd Ed. 2003.
Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation Nield-Gehrig, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 5th Edition, 2004.
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS: Taber's Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary, 18th
Edition, Davis, 2006.
Instructor prepared materials.
