DHG 231 : Dental Hygiene Theory III
This course is a continuation of the theoretical aspects of dental hygiene clinical practice. Special patient populations and topics are discussed and integrated to provide critical examination of the dental hygiene process of care related to patient assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, dental hygiene treatment plan, implementation and evaluation of treatment to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care. Prerequisite: DHG 120 and sophomore standing. Two lecture hours per week. Instructional Support Fee applies.
Course Outcomes
Competencies for Dental Hygiene Graduates identifies and organizes the knowledge, skills, and attitudes our graduates must attain for entry into dental hygiene practice in public and private settings. Three domains have been identified: Professionalism, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and Patient Care. Within these three domains, major competencies are identified:
I. Professionalism
1. Ethics. The new dental hygiene graduate must be able to discern and manage ethical issues of dental hygiene practice in a rapidly changing environment.
2. Information Processing. The new dental hygiene graduate must be able to acquire and synthesize information in a critical, scientific, and effective manner.
3. Professional Identity. The new dental hygiene graduate must contribute to improving the knowledge, skills, and values of the profession.
II. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
4. The Individual. The new dental hygiene graduate must be able to provide planned educational services using appropriate interpersonal communication skills and educational strategies to promote optimal health.
5. The Community. The new dental hygiene graduate must be able to initiate and assume responsibility for health promotion and disease prevention activities for diverse populations.
III. Process of Care
6. Assessment. The new dental hygiene graduate must be able to systematically collect, analyze, and accurately record baseline data on the general, oral, and psychosocial health status of patients using methods consistent with medico-legal principles.
7. Planning. The new dental hygiene graduate must be able to discuss the condition of the oral cavity, identify actual and potential problems, etiological and contributing factors, and available treatments.
8. Implementation. The new dental hygiene graduate must be able to provide treatment that includes preventive and therapeutic services designed to achieve and maintain oral health and assist the patient in achieving oral health goals.
9. Evaluation. The new dental hygiene graduate must be able to evaluate the effectiveness of planned clinical and educational services and modify as necessary.