Dental Hygiene (DHY)

DHY 1011 Pre-clinical Dental Hygiene (4) - fall
This course is designed to begin to provide the didactic and clinical framework necessary to the practice of dental hygiene. The didactic component consists of learning units covering preventive dental hygiene theory. The primary emphasis of the clinical component is placed on learning the techniques of basic dental hygiene instrumentation. Students will begin to integrate their knowledge of theory and practice through simulated patient experiences on manikins and student partners; 3 hours of lecture, 6 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: None [Course fee: $65]

DHY 1012 Clinical Dental Hygiene I (5) - spring
This course is a continuation of DHY 1011 and provides the clinical and didactic framework necessary to the practice of dental hygiene. The emphasis is placed on the clinical component of dental hygiene practice. Students will integrate their knowledge of dental hygiene theory and practice by providing dental hygiene care to consumer patients throughout the semester. The didactic and clinical components of this course will challenge students to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills; 3 hours of lecture, 8 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: DHY 1011 and 1021

DHY 1021 Oral Tissues I (3) - fall
Oral Tissues I will encompass an in-depth study of the areas of dental terminology, tooth morphology, and tooth tissues. The course includes both didactic and activity sessions to facilitate learning and retention of the concepts; 2 hours of lecture, 3 hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: None

DHY 1022 Oral Tissues II and Medical Emergencies (3) - spring
This is a continuation of DHY 1021 emphasizing head and neck anatomy, oral embryology, odontogenesis, and medical emergencies; 2 hours of lecture per week, 2 hours of activity session per week. Prerequisite: DHY 1011 and 1021 and BIO 2011

DHY 1030 Dental Radiology (3) - spring
Dental Radiology is the study, demonstration, and practice of the fundamentals of dental x-ray production and intraoral and extraoral radiographic techniques utilizing conventional film and digital imaging. The student will learn to recognize the radiographic appearance of normal anatomical structures and common oral disorders; 2 hours of lecture, 2 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: DHY 1011, 1021 and BIO 2011

DHY 2010 Dental Materials (3) - fall
This course is designed to emphasize the clinical and theoretical concepts of dental materials and their clinical application. There is a blend of lecture with laboratory time to provide the students with adequate opportunity to manipulate materials introduced during the didactic portion of the course. Knowledge in the use of dental materials will allow the dental hygienist to better promote and explain the necessary preventative and restorative needs of the patient; 2 hours of lecture, 2 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: DHY 1012, 1022, 1030, and BIO 2012

DHY 2020 General Pathology and Clinical Dental Pharmacology (3) - fall
Pathology and Pharmacology is an introduction to clinical pathology and the pharmacological management of the treatment of dental patients. The student will learn to integrate medical diseases commonly found in dental hygiene practice with the pharmacological agents used in management of those diseases; 3 hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: DHY 1012, 1022 and BIO 2012, 2120

DHY 2030 Periodontics (3) - fall
This is the study of the morphologic and functional aspects of the supporting structures. The student will learn to recognize diseases of the peridontium and will learn therapeutic measures for the treatment of these diseases; 3 hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: DHY 1012, 1022, 1030, and BIO 2012

DHY 2210 Community Oral Health (3) - spring
This course is an introduction to the concepts of community oral health with emphasis on advanced research designs, community oral health issues, the importance of public health programs in the community, and prevention modalities encompassed in dental public health programs. This course contains a community service component wherein the processes of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation are addressed in addition to an introduction to sociology with an emphasis on core models and concepts associated with key sociological perspectives; 3 hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: DHY 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2721

DHY 2220 Oral Pathology (2) - spring
Oral Pathology is designed to integrate the knowledge gained from general pathology and basic anatomical, physiological, and dental sciences with the concepts of diseases. Emphasis will be placed on helping students understand the etiology and histopathology of specific oral diseases. Oral neoplasia, pulpal pathology, microbial diseases, developmental disturbances, and selected systemic diseases will be highlighted. The process of formulating a differential diagnosis of oral lesions based on this information will also be emphasized; 2 hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: DHY 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2721

DHY 2721 Clinical Dental Hygiene II (5) - fall
This course is a continuation of DHY 1012 and involves clinical practice with patients from Class 0 to Class 5 periodontal conditions. Topics related to patient care are discussed in the classroom setting and dental hygiene care is provided for children, adults, and special-needs populations in the clinical setting; 1.5 hours of lecture, 14 hours of clinic per week. Prerequisite: DHY 1012, 1022, 1030, and BIO 2012 [Course fee: $65]

DHY 2722 Clinical Dental Hygiene III (6) - spring
This course is the continuation of DHY 2721 and involves clinical practice with patients from Class 0 to Class 5 periodontal conditions. Topics related to patient care are discussed in the classroom setting and dental hygiene care is provided for children, adults, and special-needs populations in the clinical setting. The administration of local anesthetics will be covered; 1.5 hours of lecture, 14 hours of clinic per week. Prerequisite: DHY 2010, 2020, and 2721

DHY 3010 Evidence Based Decision Making in Dental Hygiene (3) - fall
This course will provide fundamental knowledge about evidence-based decision making. It will provide tools and skills needed to locate and review research articles and abstracts quickly and easily so that the student can interpret the literature to provide the best possible care and achieve optimum outcomes for patients; 3 hours of lecture per week; offered on-line. Prerequisite: DHY 2722 or equivalent

DHY 3015 Contemporary Issues in Dental Hygiene (3) - fall
This course examines current societal and professional issues and their impact on dental hygiene practice. The student will discuss the graying of America and its impact on the delivery of dental care. Students will examine the varied roles of the dental hygienist and discuss the dental hygienist’s role in increasing access to dental care. Students will research and compare traditional and alternative practice models and propose changes to improve dental care delivery. Changing technology in dentistry and dental hygiene will also be discussed; offered on-line. Prerequisite: DHY 2722

DHY 3020 Advanced Periodontics (3) - fall
This course will expand on the student’s existing knowledge of current concepts in etiology; risk factors; assessment; treatment planning; implementation and evaluation of contemporary treatment modalities; and maintenance therapy. The interrelationship of periodontal treatment with other dental specialties will be discussed along with an investigation of the periodontal literature. Emphasis will be placed on the dental hygienist’s role in periodontal therapy; 3 hours of lecture per week; offered on-line. Prerequisite: DHY 3010

DHY 3030 Dental Hygiene Methodology and Leadership (3) - spring
This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to educational concepts and theory relative to dental hygiene education, as well as theories, concepts, and principles of leadership in the dental hygiene educational setting. Topics included are course development and design; goals and objectives; principles of learning; learning styles and motivation; classroom instruction using educational media and software; and leadership skills; 3 hours of lecture per week; offered on-line. Prerequisite: DHY 3010

DHY 4010 Advanced Community Oral Health (3) - fall
This course is an in-depth study of the current issues surrounding today’s public health care delivery system. Issues addressed include: access to oral health care, quality assurance, dental care financing, and regulatory approaches to oral health care delivery in the public sector. Oral health care issues will be incorporated throughout the course with special emphasis on public health policy and practice; offered on-line. Prerequisite: DHY 3010

DHY 4610 Dental Hygiene Practicum (6) - fall
This course is designed to provide the student an opportunity to apply knowledge of a chosen professional role through teaching, internship, observation, or work experience. This course will use student selected sites, on or off campus, to develop the expanding role of the dental hygienist in the health care system; 8 hours of practicum per week. Prerequisite: DHY 3020, 3030, and 4010