DHE 101 - Dental Hygiene I

1. Demonstrate honest and ethical behavior in a professional setting.
2. Perform infection control procedures consistent with the DHE program and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
3. Perform didactic and clinical skill evaluations, including proper instrumentation, successfully for assigned activities and entry level clinical skills assessment.

1. Explain “informed consent” and “standard of care” in a clinical setting.
2. Identify methods to reduce risks within the practice of dental hygiene.
3. Explain the process for maintaining confidentiality of patient records.
4. Describe infection control procedures consistent with the DHE program and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
5. Discuss proper hand washing and gloving for clinic.
6. Discuss patient positioning for optimal patient and operator comfort.
7. Evaluate a medical/dental history and determine contraindications to dental treatment.
8. Outline the rationale for pre-medication for the American Heart Association (AHA) regimen.
9. Define the accepted ranges for temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration.
10. Describe the procedures for hard and soft tissue examinations.
11. Identify and document oral landmarks and abnormalities accurately.
12. Discuss pen grasp, modified pen grasp, and palm-thumb grasp.
13. Explain the use a fulcrum and finger-rest.
14. Define the terms: long axis of the tooth, adaptation, insertion, vertical, horizontal, and oblique working strokes.
15. Explain the “cutting edge” and its relationship to the angle formed between the tooth surface and the calculus removal instrument.
16. Explain retraction, illumination, indirect vision, and using a dental mouth mirror.
17. Explain a “walking stroke” when using a periodontal probe.
18. Explain the use of a dental explorer utilizing short overlapping exploratory strokes.
19. Describe the design, function and use technique of a universal curette, anterior and posterior sickle scaler and Gracey area specific curettes.
20. Describe the function of Gracey curettes in root planning.
21. Define the reasons for polishing coronal surfaces
22. Define the term “selective polish.”
23. Describe the application of a disclosing agent and evaluate for soft deposits.
24. Explain the value of a fluoride treatment.
25. Discuss the appropriate steps for a topical fluoride application.
26. Complete a comprehensive dental hygiene treatment plan.
27. Explain patient’s rights and responsibilities.
28. Describe the process for recording services rendered in patient’s dental chart accurately.
29. Integrate clinical experiences with didactic course work.
30. Utilize a mock patient case study to develop didactic and clinical skill applications.
31. Discuss the relevance of evidence-based decision making and patient care.

1. Professionalism/Ethics and Dental Hygiene Process of Care
   1. Apply professional code of ethics
   2. Assume responsibility for dental hygiene care based on accepted standard of care
   3. Perform self-assessment for professional growth
   4. Adhere to state and federal laws and regulations in the provision of dental hygiene care
2. Infection Control
   1. Barrier protection
   2. Methods of sterilization
   3. Methods of disinfection
   4. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) prevention guidelines
3. Body Mechanics/Ergonomics
   1. Patient positioning
   2. Operator positioning
4. Introduction to Patient Medical and Dental History Evaluation
   1. Obtain and interpret diagnostic information
   2. Predisposing etiologic risk factors
   3. Health conditions and medications that impact patient care
   4. Vital signs
5. Assessment Data
   1. Extra and intraoral examination
   2. Periodontal charting
   3. Restorative charting
   4. Hard deposits
6. Instrumentation
   1. Modified pen grasp, pen grasp, palm-thumb grasp
   2. Fulcrum and finger-rest
   3. Adaptation, insertion, angulation, working stroke
   4. Cutting edge relationship to tooth surface
   5. Mouth mirror
      1. Retraction, illumination, indirect vision
      2. Transillumination
   6. Periodontal probe-walking stroke
   7. Explorer-exploratory stroke
   8. Universal curette-working stroke
   9. Sickles
      1. Anterior
      2. Posterior
   10. Gracey curettes – root planing
7. Removal of Soft Deposits – Coronal Polishing
   1. Selective polish
   2. Disclosing agents/plaque indices
8. Fluorides
   1. Topical applications including fluoride varnish
   2. Assess value of fluoride treatment for dental hygiene care
9. Clinical Procedures
   1. Comprehensive dental hygiene care plan
   2. Dental record documentation
   3. Consultations as indicated
   4. Patient needs and significant findings for delivery of care
   5. Informed consent
   6. Patient’s rights and responsibilities
10. Respect Values and Preferences of Diverse Patient Population Groups While Promoting Oral Health