DHE 101LC - Dental Hygiene I Clinical

1. Demonstrate honest and ethical behavior in a professional setting by maintaining confidentiality of patient records in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
2. Perform infection control procedures consistent with the DHE program and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
3. Perform clinical skill demonstration, including proper instrumentation, successfully for assigned activities and entry level clinical skills assessment.

1. Identify risk reduction methods in dental hygiene and maintain an aseptic environment following CDC protocols.
2. Demonstrate proper handwashing, gloving, and instrument sterilization procedures.
3. Position patients for optimal comfort, evaluate medical histories, and assess treatment contraindications.
4. Practice and record accurate vital signs and recognize standard ranges.
5. Conduct and document hard and soft tissue exams and identify restorations.
6. Use correct grasps, fulcrum, and finger-rest techniques for instrument control, including proper calculus removal angles.
7. Demonstrate mirror techniques for retraction, illumination, and indirect vision.
8. Practice periodontal probing and exploratory strokes on typodonts and partners.
9. Demonstrate use of universal curettes, sickle scalers, and Gracey curettes across all mouth areas.
10. Explain and perform coronal and selective polishing, apply disclosing agents, and evaluate for soft deposits.
11. Demonstrate fluoride varnish application, develop comprehensive treatment plans, and document services rendered.
12. Apply evidence-based decision-making, integrating lab and classroom knowledge for patient care.
13. Understand patient rights and responsibilities throughout clinical interactions.

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. 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
   5. Extrinsic and Intrinsic stain
6. Instrumentation
   1. Modified pen grasp, pen grasp, palm-thumb grasp
   2. Fulcrum and finger-rest
   3. Adaptation, insertion, angulation, working stroke
   4. Assessment Instruments
      1. Mouth mirror
      2. Periodontal probe
      3. Explorers
         1. Retraction, illumination, indirect vision
         2. Transillumination
   5. Calculud/biofilm removal instruments
      1. Cutting edge relationship to tooth surface
      2. Universal curette
      3. Sickles
      4. Gracey curettes
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
   7. Medical emergencies
10. Respect values and preferences of diverse patient population groups while promoting oral health