Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 College Catalog 
    
2022-2023 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

DHE 101LC - Dental Hygiene I Clinical

3 Credits, 12 Contact Hours
0 lecture periods 12 lab periods

This is the clinical lab portion of DHE 101 . Introduction to the procedures used in the pre-clinical practice of dental hygiene at the beginning level. Includes professionalism and ethics, infection control, body mechanics/ergonomics, evaluation of patient medical and dental history, and assessment data. Also includes instrumentation, laboratory practice of dental hygiene procedures on student partners (e.g. removal of soft deposits, fluorides, various clinical procedures), and awareness of diverse patient populations.

Corequisite(s): DHE 101 , DHE 104 , DHE 104LB , DHE 107 , DHE 112 , DHE 116 , DHE 116LC  
Information: Students must be admitted to the PCC Dental Hygiene program and obtain consent of the Dental Hygiene department before enrolling in this course.


Course Learning Outcomes
  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.

Performance Objectives:
  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. Perform and maintain confidentiality of patient records.
  4. Perform infection control procedures consistent with the DHE program and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
  5. Demonstrate proper hand washing and gloving for clinic.
  6. Prepare dental instruments for sterilization according to recognized Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and clinic protocols.
  7. Maintain aseptic environment when providing oral health care services to all patients to prevent transmission of blood borne pathogens.
  8. Demonstrate patient positioning for optimal patient and operator comfort.
  9. Evaluate a medical/dental history and determine contraindications to dental treatment.
  10. Outline the rationale for pre-medication for the American Heart Association (AHA) regimen.
  11. Evaluate and chart a medical/dental history on a student partner.
  12. Complete and record vital signs accurately on a student partner.
  13. Define the accepted ranges for temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration.
  14. Describe the procedures for hard and soft tissue examinations.
  15. Perform periodontal and restorative charting procedures on a student partner.
  16. Identify restorations on a tooth utilizing a shepherd’s hook explorer, radiographs and direct/indirect vision.
  17. Demonstrate pen grasp, modified pen grasp, and palm-thumb grasp.
  18. Explain and correctly use a fulcrum and finger-rest.
  19. Explain and identify the “cutting edge” and its relationship to the angle formed between the tooth surface and the calculus removal instrument.
  20. Explain and demonstrate retraction, illumination, indirect vision, and using a dental mouth mirror.
  21. Examine and position dental mouth mirror to demonstrate transillumination on a student partner.
  22. Explain and demonstrate a “walking stroke” when using a periodontal probe on a student partner.
  23. Demonstrate the use of a dental explorer utilizing short overlapping exploratory strokes.
  24. Describe the design of a universal curette.
  25. Demonstrate the correct technique for using universal curettes in all areas of the mouth on a student partner.
  26. Describe the design of an anterior sickle scaler and a posterior sickle scaler.
  27. Describe the correct technique for using sickle scalers on a student partner.
  28. Describe the function of Gracey curettes and root planing.
  29. Demonstrate the use of Gracey curettes utilizing a working stroke on a student partner.
  30. Define the reasons for polishing coronal surfaces and demonstrate the procedure on a student partner.
  31. Define the term “selective polish.”
  32. Demonstrate the application of a disclosing agent and evaluate for soft deposits.
  33. Explain the value of a fluoride treatment.
  34. Demonstrate the appropriate steps for a topical fluoride application on a student partner.
  35. Complete a comprehensive dental hygiene treatment plan.
  36. Explain patient’s rights and responsibilities.
  37. Record services rendered in patient’s dental chart accurately.
  38. Integrate laboratory experiences with didactic course work.
  39. Utilize a mock patient case study to develop didactic and clinical skill applications.
  40. Complete successfully skill evaluations for assigned laboratory activities.
  41. Perform entry level clinical procedures on a student partner at an acceptable passing level.
  42. Utilize a patient to develop didactic and entry level clinical assessment skills.
  43. Discuss the relevance of evidence-based decision making and patient care.

Outline:
  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