DEHY1485

This clinical course introduces the first year dental hygiene student to providing direct patient care in the dental clinic. Students are supervised in the dental clinical setting while performing patient assessments, charting, preventive dental hygiene services, scaling, mechanical polishing and therapeutic services. Students gain experience in reviewing medical histories, taking vital signs, using dental imaging, and interacting chair side with the dentist.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior when treating dental patients.
• Apply HIPAA rules and regulations when dealing with patient data.
• Perform patients assessments based on medical history, dental history and vital signs.
• Classify patients using the ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) medical classifications.
• Classify dental patients according to American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) guidelines.
• Differentiate plaque and calculus deposits on teeth.
• Demonstrate removal of dental deposits with hand instruments and mechanical equipment.
• Utilize dental imaging on dental patients.
• Utilize electronic dental record system to document patient services and patient chart data.
• Provide clinical dental hygiene services to pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric aged patients.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills when planning and delivering dental treatment to patients.
• Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients, staff, dentists and peers.
• Integrate time management protocols and procedure sequencing during patient care.