DH Course Student Learning Outcomes

DH 100 - Introduction to Dental Hygiene

Students will be able to compare and contrast the roles and responsibilities of a dental hygienist and identify the career opportunities available to dental hygienists.

Students will be able to identify the general education and admission requirements to apply to the Dental Hygiene Program.

Students will be able to examine the DH Program’s curriculum schedule and develop a 24/7 schedule for the two-year program showing how they will manage their time for class time, study time, work and personal time.

Students will be able to observe a dental hygienist performing dental hygiene procedures in the clinical setting and develop a reflection paper on their experience.

DH 102 - Oral Biology

Students will be able to associate and explain the process of development for an oral facial, or tooth structure through a creative project and presentation.

Students will be able to describe and identify complex relationships between oral anatomy, oral histology and oral microbiology.

Students will be able to identify basic oral structures and anatomy of the oral cavity.

DH 103 - Head and Neck Anatomy

Students will be able to identify and explain nerve function, blood vessels, and function of lymph nodes.

Students will be able to identify and label bones and foramen of the skull with emphasis on the maxilla and mandible.

Students will be able to identify, and/or explain the function of facial and oral muscles.

DH 209 - Pain and Anxiety Control

Students will be able to identify the need for and select the correct type of anesthetic for use based on the medical history information and the dental hygiene procedure.

Students will be able to identify and explain the different type of anesthetic blocks, the effects of anesthetic solution and vasoconstrictors on nerve impulse conduction and blood flow.

Students will be able to identify and verbalize potential medical emergencies when using local anesthetic and nitrous oxide sedation based on the patients' medical history and current medications that could contribute to drug-drug interactions.

DH 299 - Skills Lab

Students will be able to apply didactic knowledge to the lab setting regarding use of instruments and instrumentation techniques.

Students will be able to attend skills lab as specific by a success contract provided to the student by any clinical instructor with the purpose for improvement in specifically identified areas.

Students will be able to correctly follow all program policies and procedures in the clinic setting, and perform instrumentation techniques and skills leading to incremental improvement.

DH 304 - Dental Hygiene Theory I

Students will be able to develop a treatment plan appropriate for their patient's dental/medical needs by categorizing the assessment data identified in the components of the dental hygiene process of care.

Students will be able to analyze a past experience they had in the medical or dental setting and produce a written paper/presentation to the class. The student must identify areas of ethical issues/dilemmas, the core values that were mis-used and recommend alternatives that could have been implemented to resolve the situation.

Students will be able to design an electronic portfolio, reflecting upon and displaying their areas of success and challenges by proposing solutions to improve upon their challenging areas and highlighting their areas of strengths.

DH 305 - Pre-Clinical Practice

Students will be able to demonstrate the proper sequencing for exposure and infection control procedures and identify when a protocol has been breached.

Students will be able to apply instrumentation skills on the appropriate quadrants, teeth and surfaces of a typodont, dependent on the instrument design.

Students will be able to demonstrate appropriate protocols on how to handle a medical emergency situation with a patient diagnosed with a systemic condition in a conscious and un-conscious state.

DH 308 - Dental Materials

Students will be able to identify, and/or explain function, contraindications for, and benefits of dental materials for a variety of needs or uses during the practice of dental hygiene and patient care.

Students will be able to identify, explain, and demonstrate the proper and safe manipulation of common dental materials such as alginate, dental stone, restorative and preventive materials.

Students will be able to explain the chemical and physical properties of dental materials and potential interactions between materials when in the oral environment.

DH 310 - Foundations of Dental Hygiene Practice

Students will be able to critically evaluate the role of the dental hygienist in relationship to oral health prevention.

Students will be able to analyze their saliva for specific types of cavity causing bacteria, determining their risk for increased carious lesions assisting them to identify a patient's need for caries and nutrition education.

Students will be able to design and create a professional quality chair-side oral hygiene flip chart for their patients which will assist the student as they educate their patients on common intra-oral diseases.

DH 311 - Pharmacology

Students will be able to identify and verbalize major drug therapy considerations and drug to drug systemic interactions related to dental hygiene procedures.

Students will be able to develop a drug chart list of common medications which will assist the student in becoming familiar with a drug's class, trade and generic name, indications of use, mechanism of action, adverse effects and dental management.

Students will be able to develop a PPT presentation and present their assigned systemic condition, describing medications pertaining to the specific condition.

DH 312 - General and Oral Pathology for the Dental Hygienist

CSLOs are under review.

DH 313 - Periodontic Principles I

Students will be able to compare and contrast the benefits and limitations of ultrasonic instrumentation vs. hand instrumentation, and explain methods for thorough debridement procedures.

Students will be able to identify special instruments or procedures needed for maintenance of dental implants and other prostheses and correctly perform debridement procedures.

Students will be able to integrate evidence-based methods for instrumentation selection and use based on the periodontal condition and anatomical features of the treatment area.

DH 314 - Oral Radiology and Interpretation

Students will be able to discuss and justify the need for dental imaging including the appropriate terminology, technique, interpretation, and diagnostic quality.

Students will be able to define methods to analyze the biological effects of x-ray exposure to cells and tissues, and assess appropriate radiation protection measures.

Students will be able to clarify the legal aspects of radiography with respect to liability and ownership of radiographs.

Students will be able to demonstrate x-ray exposure on typodonts and patients using the most current, evidence based techniques and safety procedures.

Students will be able to analyze and critique their own radiographic images and film processing techniques resulting from lab activities to correctly identify oral structures, dental restorations, potential pathology, and diagnostic usefulness and quality.

DH 315 - Clinical Dental Hygiene I

Students will be able to interview patients regarding their medical/dental conditions, determining when a medical/dental referral is recommended, prior to starting treatment.

Students will be able to analyze patient assessment data assisting them in developing an individualized treatment plan for safe, effective and efficient patient care.

Students will be able to continue to develop an electronic portfolio, identifying their areas of strengths and challenges by proposing solutions to improve upon their challenging areas and highlighting their areas of strengths.

DH 403 - Periodontic Principles II

Students will be able to recognize, define, and describe the etiological factors of periodontal diseases: microbial, occlusal, systemic, and local using appropriate terminology.

Students will be able to describe, explain, and defend the clinical, radiographic, diagnostic and prognostic concepts in the treatment modalities of periodontal diseases.

Students will be able to develop a periodontal treatment/maintenance plan for a clinical patient, outline essential components in a periodontal disease preventive program, support various prognoses used in treating periodontal patients with nonsurgical therapeutic techniques, and analyze the use of the periodontal referral and recare maintenance schedule as a post procedural tool.

DH 404 - Research Methodology

Students will be able to apply Evidence-Decision Making skills using the PICO Process: Problem, Intervention, Comparison of Intervention, Outcome/Solution to an identified clinical question.

Students will be able to define, explain and properly use terminology associated with health research.

Students will be able to evaluate health information and its sources critically by analyzing a research study using specific criteria.

Students will be able to formulate a research topic and conduct an effective literature review using information searching tools to increase familiarity with the topic using key concepts and terms to narrow the search.

DH 405 - Clinical Dental Hygiene II

Students will be able to identify, discuss, define, explain, and perform intermediate level skills and techniques necessary for patient treatment based on assessment and evaluation while applying ethical decision making strategies.

Students will be able to apply clinical skills and knowledge while working to improve fine motor skills, and will demonstrate the appropriate advanced instrumentation techniques necessary to achieve successful periodontal treatment.

Students will be able to integrate their knowledge and clinical experiences into dental hygiene diagnosis, care planning, and treatment for case study and clinic patients with mild to moderate periodontal disease.

DH 407 - Dental Public Health Concepts

Students will be able to critically analyze, define and clarify creative solutions to major dental public health deficits, barriers to care, cultural and psychosocial issues affecting dental health across the lifespan.

Students will be able to examine and accurately define and apply principles of epidemiology to the field of dental public health.

Students will be able to critically evaluate scientific research articles that include statistical data related to dental public health.

Students will be able to identify the dental health problems of a target population and develop age, literacy, culturally sensitive, and ability appropriate educational materials/programs to promote health and prevent disease.

DH 409 - Ethics, Law, and Business Practices

Students will be able to apply principles of decision making to ethical dilemmas in dentistry and patient care scenarios.

Students will be able to identify and explain the major components of business operations as they apply to the dental practice; formulate career goals to pursue employment and direct personal career development; and compose a cover letter and resume.

Students will be able to evaluate personal, cultural, and business ethical issues.

DH 410 - Foundations of Inter-Professional Collaborative Practice

Students will be able to compare and contrast different forms of inter-professional collaboration and describe key elements of effective inter-professional team-based care.

Students will be able to collaborate with other allied health students on a patient case scenario or during a public health community event. Students will reflect upon their experience and identify the strengths and challenges of working inter-professionally.

Students will be able to research a profession and interview a professional outside the dental field. With the information, students will develop and present a PPT presentation to their classmates which will encompass the similarities, differences, overlaps, and gaps between the two professions.

DH 411 - Dental Public Health Field Experience

CSLOs are under review.

DH 413 - Periodontic Principles III

Students will be able to identify and determine the type and extent of periodontal disease and select appropriate adjunct treatment measures.

Students will be able to compare and contrast advanced modalities of surgical and nonsurgical periodontal treatment and describe short-term and long-term goals of the various types of treatment.

Students will be able to analyze the effect of treatment procedures on tissue change and underlying clinical disease while appraising the outcomes of an advanced periodontal case study.

DH 415 - Clinical Dental Hygiene III

Students will be able to identify, discuss, define, explain, and perform advanced skills and techniques necessary for patient treatment based on assessment and evaluation.

Students will be able to apply clinical skills and knowledge while working to improve fine motor skills, and will demonstrate the appropriate advanced instrumentation techniques necessary to achieve successful periodontal treatment.

Students will be able to analyze assessment data and integrate their knowledge and clinical experiences into dental hygiene diagnosis, care planning, and treatment for case study and clinic patients.

Students will be able to identify, develop, manage, and maintain a patient case study that involves advanced periodontal disease.

DH 416 - Inter-Professional Collaborative Practice Field Experience

Students will be able to observe a team of professionals in their workplace during patient care to compare and contrast the roles, responsibilities and scope of practice between the two professions.

Students will be able to shadow an inter-professional team during patient care and evaluate the team dynamics in regards to the four core inter-professional education competencies.

Students will be able to develop a PPT presentation, identifying and reflecting upon their perceptions, experiences, strengths and challenges of the team while observing the inter-professional team.

DH 417 - Community Dental Health

Students will be able to debate the pros and cons of public water fluoridation based on scientific evidence and develop logical arguments and conclusions using this information.

Students will be able to research and create a professional quality oral presentation to educate the public on tobacco-related topics using culturally sensitive, health-literacy appropriate language for the general public.

Students will be able to identify the dental health problems of a target population and develop age, literacy, culturally sensitive, and ability to appropriate educational materials/programs to promote health and prevent disease.

Students will be able to develop an evidence-based presentation based on literature review and the needs of the target population incorporating the age, literacy level, SES, physical and cognitive abilities, cultural considerations, gender, and number of participants.

DH 420 - Dental Management of Special Patients

Students will be able to demonstrate creativity and ingenuity for developing safe, adequate modifications of techniques for delivering dental hygiene services, including oral hygiene self-care aids for patients with special needs.

Students will be able to discuss the need for patience and compassion when providing dental hygiene services to patients with special needs.

Students will be able to discuss, identify and incorporate the influence of a patient's basic needs and attitudes toward compliance with dental care and home self-care especially among patients with special needs.

Students will be able to recognize and integrate information found on a patient's health history to design a treatment care plan based on their special needs.

DH 440 - Capstone I

Students will be able to identify a topic for a capstone project on a dental related subject.

Students will be able to design a 6 minute Powerpoint presentation on a selected dental related topic.

Students will be able to design a brochure to reinforce information covered in Powerpoint presentation on the selected dental related topic.

DH 442 - Capstone Seminar II

Students will be able to present a professional quality PowerPoint presentation (table clinic) on a dental related topic.

Students will be able to display a professional quality brochure which supports their presentation of a dental related topic.

Students will be able to reflect and self-evaluate their experience from the process of researching, analyzing, developing, and implementing a presentation on a dental related topic.