DH

Curriculum

Program Goals:
1. To prepare competent individuals in the discipline of dental hygiene.
2. To prepare students with the necessary skills to advance in the profession
through life long learning
3. To serve as a source to the community and the profession.

Mission Statement:
Educate dental hygienist to be professionals in the field and to promote optimal oral
health through prevention, education and public health. This education will create a
foundation for life long learning.

Program Philosophy:
The dental hygiene curriculum provides a broad based education in social,
behavioral and biological sciences, which prepares dental hygiene graduates in the
practice of dental hygiene. In addition it will prepare the professional as an
educator, advocate, leader, researcher, and healthcare administrator through the
application of life long learning.


Curriculum

Prerequisites:
Oral and Written Communication (4 units)
Introductory Psychology (4 units)
Introductory Sociology (4 units)
Human Anatomy & Physiology I, II and III (5 units each)
Fundamentals of Pharmacology (4 units)
Microbiology (6 units)
Introductory to Human Nutrition (4 units)
Interprofessional Patient Competencies (.5 units)

Fall
Oral Biology I (Head, Neck and Oral Anatomy) (3 units)
Assessment Procedures in the Dental Hygiene Process (4 units)
Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene/ Infection Control (4 units)
Survey of Dentistry (1 units)
Introduction to Dental Radiography I (2 units)

Winter
Oral Biology II (Oral Embryology, Histology and Tooth Morphology) (3 units)
Dental Radiography II (1 units)
Clinical Technique (6 units)
Office Emergency Procedures (1.5 units)

Dental Materials (1.5 units)

Dental Health Education (1.5 units)
Patient Competencies (Patient management & Special needs)(1 units)


Spring
Fundamentals of Pathology I (2 units)
Applied Pharmacology in Dentistry- Pain management (2 units)
Periodontics I (2 units)
Introduction to Clinic (5 units)
Radiographic Interpretation (2 units)

Summer
Clinical Dental Hygiene I (3 units)
Clinical Local Anesthesia/Pain Management w/ Lab (3 units)

Fall
Fundamentals of Pathology II (2 units)
Periodontics II (2 units)
Dental Radiography III (.5 units)
Clinical Dental Hygiene II (6 units)
Community Dental Health I (3 units)
Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory I (1.5 units)

Winter
Clinical Dental Hygiene III (6 units)
Community Dental Health II and Research (3 units)
Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Analgesia (1 units)
Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory II (.5 units)

Spring
Periodontics III (2 units)
Clinical Dental Hygiene IV (6 units)
Ethics, Law & Dental Office Practices (2 units)
Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory III (1.5 units)
Portfolio (.5 units)

Dental Hygiene Competencies
Dental Hygiene Process of Care:
Dental Hygiene graduate must be competent in assessing the oral health needs of a
diverse community and must be able to provide thorough care for individuals in any
stage of life. In addition the graduate must be able to acquire and synthesize
scientific information to apply to patient care as a goal of life long learning.
Health Education Strategies:
Dental hygiene graduates must be competent in health education strategies to
prevent disease and promote health to individuals and the community.

Community:
Dental hygiene graduates must be able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate
community-based oral health programs.
Infection & Hazardous Waste Management:
Dental hygiene graduate will be competent in infection and hazardous waste control
to prevent transmission of infectious diseases.
Legal & Ethical Principles:
Dental hygiene graduates will be competent professionals in the legal and ethical
principles that the graduate may encounter throughout the practice of dental
hygiene.

References
Tylor Jr. College
Department of Dental Hygiene
1327 S Baxter Ave, Tyler, TX 75711
http://www.tjc.edu/info/2004131/nursing_and_health_sciences/96/dental_hygien
e

Foothill College
Department of Dental Hygiene
12345 El Monte Rd, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
http://www.foothill.edu/bio/programs/dentalh/

University of Michigan
Department of Dental Hygiene
500 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
http://www.dent.umich.edu/about-school/department/pom/dental-
hygiene/program