DXX 115 - Introduction to Dentistry

2.  Demonstrate understanding of what a legal dental record needs to look like.

3.  Demonstrate understanding of legal responsibilities and regulations in a dental office, according to the Michigan Dental Administrative Rules and Michigan Dental Health Code.

4.  Identify medical and dental conditions that can cause medical and dental emergencies in patients.

5.  Describe how to prevent and manage dental emergencies and respond to and assist in the management of the signs and symptoms related to specific medical and dental conditions/emergencies likely to occur in the dental office.          

6.  Discuss characteristics of the dental profession; explain what constitutes a professional education, and a professional code of ethics.

7.  Explain the responsibilities of the regulatory bodies of dentistry, the various qualifications for licensure and certification to perform legal functions in your dental fields.

8.  Describe the important qualities of the reception area in a dental office.

9. Describe the goals and rationale for designing a dental office.

10. Apply basic methods to identify, select and use appropriate articles, periodicals and journals for dental related assignments.

11. Compare and contrast the differences between professional journals, non- professional magazines and web pages.

12. Apply conflict resolution techniques to help resolve “simulated” office conflicts.

13. Apply an ethical decision making model to “simulated” ethical dilemmas.

14. Understand the roles and responsibilities of a dental assistant, dental hygienist, dentist, office manager, dental receptionist, insurance and appointment secretaries and explain how each member of the team contributes to the success of the practice.

15. Explain the importance of dental accreditation and the difference of a non-accredited program.

16. Discuss anxiety issues that arise in dental patients and management techniques that can be used to alleviate anxiety and pain.

17. Discuss the signs and symptoms to identify human trafficking.

18. Identify quality sources for data and information pertinent to a problem or issue being examined. 

19. Understand the laws, regulations, institutional policies, and etiquette related to the access and use of information resources. 
Course Outline:
I. Explain the role of dental history relative to the current professions of:

1. Dentistry
2. Dental specialties
3. Dental hygiene
4. Dental assisting
5. Related professional organizations

II. Demonstrate the understanding of legal dental records, including:

1. File items (radiographic images, histories, correspondence) into individual records
2. Items included as part of a legally documented patient record
3. Legal significance of medical and dental histories
4. Precautions necessary in lending records to another dental office
5. Record patient telephone communication and professional dental and medical consultations
6. Various types of patient data in the dental office

III. Demonstrate the understanding of legal responsibilities and regulations in a dental office, including:

1. Action taken in the event after the threat to sue for malpractice
2. Consent for routine and emergency office dental care
3. Factors and precautions necessary to prevent lawsuits against dental personnel
4. Legal responsibilities of the dental staff in relation to the state dental practice act
5. Patient refusal of recommended routine, surgical and emergency treatment
6. Patient’s right to privacy according to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
7. Responsibilities and/or obligations of the dentist and patients in the dentist-patient relationship
8. Updates in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Centers for Disease        Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to maintain office compliance

IV. Identify medical conditions that can cause medical emergencies in patients.

1. Alcohol/substance abuse
2. Allergies
3. Asthma
4. Blood dyscrasias
5. Cancer
6. Cardiovascular disease
7. Diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemia
8. Emphysema
9. Epilepsy
10. Hypertension or hypotension (orthostatic)
11. Kidney or liver problems
12. Pregnancy
13. Prosthetic replacements
14. Respiratory infection
15. Rheumatic fever
16. Ulcers

V. Describe how to prevent and manage dental emergencies, and respond to and assist in the management of the signs and symptoms related to specific medical conditions/emergencies likely to   occur in the dental office.

1. Airway obstruction
2. Allergic reactions
3. Response to blood loss
4. Cardiovascular or cerebrovascular irregularities
5. Response to contagious diseases
6. Diabetes or epilepsy-related incidents
7. Fainting
8. Metabolic or neurologic disease
9. Reactions to drugs and anesthetics
10. Respiratory irregularities
11. Shock

VI. Discuss characteristics of the dental profession; explain what constitutes a professional education, and a professional code of ethics.

1. Dental professional
2. Professional education

1. dental assistant
2. dental hygienist
3. dentist

C.    Professional code of ethics

1. dental assistant
2. dental hygienist
3. dentist

VII. Explain the responsibilities of the regulatory bodies of dentistry, the various qualifications for licensure and certification to perform legal functions in your dental fields.

1. Regulatory bodies in the Michigan Board of Dentistry
2. Regulatory bodies for the:

1. American Dental Association
2. American Dental Hygiene Association
3. American Dental Assistants Association

C. Licensure and certification for:

1. Dental assistant
2. Dental hygienist
3. Dentist

VIII. Describe the areas of the dental environment in a professional dental office.                                           

1. Describe the important qualities of the reception area in a dental office.
2. Describe the goals and rationale for designing a dental treatment room.

IX. Learn and apply basic methods to identify, select and use appropriate articles, periodicals and journals for dental related assignments.                                                                 

1. Identify, select and use a professional article, periodical and/or journal
2. Identify, select and use a non-professional, article, periodical and/or journal

X. Compare and contrast the differences between professional journals, non- professional magazines and web pages.    

     A. Professional journals and websites

     B. Non-professional journals and websites

XI. Learn and apply conflict resolution techniques to help resolve “simulated” office conflicts.

1. Types of conflicts in a dental office
2. How to resolve conflicts in a dental office

XII. Learn and apply an ethical decision making model to “simulated” ethical dilemmas.                 

1. Ethical dilemmas
2. How to solve ethical decisions

XIII. Learn the roles and responsibilities and explain how each member of the team contributes to the success of the practice.  

      A. Dental assistant

      B. Dental hygienist

      C. Dentist

      D. Office manager

      E. Dental receptionist

      F. Insurance and appointment secretaries

XIV. Explain the importance of dental accreditation and the difference of a non-accredited program.

1. Dental accreditation
2. Non-accredited dental programs

XV. Discuss anxiety issues that arise in dental patients and management techniques that can be used to alleviate anxiety and pain.                                                                                                                                            

1. Topical anesthetic
2. Local anesthetic
3. General anesthetic and sedation

XVI. Discuss the signs and symptoms to identify human trafficking.                                                         

1. Migration and Labor trafficking
2. Living and working conditions
3. Public awareness
4. Recruitment and deception
5. How do we detect and solve in the dental office?

Group Projects: 15-20%

Lecture: 50-60%

Assignments: 10-15% (possibly outside of class)
Mandatory Course Components:
None
Equivalent Courses:
None