DHY 117 - Pre-Clinic I Theory

This course is the first of two dental hygiene preclinical theory courses and  focuses on the knowledge needed prior to patient treatment.  Emphasis is placed on gaining the knowledge behind beginning manual instrumentation skills.  Other course content includes patient assessment procedures and other non-instrumentation dental hygiene skills.

2.  Describe the technique for use of a front surface mouth mirror.

3.  List and explain the four purposes of the mouth mirror.

4.  Explain the technique for use of the 11/12 ODU explorer.

5.  List the instruments used for a periodontal examination.

6.  Explain the technique for use of the periodontal probe.

7.  Describe the procedure used to obtain a patient’s blood pressure.

8.  Describe the assessment and evaluation of a patient’s overall medical condition using a current medical history and current blood pressure reading.

9.  Describe the common ways of preventing medical emergencies from occurring in the dental office.

10.  Describe the process and sequence of events for handling a medical emergency in the dental setting.

11.  Describe an extraoral soft tissue examination and how to correctly document all findings.

12.  Describe an intraoral soft tissue examination and how to correctly document all findings.

13.  Describe what takes place during a hard tissue charting of a dental patient.

14.  Describe what takes place during a periodontal charting of a dental patient.

15.  Describe effective flossing on a patient.

16.  Describe the rationale for and use of the rubber cup polisher.

17.  Describe the rationale for and demonstrate the ability to set-up, use, and maintain the air abrasive polisher.

18.  Describe the application of topical fluoride varnish and the application of topical fluoride in foam trays.

19.  Describe the rationale for manual supra and sub-gingival assessment techniques using the correct explorer and probe incorporating the principles of instrument shape, adaptation, angulation, activation, lateral pressure, visibility, accessibility, and prevention of patient trauma.

20.  Describe the ethical and legal restrictions on the use of recorded, published and/or confidential materials, proprietary information, and intellectual property. 

21.  Discuss how communities, countries, or cultures differ in their values, politics, communication styles, beliefs, and practices.
Course Outline:
I.  Orientation to the Course

A. Lecture  

1. Emergency Preparedness

a. Medical

b. Weather

c. Other

II.  Introduction to Oral Care

A. Ergonomics      

1. Operator

a. Posture

b. “Clock” Positions

c. Illuminating the Oral Cavity

2. Patient

3. Occupational Hazards

a. Importance of Neutral Body Positions

B. Grasp and Fulcrum

III.  Dental Instruments – Assessment

A. Mouth Mirror

1. Indirect Vision

2. Indirect Illumination

3. Transillumination

4. Retraction

B. Explorers 

1. ODU 11/12

2. 3 CH

C. Periodontal Probe     

IV.  Patient Assessment

A. Medical Histories 

B. Blood Pressure

C. Extraoral Examination

D. Intraoral Examination

E. Hard Tissue Charting

F.  Periodontal charting                

G. Sub-gingival Calculus Detection

V.  Patient Treatment Procedures and Processes

A. Stains and Polishing

1. Rubber Cup

2. Flossing

B. Fluoride Treatments           

VI.  Introduction to Instrumentation

A. Instrument Blade Anatomy

B. The Three “A’s” of Instrumentation

C. Lateral Pressure        

Small group work: 0-10%

In-class activities: 10-20%
Mandatory Course Components:
Written exams, including case histories.

Comprehensive final examination.
Equivalent Courses:
None