This course introduces students to the profession of Dental Hygiene and the concepts and practices that prevent and control oral diseases. The emphasis is on oral health promotion, to include plaque control, patient education, and behavior modification through clinician/client communication. Communication strategies such as motivational interviewing, reflective listening, and anticipatory guidance are practiced. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Course Outcomes
- Describe the dental hygienist's role in patient education.
- Identify basic dental health assessment indices in patient evaluation.
- Explain how to use the health history and oral evaluation regarding patient oral hygiene care challenges and considerations.
- Explore methods to instruct patients in dental self-care procedures, utilizing principles and practices of prevention and control of disease, and oral health promotion.
- Describe how to plan, implement, and evaluate the individualized oral hygiene procedure for patients.
- Explain the rationale for the use of oral hygiene self-care devices and aids based on individual patient need, ability, and preference.
- Evaluate the patient's skill and effectiveness of the patient's oral self-care routine utilizing principles of Motivational Interviewing and practicing non-judgmental feedback.
- Describe the care of oral prosthesis.
- Describe the self-care needs for patients with dental implants.
- Evidence-base decision making.