This course continues to offer advanced clinical experience in providing dental hygiene treatment for a variety of clinical patient cases. Students use local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, oral antimicrobials, and dietary analysis and recommendations. Regional Board Examination requirements and protocol are reviewed and simulated through practical exercises. Identification of an appropriate patient for licensure examination is made. Students integrate knowledge and skills developed in all previous course work to date. Students continue extramural rotations into the local community with faculty supervision. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Course Outcomes
- Exhibit professionalism through personal appearance, attitude, and conduct appropriate for the humanistic learning environment and delivery of ethical dental hygiene care.
- Employ proficient professional and culturally sensitive communication skills that apply health equity concepts.
- Demonstrate continued competence in the use of infection control, sterilization, & exposure control procedures.
- Describe accurate, comprehensive medical/dental histories related to oral/systemic disease and patient well-being and present a summary of medical/dental history and physical status to clinical faculty.
- Develop and present comprehensive DH treatment plans for the delivery of dental hygiene therapy to all types of patients.
- Identify significant medical and/or dental modifications required prior to proceeding with dental hygiene care (including consultation and referral) and apply them during delivery of care for a widely varied patient base.
- Perform competency evaluations, utilizing patient-centered communication and clinical techniques while delivering dental hygiene treatment for clinic patients.
- Demonstrate correct periodontal therapy instrumentation techniques, utilizing all instructed curettes, scalers, and files.
- Evaluate the patient response, prognosis, and re-evaluation/recare plan.
- Interpret radiographs to a high level of accuracy.
- Demonstrate competence in the ability to assess patients for pain control procedures.
- Administer local anesthesia and/or nitrous oxide appropriately considering patient-centered care and safety.
- Integrate and correlate the basic behavioral and dental sciences learned to date as they apply to the care of the dental hygiene patient.