DHYG-420 : Clinical Dental Hygiene III

The purpose of this course is to provide continued clinical experiences for the second-year dental hygiene student in the practical application of educational, preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene services. Students will begin to prepare for the transition from dental hygiene student to registered dental hygienist. Students will be provided guidance in increasing clinical competency in basic dental hygiene skills and problem solving. Emphasis will be placed on comprehensive patient care that uses the dental hygiene process of care, patient assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis and treatment planning, implementation and evaluation of dental hygiene care to include: patient education, instrumentation, application of preventive therapies, radiographic skills, non-surgical periodontal therapy, ultrasonic instrumentation, patient management, and sealants. The clinical sessions combine dental hygiene skills with time management techniques while enhancing the psychomotor instrumentation skills. Comprehensive treatment plans will be written and focus on critical thinking and patient care. Students are expected to complete assessments and delivery of dental hygiene services in a more expeditious and independent manner. The students will be scheduled in clinical rotations that will provide observations and /or experiences with the special care client population, hospital dental hygiene, pediatric clients, orthodontic clients, dental radiology and interpretation, and interaction with Advanced Education in General Dentistry residents.