Courses in Dental Hygiene.
2 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: Admission into the Dental Hygiene program.
Co-requisite: DH 101and DH 102.
Head and neck anatomy is a course emphasizing the structures of the head and neck for the dental hygiene student. The course includes the study of the osteology, musculature, neurology, vasculature, and lymphatics of the head and neck and the temporomandibular joint.
2 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: Admission into the Dental Hygiene program.
Co-requisite: DH 100 and DH 102.
Dental anatomy and embryology is a course emphasizing the hard and soft structures in the oral cavity in all stages of development. Topics include the microscopic anatomy of the oral and perioral structures in all stages of development, developmental disturbances and the resulting anomalies, tooth morphology, occlusion, eruption sequence, nomenclature, salivary glands, and nerve and blood supply.
3 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: Admission into the Dental Hygiene program.
Co-requisite: DH 100 and DH 101.
This course reviews the elements necessary to perform dental hygiene care in the clinical setting. Topics include infection control techniques, oral exam and dentition, charting techniques, medical/dental histories, medical emergencies, documentation/record keeping techniques, basic instrumentation, HIPAA and OSHA requirements. Students will learn instrumentation on dentiforms and mannequins and as competencies increase, on each other.
2 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: DH 100, DH 101, and DH 102 with a grade of "C" or better.
Co-requisite: DH 104 and DH 106.
This lecture/lab course includes principles of radiation biology, radiation safety, techniques of exposing radiographs, machine operation, film composition, solutions, legal requirements, darkroom procedures, mounting radiographs, and interpretation of radiographs.
2 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: DH 100 and DH 101 with a grade of "C" or better.
Co-requisite: DH 103, DH 105, and DH 106.
General and oral pathology teaches the dental hygiene student to identify oral and perioral conditions that may be encountered when treating dental patients. Topics include disturbances of development and growth, diseases of microbial origins, injuries and repair processes, metabolic disturbances and diseases of specific systems.
2 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: BS 124 and DH 102 with a grade of "C" or better.
Co-requisite: BS 125 and DH 106.
Pharmacology emphasizes the study of therapeutic drugs used in dentistry and drugs that are likely to be prescribed to dental hygiene patients by their physicians. Topics will include drug classifications, indications, contraindications, side effects, method of administration and toxicology.
4 Semester Hours Prerequisite: DH 100, DH 101, and DH 102. Co-requisite: DH 103, DH 104, and DH 105. Clinical Course: Nine clinic hours and one hour lecture each week. Clinic I integrates the knowledge and skills the students have learned in previous courses. Clinic I integrates the knowledge and skills the students have learned in previous courses. Clinic I lecture emphasized scientific principles of dental hygiene practice while students will increase competency by treating patients two days per week.
2 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: DH 101 and DH 106 with a grade of "C" or better.
Co-requisite: DH 212.
This lecture/lab course emphasizes the properties, uses and manipulation of dental materials used in contemporary dental practice. Laboratory exercises will include demonstration, practice and competency evaluation in manipulation of impression products, gypsum products and restorative materials. Students will fabricate study models and vacuum formed trays.
1 Semester Hour Prerequisite: DH 102 and DH 106. Co-requisite: DH 212. Ethics and Jurisprudence introduces the dental hygiene student to the ethics and legal principles involved in the practice of dental hygiene and dentistry. Students will also learn the laws and rules regarding the practice of dental hygiene in the state of West Virginia as set forth by the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners.
6 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: DH 102 and DH 106 with a grade of "C" or better.
Co-requisite: DH 208.
Clinic II emphasizes strengthening clinical skills with particular regard for total patient care. Particular emphasis is placed on patients demonstrating moderate to severe periodontal disease. The lecture component focuses on the scientific principles of dental hygiene practice.
2 Semester Hours. Prerequisite: DH 100, DH 105, and DH 212. Co-requisite: DH 216. One hour lecture and two hours lab each week.Anesthesiology introduces the dental hygiene student to the different types of anesthesia. Topics include the pharmacology of the different types of anesthesia, indications, contraindications, review of anatomic landmarks, and pain management. The laboratory portion of the course teaches to laboratory competency the techniques for administering local anesthetic and nitrous oxide sedation.
7 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: All DH specific courses to-date.
Co-requisite: DH 214 and DH 215.
Clinic III is the final clinical practicum prior to graduation. Patient treatment continues with an increasingly challenging group of patients incorporating rotations through area nursing homes, public health clinics, facilities of area hospitals, and selected private practices. Students are expected to function with increasing independence and speed. Case presentations are presented, assessed, and evaluated.
1 Semester Hour
Prerequisite: All Dental-Hygiene specific courses to date.
This course emphasizes the special treatment considerations to be employed while treating different patient types. Topics will include special considerations to be given while treating the child patient, the adolescent patient, the adult patient, and the geriatric patient. The treatment of medically compromised patients and developmentally disabled patients will be addressed as well.
3 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: All DH specific courses to-date.
This course will focus on the appropriate treatment of special needs patients. Topics will include recognition of the necessity for alterations in treatment and appointment scheduling, appropriate communication with the client and/or parent/guardian, and appropriate treatment of condition-specific dental problems.
2 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: All DH specific courses to-date.
Periodontology introduces the dental hygiene student to current theory on the etiology of periodontal disease. Subcategories of periodontal disease will be studied with emphasis on etiological factors, host response, therapeutic measures for the hygienist and preventive measures. This course will continue on and cover the clinical applications of accepted periodontal therapies including surgical and non-surgical intervention. Topics include periodontal dressings, flap surgeries, sutures, soft tissue management, chemical plaque control, systemic medications, and periodontal maintenance.
Prerequisite: DH 220
This course teaches the dental hygiene student to assess, plan, implement and evaluate community dental health projects. Topics include statistics, demographics, scientific literature review, epidemiology, needs, demands and utilization concepts.