Program Overview

Dental Hygiene Bachelor (DHBS)

The Dental Hygiene Bachelor (DHBS) program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become competent dental hygienists.

Program Overview

The program includes a combination of classroom and clinical instruction, covering topics such as:

• Dental anatomy
• Oral histology and embryology
• Head and neck anatomy
• Dental radiology
• Oral disease prevention
• Periodontology
• Dental materials
• Pharmacology
• Applied nutrition
• Special needs patients

Course Descriptions

The following courses are part of the DHBS program:

• DHBS 3101: Pre-Clinical Technique (5 credits) - Introduction to basic theories, principles, and procedures used in dental hygiene practice.
• DHBS 3103: Oral Disease Prevention I (3 credits) - Background knowledge to assess patient oral health needs and select appropriate preventive strategies.
• DHBS 3105: Dental Radiology I (2 credits) - Introduction to production and emission of dental x-radiation, safety precautions, and exposure processing and interpretation of dental radiographs.
• DHBS 3107: Head and Neck Anatomy (2 credits) - Study of anatomic structures of the head and neck, emphasizing muscles of mastication, salivary glands, and vascular, lymphatic, and nerve supply.
• DHBS 3108: Oral Histology and Embryology (2 credits) - Study of embryology and microscopic anatomy of human tissues, emphasizing formation of face, oral cavity, and dental structures.
• DHBS 3109: Dental Anatomy (3 credits) - Essentials of nomenclature, anatomical form, structure, and function of permanent teeth, with study of primary teeth and identification of natural extracted teeth.
• DHBS 3201: Clinical Practice I (3 credits) - Introductory clinical course offering individual instruction and clinical practice in basic dental hygiene services.
• DHBS 3202: Clinical Seminar I (3 credits) - Opportunity to enhance performance of procedures in a clinical setting, emphasizing patient management and care of appliances.
• DHBS 3205: Dental Radiology II (1 credit) - Introduction to supplemental intra-oral techniques and basic extra-oral radiographic techniques.
• DHBS 3206: General Oral Pathology (3 credits) - Introduction to diseases affecting the oral region, including principles of inflammation and healing.
• DHBS 3209: Dental Emergencies (2 credits) - Study of dental office emergencies, emphasizing prevention, prompt recognition, and effective emergency care.
• DHBS 3210: Oral Disease Prevention II (1 credit) - Application of principles of plaque control, patient education, and disease prevention.
• DHBS 3211: Periodontology (3 credits) - Advanced study in periodontics, emphasizing etiology and pathology of periodontal diseases, diagnostic work-up, and treatment.
• DHBS 3500: Clinical Seminar II (2 credits) - Emphasis on root morphology, advanced root planning, and ultrasonic scaling, along with patient management techniques.
• DHBS 3501: Clinical Practice II (3 credits) - Additional clinical treatment for patients and skills development.
• DHBS 3505: Periodontology I (1 credit) - Introduction to periodontics.
• DHBS 3506: Dental Materials (3 credits) - Characteristics, properties, manipulation, and evaluation of various materials utilized in dental procedures.
• DHBS 4301: Clinical Practice III (4 credits) - Introduction to advanced instrumentation procedures, including root planning and ultrasonic scaling.
• DHBS 4302: Clinical Seminar III (2 credits) - Emphasis on root morphology, advanced root planning, and ultrasonic scaling, along with patient management techniques.
• DHBS 4303: Community Dental Health (3 credits) - Introduction to tools of epidemiology and biostatistics, including critical analysis of scientific literature.
• DHBS 4308: Pharmacology (2 credits) - Study of action, use, and effect of commonly used drugs on the human body.
• DHBS 4310: Applied Nutrition (1 credit) - Dental-related study of nutrition, emphasizing interrelationships of diet and oral health.
• DHBS 4311: Special Needs Patients (2 credits) - Introduction to assessment and management of patients with special needs.
• DHBS 4401: Clinical Practice IV (4 credits) - Combination of basic and advanced dental hygiene skills with time management techniques essential for private practice.
• DHBS 4402: Clinical Seminar IV (1 credit) - Opportunity to clarify values and discuss treatment of special needs patients, including professional ethics and laws governing dentistry.
• DHBS 4403: Community Dental Health Practice (2 credits) - Continuation of Community Dental Health, with opportunity to perfect skills in communication and motivational techniques.
• DHBS 4406: Applied Oral Pathology (1 credit) - Presentation of cases of unknown oral pathology, with objective to obtain complete history, formulate differential diagnosis, and propose rational approach for evaluation and treatment.
• DHBS 4407: Current Applications in Dental Hygiene (2 credits) - Integration of dental hygiene theory and practice with biomedical sciences to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• DHBS 4408: Practice Management (2 credits) - Discussion of employment techniques, office and staff communication, and practice management, with opportunity to make professional presentation of dental-related techniques and procedures.