Collaborative Concept Dental Hygiene Program

PHILOSOPHY
The Collaborative Concept Dental Hygiene Program is dedicated to
achieving our goals and objectives while maintaining the standards
provided by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)1. By
creating professional dental hygienists geared towards life-long
learning and serving the community1-4, our graduates will be well
accustomed with inter-professional collaboration and will effectively
utilize problem-solving strategies to foster optimal care for their
clients.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of the Collaborative Concept Dental Hygiene Program is to
educate professional dental hygienists who will positively affect the
oral health status of the community. 1,3 This educational experience
will include all prerequisite courses in the basic sciences, social
sciences, and liberal arts, 1 as well as significant time devoted to dental
science, clinical dental hygiene practice using evidence-based dental
hygiene decision-making and public health outreach. The curriculum
has been developed around the conceptual models of professionalism,
inter-professional collaboration and evidence-based decision making.
The experiences from this program will leave our graduates with an
understanding of an inter-professional approach to comprehensive
care, as well as integrate life-long learning strategies though
evidenced-based research.
GOALS AND COMPETENCIES
The goals of the Collaborative Concept Dental Hygiene Program are:
1.

Provide education in a broader perspective that allows for a

future in a collaborative environment. Participating with
healthcare professionals across disciplines to promote optimal
health to all classifications of clients.
o A. Graduates must be competent in interpersonal skills to
communicate effectively and interact with a diverse
population between not only clients, but also other
healthcare professionals.1, 2
o B. Graduates will be able to apply the knowledge and
manage resources from other health professionals to

maximize problem-solving strategies to promote optimal

overall wellness and provide comprehensive client care.2
2.

3.

4.

Possess the capabilities for critical thinking and evaluating

research to provide evidence-based, state-of-the-art dental
hygiene care and education to the surrounding community.3, 4
o

A. Analyze published articles on health science research

and apply the information to the practice of dental
hygiene.1

B. Evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral health products

and treatments.1, 4

C. Solve problems with critical thinking to make decisions

based on research from scientifically accepted
publications.1

Contribute to the growth, development and professionalism of

dental hygiene as advocated in the ADHA Code of Ethics through
personal, professional development by fostering life-long learning
and self-assessment.1, 2
o

A. Graduates must be competent in applying and

understanding the ethical, legal and regulatory principles
to the practice of dental hygiene.

B. Maintain honesty in the relationships with clients,

colleagues, and other professionals. 1

C. Advance and assume the roles of dental hygiene

practice through leadership, service activities and
affiliation with other professional organizations.1

To graduate an individual who is competent in providing

preventive and educational services utilizing the processes of
evidence-based decision making.
o

A. Students will be competent in providing care for all ages,

and all classifications of client.3

Child, adolescent, adult, geriatric, special needs and

medically compromised. 2

All classifications of periodontal disease

B. Students will posses the ability to apply the dental

hygiene process of care, which includes: assessment,
dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation. 2

C. Graduates will be competent in addressing medical

emergencies by providing the appropriate measures of life
support.

SELECTED CONCEPTUAL MODEL

The method of Evidenced-Based Decision Making using a
Collaborative Inter-professional approach is incorporated throughout
the students educational experience at the Collaborative Concept
Dental Hygiene Program. Interactive participation will be continually
implemented through each course.
It is expected for students to maintain and apply the highest
degree of professionalism and ethics while engaging in the practice of
dental hygiene. A professional dental hygienist is one who strives for
optimal care for their clients while abiding by the standards of care
and the laws of ethics. This standard is maintained throughout the
graduates profession.
GENERAL EDUCATION
Pre-requisite Courses:
Course
No.

Course Description

Credit
s

BIO 210

Human Anatomy (Lecture and Lab)

BIO 220

Physiology

CHE 101

Intro to Chemistry I (Lecture and Lab)

CHE 120

Principles of Organic Chemistry

ENG 110

Expository Writing

ENG 120

Literature & Composition

PSY 101

Intro to Psychology

SOC 101

Intro to Sociology

SPE 101

Fundamentals to Public Speaking

BIO 299

Nutrition

Major Requirements:
First Year, Fall Semester
Course
No.

Course Description

Credit
s

DH 100

Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene

DH 110

Oral Anatomy and Morphology

DH 111

Head and Neck Anatomy

DH 113

Infection & Hazard Control, Health

Promotion

DH114A

Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice I

Client Care
DH 115A

Dental Radiology I (Lecture)

DH 116

Health Education and Preventive

Counseling

DH 117

Dental Hygiene Treatment and

Evaluation

DH 118

Scientific Methods & Research

First Year, Spring Semester

Course
No.

Course Description

Credit
s

DH 114B

Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice II

(including Pain Management)

DH 119A

Collaborative Clinical Experience I

DH 120

Dental Materials

DH 121

General and Oral Pathology

DH 115B

Dental Radiology II (Lecture and Lab)

DH 122

Medical and Dental Emergencies

DH 123

Oral Embryology and Histology

DH 124

Oral Microbiology

DH 125

Periodontology

DH 126

Advanced Clinical Dental Hygiene

Practice

Service to Clients with Bloodborne

Infectious Diseases

Second Year, Fall Semester

Course
No.

Course Description

Credit
s

DH 210

Periodontology

DH 211

Pharmacology

DH 212A

Community Dental Health I

DH 114C

Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice III

DH 213

Educational Theories in DH Care

DH 214

Advanced Clinical Topics

DH 119B

Collaborative Clinical Experience II

DH 215A

Research Seminar I

(emphasis on evidenced-based decision

making)

Second Year, Spring Semester

Course
No.

Course Description

Credit

DH 216

Advanced Periodontology

DH 212B

Community Dental Health II

DH 217

Dental Office Practice

DH 218

Management for Special Needs Clients

DH 219

Ethics, Jurisprudence & Practice

Management

DH 119C

Collaborative Clinical Experience III

DH 114D

Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice IV

DH 215B

Research Seminar II

References
ChabotCollegeDentalHygieneOrientationManual,20122014.
CerritosCollegeDentalHygieneProgramwebsite:http://cms.cerritos.edu/dental
hygiene/dentalhygieneprogram.htm
FoothillCollegeDentalHygieneProgramwebsite:
http://www.foothill.edu/bio/programs/dentalh/#comp
NewYorkCityCollegeDentalHygieneProgram
http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/oaa/PDF/Dental_Hygine_ProgramOf_Studies.pdf