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Dental Hygiene Entry-Level Traditional Program Course Descriptions

Courses required by the UMMC School of Dentistry's Dental Hygiene entry-level traditional program include:

• DH 302. Principles & Practice I. This introductory didactic and laboratory course begins preparing students for the Dental Hygiene Process of Care. Emphasis is placed on infection control protocol, data collection, patient assessment, treatment modalities, and professionalism.(Lecture/Lab) (2 semester hours)
• DH 305. Dental Hygiene Instrumentation. Development and application of the fundamentals of periodontal instrumentation with emphasis on assessment. (Lecture/Lab) (2 semester hours)
• DH 309. Dental Anatomy and Occlusion. A study of dental anatomy and physiology. Focus is on developmental and anatomical differences among teeth, root morphology and anomalies, and includes an introduction to static and dynamic occlusion. (Lecture) (2 semester hours)
• DH 312. Preventive Oral Health. Focuses on the science and practice of preventive dental care. The etiology and associated risk factors of common oral diseases are presented. The measures that promote oral health and prevent disease are emphasized including: tooth brushing, toothpastes, mouth rinses, chemotherapeutics, interproximal cleaning, diet modification, fluorides, sealants, and oral risk assessments. Also included are communication and motivational interviewing techniques for patient compliance, considerations to dental hygiene care due to patient health conditions and prevention of oral disease in various life stages. (Lecture) (3 semester hours)
• DH 313. Radiology. Study of radiology and its use in dentistry as a diagnostic aid. Theories of exposure, processing, evaluation, and interpretation of normal and abnormal structures are taught for both digital and film-based image capture. An emphasis is placed on normal anatomic structures viewed in periapical and panoramic surveys. Radiographic surveys via the paralleling technique are exposed and evaluated. Panoramic radiographs are also exposed. (Lecture/Lab) (4 semester hours)
• DH 315. Oral Histology And Embryology. A study of the histology of teeth and surrounding structures. A survey of the elements of embryology of the head and neck, especially related to the development of the teeth, dental arches, salivary glands, buccal mucosa, pharynx and tongue. (Lecture) (1 semester hour)
• DH 316. Pathophysiology. A study of the pathology and oral health management of disease. Topics include functions of the cells, tissues, organs and organ systems and how they relate to the disease process, along with the inflammatory process and immunologic response. Emphasizes normal and pathological responses to illness as related to the evaluation and treatment of the dental patient. (Lecture) (3 semester hours)
• DH 317. Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office. A comprehensive study in the prevention, management, recognition, treatment and disposition of medical emergencies that may occur in the dental office. (Lecture) (2 semester hours)
• DH 321. Head and Neck Anatomy. A detailed study of the skeletal, muscular, vascular and neural features of the head and neck. (Lecture) (2 semester hours)
• DH 323. Methods of Patient Care. This course aids in preparing and transitioning students from didactic and laboratory coursework to clinical experiences.  Students will build on foundational knowledge presented in DH 302 Principles & Practice I and DH 305 Dental Hygiene Instrumentation with emphasis on development and application of calculus removal.  Students will also apply knowledge of the dental hygiene process of care in the clinical setting.  Prerequisites:  DH 302 Principles and Practice I, DH 305 Dental Hygiene Instrumentation. (Lecture/Lab) (3 semester hours) 
• DH 326. Principles & Practice II. Expands on Dental Hygiene Principles & Practice I through additional lecture and laboratory sessions. Additional clinical procedures and practice will include nutritional counseling, instrument sharpening, placement of chemotherapeutic and desensitizing agents, sealant placement, caries detection techniques, use of ultrasonics and air polishers, and taking impressions for study models and bleaching trays. Prerequisite: DH 302 Principles & Practice I. (Lecture/Lab) (2 semester hours)
• DH 327. Patient Care I. The development and application of clinical skills in assessment, care plans, implementation, and evaluation of care. Prerequisite: DH 323 Methods of Patient Care.(Clinical rotation) (2 semester hours)
• DH 331. Periodontics I. An introduction to periodontics with the focus on clinical and histological aspects of the periodontium including health and disease. (Lecture) (1 semester hour)
• DH 332. Scientific Foundations. A study of the functions of the cells, tissues, organs and organ systems and how they relate to the disease process. The inflammatory process including the immunologic response and healing will be included. (Lecture) (3 semester hours)
• DH 405. Patient Care II. Students will expand on the application of patient care to a diversified population. Emphasis on establishing competence in preventive and therapeutic procedures. Prerequisite:  DH 323 Methods of Patient Care, DH 327 Patient Care I. (Clinical Rotation) (3 semester hours)
• DH 406. Dental Public Health I. An introduction to the history, principles, and ethics of dental public health in the US and worldwide. Included in this course are concepts of dental health preventive modalities and cultural competency. (Lecture) (1 credit hour)
• DH 407. Pharmacology I. This course presents introductory principles of pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics. Characteristics and uses of major drug groups in relation to patient care are discussed. (Lecture) (1 semester hour)
• DH 408. Pharmacology II. A study of drug actions and their mechanisms when introduced to the body under specific conditions and the reactions of the body to these drugs. Special emphasis is placed on pharmacological knowledge that will provide more effective care of the patient by the dental hygienist. (Lecture) (2 credit hours)
• DH 409 Dental Public Health II. This course will provide readings, discussion, and practical experiences related to planning, implementation, and evaluation of the teaching/learning process in community settings. An emphasis on fieldwork experiences across various populations will occur along with epidemiology and presentation of research. Prerequisite: DH 406 Dental Public Health I, and DH 417 Evidence-Based Dental Hygiene. (Lecture/Lab) (3 credit hours)
• DH 416. Oral Pathology I. This course is a study of the definition, distribution, causality, resolution, and outcomes of pathological conditions affecting the head and neck with emphasis on the oral and perioral areas.(Lecture) (1 semester hour)
• DH 417. Evidence-Based Dental Hygiene I. This course provides students with a practical knowledge of the research process and serves as an introduction to research design. Primary emphasis consist of critical reviews of dental hygiene research studies and their application to clinical practice. (Lecture) (1 semester hour)
• DH 418. Principles & Practice III. Expand on the "Dental Hygiene Principles & Practice" courses with continued discussion on theoretical, practical and ethical concepts in dental hygiene. Specific emphasis on dental hygiene care of patients with various systemic, mental, physical disorders and/or special needs will be covered. Prerequisites: All courses in previous semester. (Lecture) (2 semester hours)
• DH 420. Pain and Anxiety Management. The course describes method used to control pain, fear, and anxiety in the dental office. The safe and effective administration of nitrous oxide sedation and administration of local anesthesia is covered. (Lecture) (2 semester hours)
• DH 423. Biomaterials in Dentistry. Introduction to biomaterials employed in dentistry. Materials and techniques utilized in the clinical environment will be in the lab portion of the course. Prerequisites: All courses in previous semesters. (Lecture/Lab) (2 semester hours)
• DH 425. Periodontics II. Builds on the foundational knowledge presented in Periodontology I with emphasis on risk factors, assessment. Prerequisites: DH331 Periodontics I, and DH 327 Patient Care I. (Lecture) (1 semester hour)
• DH 431 Periodontics III. Builds on the foundation knowledge presented in Periodontology I and II with emphasis on treatment planning, implementation of therapies, and maintenance. Prerequisites: DH 331 Periodontics I, and DH 425 Periodontics II. (Lecture) (1 semester hour) 
• DH 433. Patient Care III. A continuation of comprehensive patient care services with emphasis on establishing entry-level competence in preventive and therapeutic procedures. Prerequisites:  DH 323 Methods of Patient Care, DH 327 Patient Care I, and DH 405 Patient Care II. (Clinical rotation) (4 semester hours)
• DH 444. Practice Management and Dental Specialties. This course provides students with legal, practical and ethical concepts in the provision of oral health care and foundational concepts of business aspects of the profession. Content on dental and dental hygiene specialties and sub-specialties are discussed along with the scope of practice allowed by dental hygienists in the state of Mississippi. (Lecture) (2 semester hours)
• DH 446. Case Studies. A review of the oral health literature related to patient care. Emphasis is placed on clinical reasoning and decision-making in the treatment of the periodontal or unique clinic patient, resulting in a written and verbal presentation. (Lecture) (1 semester hour)
• DH 449 Oral Pathology II. A study of the assessment, treatment, and Dental Hygiene management of pathologic conditions affecting the head and neck with emphasis on the oral and perioral areas. (Lecture) (1 semester hour)