Program: Dental Hygiene Hybrid Studies, BS - University of Pittsburgh

Course Curriculum


COURSES- Semester 1	Credits	Delivery	Duration
DENHYG 1112 Introduction to Dental Hygiene This course addresses material that focuses on the practice of dental hygiene care; with major content areas emphasizing assessment, dental hygiene diagnoses, treatment planning, implementation, and evaluation.	3 credits	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1113 Introduction to Dentistry This course provides an overview of the activities of each dental specialty. It also includes the recognition of the clinical function and application of dental materials. The lectures introduce the students to the content and scope of each specialty area, the service delivered, and the materials utilized with emphasis on dental hygiene interaction and application.	2 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1114 Dental Anatomy This course presents the basic structures of the oral cavity and morphology and function of the primary and permanent dentitions through interactive lectures and student lead group activities. The course also presents knowledge needed to differentiate normal tooth anatomy from tooth anomalies. It also introduces the student to various tooth identification systems and dental terminology used to effectively communicate in the profession.	2 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG1116 Dental Hygiene Preclinic Dental Hygiene Preclinic is established as the preclinical time for students to observe, discuss, and practice the skills required to perform as a clinical dental hygienist. The student works and progresses at their own rate and must demonstrate consistent mastery of the skills taught.	2 credits	In person	15 weeks 1.5 days on site per week
DENHYG 1245 Radiology 1 w/ Lab This course will introduce dental hygiene students to the science and technique of dental radiography. The text used covers the following information: 1) Radiation Basics; 2) Equipment, Film, Phosphor Storage Plates (PSP), Digital Sensors, and Processing Basics; 3) Dental Radiographic Basics; 4) Technique Basics; 5) Normal Anatomy and Film Mounting Basics; and 6) Radiographic Interpretation Basics. The laboratory component of the course provides the student practice with each of the content areas using manikins, XCPs, practice films, PSPs, and digital sensors for exposing, processing, mounting and interpretation. The laboratory component also provides the student practice placing XCPs on each other.	2 credits	Hybrid synchronous/ in person lab	15 weeks .5 day on site per week
DENHYG 1777 Survey of Biochemistry This course provides an overview of principles in biochemistry, which are important for understanding systemic and oral health. This course will provide students with an overview of the biochemistry of saliva and its role in cariology. The course will also provide an overview of the biochemistry of nutrition as it pertains to dental and oral health. The course format includes lectures, discussions and assignments on each topic covered in the classroom.	2 credits	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG1544 Introduction to Research Analysis The purpose of this course is to introduce basic research concepts and processes in order to analyze oral health literature and to apply these concepts to the practice of evidence-based decision-making.	3 credits	Hybrid synchronous Development complete	15 weeks
COURSES- Semester 2	Credits	Delivery	Duration
DENHYG 1242 BIO SCI 2 / Head & Neck Anatomy Head and Neck Anatomy concentrates on the macroscopic and microscopic anatomy, physiology, and embryology of the head, neck and intraoral tissues. The course provides a detailed study of anatomy and physiology of head and neck structures, such as the bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics of the head and neck. The course also covers the embryological development of orofacial structures. A discussion of craniofacial anomalies and syndromes of the head and neck is incorporated into the course content. The development and structure of teeth is also addressed, including an overview of tooth formation, development, and eruption, as well as in-depth discussions of the structure of enamel, dentin, cementum, dental pulp, and the periodontium. Developmental anomalies of teeth and oral histology are also discussed.	2 credits	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1247 Dental Hygiene Seminar 1 This course is a continuation of Introduction to Dental Hygiene (DENHYG 1112), and the companion course to Dental Hygiene Clinic I (DENHYG 1249). Course content will focus on the dental hygiene process of care: patient assessment, diagnosis, planning, (including formulating and communicating with patients), the implementation of various dental hygiene treatment modalities, the evaluation of dental hygiene treatment, documentation (ADPIED), and the management of medical emergencies.	1 credit	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1248 Dental Materials Dental Materials is an introductory lecture and laboratory course designed to familiarize the student with various materials used in the practice of dentistry. Emphasis will be placed on the physical properties, manipulation, management, and proper selection and evaluation of dental materials. The course will provide the student with a greater depth of understanding of the properties of dental materials; teach the student how to handle the materials properly; how to assess and treat a patient by recognition of dental materials placed in the mouth clinically and/or radiographically; and how to educate the patient on the characteristics and properties of dental materials.	2 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1249 Dental Hygiene Clinic 1 This course is designed to enable first year dental hygiene students to begin to gain competency at the Beginner-Novice Level in the acquisition of dental hygiene skills by providing supervised comprehensive care to a diverse population of patients. Emphasis is placed on the dental hygiene process of care as defined by the American Dental Hygienists Association: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation. The clinical responsibilities of the dental hygienist are emphasized, including preventive, therapeutic, and educational services.	2 credits	In-person at clinic site	15 weeks
DENHYG 1370 Introduction to Periodontics This course provides an overview of periodontics and will include the following main topics: A.) Classification, etiology and epidemiology of the periodontal disease. B.)Roles of local factors, occlusal trauma and systemic and environmental factors in the etiology of the periodontal diseases.	3 credits	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1376 Radiology 2 This course will provide the student with an in-depth understanding of essential theory and practice of dental radiography in its use for assessing and monitoring various dental diseases. Students will gain the skills needed in radiographic interpretation to identify periodontal disease, caries, dental materials, and other radiographic conditions and lesions. The text used covers the following information: 1) Normal Oral Anatomy of Panoramic and Periapical Images; 2) Intro to Image Interpretation; 3) Descriptive Terminology; 4) Identification of Restorations, Dental Materials, and Foreign Objects; 5) Interpretation of Dental Caries; 6) Interpretation of Periodontal Disease; and 7) Interpretation of Trauma, Pulpal Lesions, and Periapical Lesions.	2 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
CGS- Mathematics Course	3 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
COURSES- Semester 3	Credits	Delivery	Duration
DENHYG 1375 Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist This course is designed to provide the dental hygiene student with the necessary knowledge and skills to administer local anesthesia in a clinical setting, The dental hygiene student will be introduced to and gain knowledge in oro-facial anatomy; theories of pain control; local anesthesia pharmacology, armamentarium, technique and complications associated with the administration of local anesthetics. This course will provide the fundamental skills for nitrous oxide/oxygen administration. Students will gain knowledge in the role of nitrous oxide/oxygen as an adjunct to local anesthesia injections, patient selection, and the administration process. The specific requirements for dental hygiene local anesthesia licensure set forth by the State Board of Dentistry of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be addressed.	2 credits	Hybrid synchronous/ in person lab	15 weeks
DENHYG1377 Dental Hygiene Seminar 2 This course is a continuation of Seminar 1 (DENHYG 1247), and the companion course to Dental Hygiene Clinic 2 (DENHYG 1379). Course content will focus on practicing the dental hygiene process of care, (ADPIED) in order to become proficient at comprehensive dental hygiene treatment planning, patient education, and provision of dental hygiene clinical services. This includes recognizing and understanding chronic diseases, identifying and being prepared for medical emergencies in the dental setting.	1 credit	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1411 Pharmacology Pharmacology is the study of how drugs, both natural and synthetic, affect biological systems. The course will begin with an overview of the principles of pharmacology, including pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics of the drug classes most utilized in dental hygiene. This course is also designed to introduce the student to drug classes commonly taken by patients and how those drugs may affect the way dental care is administered. This course will also address legal issues pertaining to prescriptions and medications used in dentistry.	2 credits	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1419 DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC 2 This course is a continuation of Dental Hygiene Clinic 1 (DENHYG 1379) and is designed to enable dental hygiene students to continue to gain competency at the advanced beginner level by providing supervised comprehensive care to a diverse population of patients. Emphasis is placed on the dental hygiene process of care as defined by the American Dental Hygienists Association: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation and Documentation. The course is designed to develop the cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills necessary for delivery of preventive, educational and therapeutic services to the public. Students will provide patient care in the dental hygiene clinic and at clinical rotation sites.	3 credits	In-person at clinical site	15 weeks
DENHYG13XX Nutrition for the Dental Professional This course will examine the relationship between nutrition and systemic and oral health. Nutrition is a continuously evolving science. This course will focus on building foundational knowledge in macro and micronutrient’s role in nutrition. Emphasis will be placed on fostering personal value in nutrition’s role in health with reinforcement in the necessity of life-long learning to stay current in this science for the benefit of self and patient advocacy. Nutrition’s role in the management of systemic and oral health conditions will be explored. Cultural implications to nutritional choices will be discussed.	2 credits	Asynchronous (3 course meetings)	15 weeks
DENHYG1420 Ethics and Leadership This is a three-credit course designed to introduce health care professionals, especially dental hygienists, to the principles of ethics. Various aspects of ethics will be discussed, including the decision-making process on which evaluation is based. Current issues on balancing care quality and efficiency as well as improving access to care will be analyzed. This course will emphasize jurisprudence and practice management in dental hygiene.	3 credits	Asynchronous (3 course meetings)	15 weeks
CGS- Global Awareness and Cross-Cultural Understanding	3 credits	Asynchronous Development complete	15 weeks
COURSES- Semester 4	Credits	Delivery	Duration
DENHYG 1412 Public Health Dentistry This course provides an introduction to public health dentistry. The purpose of this class is to provide dental hygiene curriculum that prepares the graduate to promote oral health and prevent dental disease in the community. This course reviews the principles and theories of public health dentistry. This course will include examination of the national, state, and local roles of public health agencies. Program planning, development, and evaluation are examined through discussion of financing and the role of oral health professionals in community programs. The identification of oral health disparities is a primary focus, looking at the relationship with several economic and social factors among populations.	3 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1417 Dental Hygiene Seminar 3 This course is a continuation of Dental Hygiene Seminar 2 (DENHYG 1377) and is designed to be a complement of Dental Hygiene Clinic 3. This course will utilize the Darby Human Needs Model to build critical thinking skills as students continue to apply the dental hygiene process of patient care. Importance will be placed on individualizing treatment planning: setting goals, evaluating outcomes and modifying dental hygiene care plans through evidence-based approaches. Course content will address clinical issues; dental hygiene educational, therapeutic, and preventive techniques; and advanced instrumentation techniques, which include the use of Gracey curets and ultrasonic inserts. Selected topics in systemic, social, and behavioral issues that affect the oral health of diverse populations including special needs patients will be considered. Additional treatment considerations for special needs patients will be introduced. The students will continue to develop a case for presentation to peers and faculty in an open forum.	1 credit	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1419 Dental Hygiene Clinic 3 This course is a continuation of Dental Hygiene Clinic 2 (DENHYG 1379) and is designed to enable dental hygiene students to continue to gain competency at the advanced beginner level by providing supervised comprehensive care to a diverse population of patients. Emphasis is placed on the dental hygiene process of care as defined by the American Dental Hygienists Association: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation and Documentation. The course is designed to develop the cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills necessary for delivery of preventive, educational and therapeutic services to the public. Students will provide patient care in the dental hygiene clinic and at clinical rotation sites.	4 credits	In-person at clinical site/ external rotations	15 weeks
DENHYG 14XX General and Oral Pathology This course integrates material learned in the basic sciences curriculum, including embryology, biochemistry, histology, cell biology, and physiology, and applies it to the diseased state (pathology). General, systemic, and oral pathology are presented. The implications of oral and systemic conditions are discussed. The student will be competent in identifying disease and modifying appropriate hygiene therapy.	3 credits	Hybrid synchronous (1 hour small groups)	15 weeks
CGS- Technical, Business, or Research Writing	3 credits	Asynchronous Development complete	15 weeks
CGS- Humanistic Context	3 credits	Asynchronous Development complete	15 weeks
COURSES- Semester 5	Credits	Delivery	Duration
DENHYG 1547 Dental Hygiene Seminar 4 This course is designed to synthesize pertinent clinical and basic science information and enhance the clinical and didactic skills of the graduate dental hygienist. Providing an overview of all critical sciences and clinical dental hygiene courses will facilitate this and case studies will help students apply what they have learned. Course instructional methods include lectures, class discussion, and case presentations. The purpose of this course is to provide the student with weekly review of selected basic sciences and dental hygiene clinical content materials, as well as, to provide assignments of case studies that will reinforce content presented. Student individual case presentations will assist in the assimilation and synthesis of the dental hygiene process of care. This course also facilitates student preparation for graduation and licensure.	1 credit	Hybrid synchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1549 Dental Hygiene Clinic 4 This course is a continuation of DH Clinic 3 (DENHYG 1419) designed to enable dental hygiene students to continue to improve their proficiency in dental hygiene skills by providing supervised comprehensive care to a diverse group of patients. Emphasis is placed on the Dental Hygiene process of care as defined by the American Dental Hygienists Association: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation and Documentation. The course is designed to develop the cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills necessary for delivery of preventive, educational and therapeutic services to the public. Students will provide patient care in the dental hygiene clinic and at clinical rotation sites. This course is a continuation of the dental hygiene clinical experience. It is designed as the practice setting for the dental hygiene student to continue to gain competency at the advanced beginner level and progress to the competence level in dental hygiene skills by providing supervised comprehensive clinical care.	5 credits	In-person at clinical site/ external rotations	15 weeks
DENHYG 15XX Health Promotions Through the Lifespan This course will examine common health issues found throughout the human lifespan with the intention of helping you to gain a holistic perspective of your clinical patient experience. The course content is designed to provide you with relevant issues affecting the various physical stages of the human life cycle, with special emphasis on the most underserved populations of pediatrics and geriatrics. The content will be developed using the following themes: biological, psychological, social, environmental, and medical aspects of different age populations and their relationship to dental hygiene care. Consideration will be given to specific conditions a patient may present with within these life stages and how the dental hygienist can provide specialized patient education for their special needs.	3 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 15XX Dental Public Health Practicum This course is designed for students to develop foundational skills in building public health educational programming. Students will skills in developing lesson plans, including writing instructional objectives, developing topics and age and community-appropriate activities, as well as presenting these lesson plans in a team-teaching, peer review exercise. During the second half of the course, students will visit local schools (preschool -12th grade) and other community groups to present the dental health education lessons developed for each designated audience. These diverse target groups will vary in age from pre-school to high school level students to adults. There will be at least one site that includes students with special needs. Student grade assignments will be based upon a combination of lesson preparation, observation of classroom instructor or proctor, and evaluation of these classroom experiences.	3 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
Dental Hygiene Specialization Track First Course	3 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
COURSES- Semester 6	Credits	Delivery	Duration
DENHYG 15XX Dental Hygiene Senior Case Presentations The purpose of this course is to allow senior Dental Hygiene students to finish developing and presenting their senior periodontal case presentations. Students will have the opportunity to provide a thorough review of the entire dental hygiene process of care following the ADPIED format. These presentations are 30 minutes in length and serve as a culmination of evidence based dental hygiene practice with clinical and scientific knowledge demonstrated in the complete care of one patient from clinical experience. This presentation and following discussion provide faculty and students with a collaborative learning experience.	1 credit	Asynchronous	15 weeks
DENHYG 1689 Clinic 5 This course is a continuation of DH Clinic 4 (DENHYG 1549) designed to enable dental hygiene students to continue to improve their proficiency in dental hygiene skills by providing supervised comprehensive care to a diverse group of patients. Emphasis is placed on the Dental Hygiene process of care as defined by the American Dental Hygienists Association: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation and Documentation. The course is designed to develop the cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills necessary for delivery of preventive, educational and therapeutic services to the public. Students will provide patient care in the dental hygiene clinic and at clinical rotation sites. This course is a continuation of the dental hygiene clinical experience. It is designed as the practice setting for the dental hygiene student to continue to gain competency at the advanced beginner level and progress to the competence level in dental hygiene skills by providing supervised comprehensive clinical care.	2 credits	In-person at clinical site/ external rotations	15 weeks
CGS- Diversity Multiple courses available	3 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
CGS- Statistics Multiple courses available	3 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks
Dental Hygiene Specialization Track Second Course	3 credits	Asynchronous	15 weeks