Course Descriptions

DEN 110 - Dental Health Education
Emphasis is placed on oral health education and promotion, and preventive counseling, utilizing philosophies of education, communication skills, and motivational techniques. This course provides the knowledge base for dental hygiene education and prepares the student to provide services as an integral member of the health team. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C is required in this course to continue in the program for DEN students.

DEN 111 - Dental Radiography I
An introduction to physics and biology of radiation; radiation hygiene; equipment and materials; film and digital sensor exposure and processing, technique and chemistry. 2 Credits.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C is required in this course to continue in the program for DEN students and a C- for DAS students.

DEN 112 - Oral Anatomy and Physiology I
This course includes anatomical identification and discussion of the function and structures of the oral cavity and the surrounding landmarks of the face and head. Clinical application will be discussed concerning occlusion, anesthesia, mastication, radiographic interpretation, and identification of variations in anatomy. 2 Credits.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C is required in this course to continue in the program for DEN students and a C- for DAS students.

DEN 113 - Barrier Precautions and Infection Control Measures
Focuses on the scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control and barrier precautions. This course will provide the student with the knowledge to identify possible sepsis in a dental patient. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C is required in this course to continue in the program for DEN students and a C- for DAS students.

DEN 114 - Dental Hygiene I
An introduction to dental and dental hygiene practice; basic concepts, methods, materials, and techniques of dental hygiene care. 2 Credits.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C is required in this course to continue in the program for DEN students.

DEN 115 - Clinical Dental Hygiene I
Emphasis is placed on the development of pre-clinical dental hygiene skills in preparation for clinical dental hygiene patient treatment. 2 Credits.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C is required in this course to continue in the program for DEN students.

DEN 121 - Dental Radiography II
Continuation of DEN 111. Anatomical landmarks; deviations from normal; evaluation of radiographs. Extra and intraoral projections. Emphasis on exposure technique and patient management during radiographic treatment. 2 Credits.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C is required in this course to continue in the program for DEN students and a C- for DAS students.

DEN 122 - Oral Anatomy and Physiology II
This course will study the embryologic development of the face, oral cavity and the teeth and histologic structure of the teeth and oral tissues, and review developmental conditions and anomalies related to dental and oral structures. Function and variations in function will be reviewed as well as the clinical significance and application of knowledge to patient evaluation and treatment. 2 Credits.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 110, DEN 111, DEN 112, DEN 113, DEN 114, DEN 115.

DEN 123 - General & Oral Pathology I
An introduction to the principles of general pathology, immunology and inflammation. Students will learn to identify and describe normal and abnormal oral soft tissue lesions. Emphasis will be on pathology of oral mucosa, dental tissues and related structures. Developmental anomalies of teeth and anatomical variation of oral soft tissues as well as systemic diseases and their oral manifestations will be discussed. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 110, DEN 111, DEN 112, DEN 13, DEN 114, DEN 115.

DEN 124 - Dental Hygiene II
This course continues to build knowledge for dental hygiene care, treatment planning, and case management. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): DEN 110, DEN 111, DEN 112, DEN 113, DEN 114 AND DEN 115, all with a minimum grade of C in each.

DEN 125 - Clinical Dental Hygiene II
The beginning level of direct patient care utilizing primary level skills in patient histories, exams, patient education, treatment, planning, and record keeping. Students are required to recruit diverse population of patients in order to meet clinical requirements. 3 Credits.

Prerequisite(s): DEN 110, DEN 111, DEN 112, DEN 113 DEN 114 AND DEN 115, all with a minimum grade of C

DEN 129 - Periodontics I
This course begins with a review of normal periodontal anatomy and physiology. Classification of health and periodontal diseases will be discussed with emphasis on biofilm induced and non biofilm induced gingival diseases based on the foundation of the dental hygiene process of care. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 110, DEN 111, DEN 112, DEN 113, DEN 114, DEN 115.

DEN 211 - Dental Materials
This course includes a study of the physical and chemical properties, manipulation of and uses for the most commonly used dental materials. A lecture component will present background information about the dental materials and a laboratory component will present the practical application for each material (demonstration and lab practice). 2 Credits.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 121, DEN 122, DEN 123, DEN 124, DEN 125, DEN 129.

DEN 212 - Community Oral Health I
Students will begin to explore public health dentistry through case-based problem identification, data gathering and evaluation, and the exploration of project development and implementation. Case-based learning and evaluation of scholarly dental literature will expose the student to the foundation of community dentistry and its role in society. Mathematical models in dental research will be explored during literature review. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 122, DEN 123, DEN 124, DEN 125, DEN 129, DEN 121

DEN 213 - General & Oral Pathology II
This course is a continuation of study of pathology or the understanding of disease processes. Basic principles of disease and their application to specific organ systems, immunology, oral tissues and related structures will continue to be discussed. Pathology prepares students to detect deviations from normal in the evaluation of the patient's systemic and oral health status and to make appropriate referrals when patients exhibit deviations that require a definitive diagnosis. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 121, DEN 122, DEN 123, DEN 124, DEN 125, DEN 129

DEN 214 - Dental Hygiene III
The focus of this course is on advanced techniques for comprehensive dental hygiene care. Emphasis is placed on case study to help student prepare for the Dental Hygiene National Board. 2 Credits.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 121, DEN 122, DEN 123, DEN 124, DEN 125, and DEN 129.

DEN 215 - Clinical Dental Hygiene III
Emphasis will be on continued development of clinical skills in comprehensive direct patient care, treating a variety of patient populations to include children, adolescents, adult, geriatric, and special needs. Students will also provide dental hygiene care for patients with periodontal diseases. 4 Credits.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 121, DEN 122, DEN 123, DEN 124, DEN 125, DEN 129.

DEN 216 - Dental Therapeutics I
Systematic approach to general principles of pharmacology. Study of commonly used agents in dentistry, drugs used in specific medical conditions, and drugs used in management of medical emergencies. Topics also include: pregnancy and breastfeeding, substance use and misuse, and herbal/natural products and dietary supplements. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 121, DEN 122, DEN 123, DEN 124, DEN 125, DEN 129.

DEN 217 - Dental Specialties
This course examines the essential components, clinical procedures performed, and armamentarium (instruments/equipment) used in the various dental specialties. Students will learn the interactive roles of each dental team member in the practice of the dental specialties. Introduction to the clinical advances and new trends in dentistry is included. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 121, DEN 122, DEN 123, DEN 124, DEN 125, DEN 129.

DEN 219 - Periodontics II
This course is a continuation of study of periodontal diseases to include pathogenesis of diseases, critical analysis of patient assessments, dental hygiene diagnoses, case based treatment planning and current treatment modalities 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 121, DEN 122, DEN 123, DEN 129.

DEN 222 - Community Oral Health II
Through this course, students will explore the methods of oral health promotion, disease prevention, and program planning through problem identification, data gathering and evaluation, project development and implementation. Mathematical models will be used to interpret gathered data and draw inferences using graphs, tables and/or schematics. The final project will highlight the student's understanding of research methods, evaluation of data, quantitative biostatistics, community interventions, and community implementation. 2 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 211, DEN212, DEN 213, DEN 214, DEN 215, DEN 216, DEN 217, DEN 219.

DEN 224 - Dental Hygiene IV
This course will prepare the dental hygiene student for the job market and the ADA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination in the areas of ethics and jurisprudence in dentistry, current issues, trends, dental practice management, marketing skills, job seeking, and licensure. 2 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 211, DEN 212, DEN 213, DEN 214, DEN 215, DEN, 216, DEN 217, DEN 219

DEN 225 - Clinical Dental Hygiene IV
Improvement of clinical skills developed in DEN 215. Students will continue to develop advanced clinical skills, comprehensive dental hygiene treatment planning, total patient care and supportive periodontal treatment (SPT). The student will treat a variety of patient populations to include children, adolescents, adult, geriatric, and special needs. Students will provide dental hygiene care for patients with periodontal diseases. Course includes radiographic evaluation. Students are required to recruit patients in order to meet clinical requirements. 4 Credits.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 211, DEN 212, DEN 213, DEN 214, DEN 215, DEN 216, DEN 217, DEN 219

DEN 226 - Dental Therapeutics II
Continuation of study of drugs significant to dental practice and possible dental office medical emergencies. Emphasis will be on evaluation and dental management of medically compromised patients with special attention to their medications and drug interactions. 1 Credit.

Prerequisite(s): Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following: DEN 211, DEN 212, DEN 213, DEN 214, DEN 216, DEN 217, DEN 219.

DEN 229 - Periodontics III
Various periodontal surgical procedures will be reviewed in this course. Students will learn pre and post care of periodontal patients, post surgical complications, and latest advances in periodontal diagnostics/treatment. Diagnosis and management concepts of various periodontal diseases will be discussed through case-studies format. Students will write a "Perio Paper" (Writing Intensive Course). 1 Credit.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all previous semesters DEN courses with a grade of C or better.

DEN 290 - Independent Study
See the Department Chairperson. Variable Credit.