Academic Catalog

D H 300A: ORAL BIOLOGY I

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 3
Hours: 3 lecture per week (36 total per quarter)
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 52A.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • The student will be able to identify the location on the dental arch, the name and universal tooth number when shown individual extracted teeth (75% or better)
  • The student will identify the branches of cranial nerve V (Trigeminal nerve) and the oral structures innervated by the nerve.

Description

First in the series of oral biology courses for dental hygiene students, this course provides a comprehensive overview of head and neck anatomy, including the skull, blood vessels, lymphatic system, muscles, and nerves. Dental anatomy will be covered in detail, including tooth morphology, classification of occlusion, eruption schedules, and numbering systems. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Accurately identify and label landmarks of teeth using appropriate terminology.
  2. Differentiate between tooth coding systems (e.g., Universal, FDI, and Palmer) by correctly matching codes to the appropriate teeth.
  3. Accurately apply tooth eruption schedules for primary and permanent teeth across a range of patient scenarios.
  4. Analyze occlusion through identification of the three occlusal classifications (I, II, III).
  5. Compare types of malocclusion and tooth anomalies by accurately identifying and describing each.
  6. Apply anatomical nomenclature to the body planes and positions.
  7. Identify and describe the bones and landmarks of the skull with an emphasis on the maxilla and mandible.
  8. Describe the origin, insertion, and action of the musculature of the head and neck.
  9. Describe the flow of blood from the heart to all areas of the oral cavity, including all teeth.
  10. Describe the lymphatic drainage pathways of the head and neck.
  11. Explain the basic components of the nervous system.
  12. Describe the innervation of the head and neck, including the trigeminal and facial nerves.
  13. Describe the appropriate infection control and hazard protocols when handling extracted teeth.

Course Content

  1. Dental terminology
    1. Incisors
    2. Cuspids
    3. Premolars
    4. Molars
    5. Dental anomalies
  2. Tooth numbering systems and divisions
    1. Numbering system
      1. FDI notation
      2. Palmer notation
      3. Universal notation
    2. Divisions
      1. Sextants
      2. Quadrants
  3. Eruption schedules
    1. Deciduous dentition
    2. Permanent dentition
    3. Mixed dentition
    4. Delayed active eruption
    5. Delayed passive eruption
  4. Characteristics and classification of occlusion
    1. Occlusion
      1. Class 1 occlusion
      2. Class 2 occlusion
        1. Division II
        2. Division I
      3. Class 3 occlusion
    2. Curve of Spee
    3. Curve of Wilson
    4. Sphere of Monson
    5. Vertical alignment of teeth
  5. Development and classification of malocclusion and anomalies
    1. Overbite
    2. Overjet
    3. Openbite
    4. Crossbite
  6. Anatomic nomenclature
    1. Anatomic position
      1. Anterior
      2. Posterior
      3. Ventral
      4. Dorsal
      5. Superior
      6. Inferior
      7. Median plane
      8. Sagittal plane
      9. Frontal plane
      10. Horizontal plane
      11. Ipsilateral
      12. Contralateral
      13. Superficial
      14. Deep
  7. Landmarks of the skull
    1. Cranial bones
    2. Facial bones
    3. Maxillary bone
    4. Mandible
    5. Hyoid bone
  8. Muscles of the head and neck
    1. Muscles of mastication
    2. Supra and infrahyoid muscles
    3. Muscles of facial expression
    4. Muscles of swallowing
    5. Pharyngeal muscles
    6. Tongue muscles
  9. Arterial/venous complex of the head
    1. Circulatory system
    2. Heart and chambers
    3. Valves of the heart
    4. Aorta
    5. Carotid arteries
    6. Circle of Willis
    7. Maxillary arteries
    8. Venous drainage
    9. Jugular veins
    10. Pterygoid plexus of veins
    11. Cavernous sinus thrombosis
  10. Lymphatic system
    1. Lymph circulation
    2. Parotid nodes
    3. Submental nodes
    4. Submandibular nodes
    5. Cervical nodes
    6. Lymphatic trunk
    7. Nodes of diseases
  11. Nervous system
    1. Central nervous system
    2. Brain
    3. Spinal cord
    4. Peripheral nervous system
    5. Cranial nerves
    6. Spinal nerves
    7. Autonomic nervous system
    8. Sympathetic nerves
    9. Parasympathetic nerves
  12. Trigeminal and facial nerves
    1. Ophthalmic division
    2. Maxillary division
    3. Mandibular division
    4. Greater petrosal nerves
    5. Chorda tympani nerves
    6. Buccal nerves
  13. Infection and hazard control
    1. Extracted teeth
      1. Aseptic technique
      2. Hazardous waste management

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Dental models.
2. Skull models.
3. Extracted and individual tooth models.
4. When taught online, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Quizzes
Oral anatomy identification evaluations
Midterm examination
Final examination

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Discussion
Identification activities on models
Demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Fehrenbach and Popowics. Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy, 6th ed.. 2026.

Fehrenbach M.J., and S.W. Herring. Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck, 7th ed.. 2026.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Weekly reading assignments
  2. Chapter-specific assignments and review questions
  3. Anatomy exercises, including labeling and structure identification

Discipline(s)

Dental Technology