The student will be able to:
A. Collect dental hygiene assessment data on patients in the clinical setting.
B. Analyze assessment data and develop appropriate treatment plans for patients in the clinical setting.
C. Implement dental hygiene care for patients in the clinical setting.
D. Evaluate results of dental hygiene care on patients in the clinical setting.
E. Develop oral health education strategies and plans for patients in the clinic setting.
F. Maintain standard infection and hazard control protocols during clinic procedures.
G. Understand and apply the principles of law and ethics to the practice of dental hygiene.
H. Write a research paper on a geriatric patient competency based on clinical experience and current evidence based literature.

A. Dental hygiene assessment data
1. Assessment data
a. Relevant medical and dental information
b. Extraoral and intraoral examination findings
c. Periodontal status
d. Caries examination
e. Risk assessments
f. Dietary information
g. Current oral hygiene habits
2. Consultation with medical/dental professionals
3. Periodontal risk using evidence-based internet programs, radiographs, periodontal examination, bacterial testing and patient interview
4. Caries risk using evidence-based internet programs, radiographs, caries examination findings, patient interview, and saliva testing
B. Treatment planning
1. Treatment recommendations based on the patient's individual needs
2. Comprehensive treatment plans
a. Individualized goals and treatment outcomes
b. Oral hygiene instructions
c. Dental hygiene care by appointment
d. Necessary referrals
3. Faculty consultation
a. Development of professional communication
C. Dental hygiene treatment procedures
1. Preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene procedures
a. Complete removal of calculus, soft deposits, plaque biofilm, stains and the smoothing of unattached surfaces
b. Pain control procedures
1) Topical anesthesia
2) Local anesthesia
2. Adjunctive dental hygiene procedures
a. Ultrasonic scaling
b. Dentinal desensitization treatments
c. Pit and fissure sealants
d. Topical fluoride treatments
3. Post-operative instructions
4. Sharpening techniques
5. Emergency management
6. Rotation duties
a. Screener
b. Screener assistant
c. Rover
d. Radiology lab
7. Time management strategies
D. Evaluation of dental hygiene treatment
1. Recall intervals for patients
2. Evaluation of healing following treatment
a. Identification of clinical parameters to assess healing
3. Re-evaluation appointments
4. Dental referrals
E. Oral health education strategies
1. Oral hygiene instructions including:
a. Patient's dental health knowledge
b. Patient motivation
c. Manual dexterity
d. Gingival condition/periodontal status
2. Nutritional counseling including dietary analysis
3. Educational strategies to guide patients in learning specific manual skills
4. Educational techniques/methodologies, and learning styles/preferences appropriate throughout the lifespan
F. Infection and hazard control protocols
1. Infection control procedure for disinfection of the dental operatory and sterilization of instruments
2. Prevention of cross contamination
3. Duties of sterilizer and sterilizer assistant
4. Equipment maintenance, spore testing and quality control records
G. Law and ethics
1. Accurate and detailed patient records
2. Patient confidentiality
3. Referral to various dental and medical service providers
4. Professional ethics and conduct when interacting with patients, faculty, and fellow classmates
5. Acceptable standards of care
6. Cultural competency

A. Dental hygiene clinical practice. Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating dental hygiene care on patients in a clinical setting.
B. Additional required clinical lab hours. Students participate in the following activities and field experiences as part of their clinical dental hygiene course work: set up time and patient chart review before clinic sessions begin and clean up time and instructor review of dental hygiene care after patients are dismissed, weekly clinic maintenance to clean and inspect clinic dental chairs and equipment, assist senior graduate students at dental hygiene licensure examinations.

Clinic proficiencies: students must achieve a grade of 75% or better on all clinic proficiencies
1. Complete an Instrumentation Process Evaluation
2. Complete two periodontal probing evaluations
3. Complete an instrument sharpening proficiency
4. Complete an oral hygiene instruction proficiency on the patient competency
Clinic requirements:
1. Complete dental hygiene care on a minimum of three patients with a grade of 75% or better
2. Complete a patient competency project on a pediatric or adolescent patient with a grade of 75% or higher
3. Successfully apply pit and fissure sealants on two teeth
4. Successfully complete two coronal polishing procedures
5. Successfully complete two topical fluoride applications

Clinical laboratory and instruction

Bowen, D., and J. Pieren. Darby and Walsh Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice, 5th ed.. 2019.

Nield-Gehrig. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation, 8th ed.. 2019.

Nield-Gehrig, J., D. Shin, and D. Willman. Foundations of Periodontics for the Dental Hygienist, 5th ed.. 2018.

Wynn, R., T. Meiler, and H. Crossley. Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry, 25th ed.. 2019.

Chan, P., and J. Leicht. Foothill College Dental Hygiene Policy Manual. 2020.

Chan, P., J. Leicht, and P. Staana. Foothill College Dental Hygiene Clinic Manual. 2020.

A. Write a 7-10 page case study/research paper on a pediatric or adolescent patient treated in the clinic for competency and complete all required assignments and paperwork for competency project.
B. Reading assignments (weekly) in the clinic manual, textbooks, evidence based journal articles; be prepared to deliver dental hygiene care to patients in clinic.
C. Write assessment findings, treatment plans, dental hygiene treatment entries, referrals and in the patient electronic charts for patients seen in the clinic each week.