D H 324: ORAL PATHOLOGY

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading	Value
Effective Term:	Fall 2026
Units:	2
Hours:	2 lecture per week (24 total per quarter)
Advisory:	Not open to students with credit in D H 55B.
Degree & Credit Status:	Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE:	Non-GE
Transferable:	CSU
Grade Type:	Letter Grade Only
Repeatability:	Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate the ability to interpret clinical findings, distinguish normal from abnormal oral conditions, and formulate appropriate differential diagnoses using critical thinking skills, as assessed through case-based questions on the midterm examination.
Effectively describe oral lesions and deviations from normal tissue using appropriate clinical terminology for accurate documentation, as demonstrated through a 30-minute oral presentation on a selected oral pathology topic, evaluated using a rubric that assesses accuracy, terminology, organization, and depth of content with a minimum competency score of 75%.

Description

This course provides an in-depth study of the pathology of the head, neck, and oral structures. It covers developmental conditions, diseases of bacterial and viral origin, and neoplasms of the oral cavity. Emphasis is placed on the clinical recognition of deviations from normal, accurate documentation, differential diagnosis, and appropriate referral processes. Additionally, the course highlights the role of the dental hygienist in patient education, prevention, early detection, and referral of lesions in the head and neck regions. 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:

Demonstrate the ability to accurately describe oral lesions and deviations from normal tissue in patient records, using clinical terminology appropriate for documentation in a clinical setting.
Classify ulcerative lesions based on clinical features and construct a differential diagnosis that includes appropriate components for clinical follow-up and patient care planning.
Identify and describe the appearance, etiology, and clinical presentation of common vesicular lesions, and classify them according to diagnostic criteria.
Classify red and purple lesions and develop a differential diagnosis using clinical indicators, incorporating necessary follow-up procedures into patient assessment protocols.
Explain the etiology, clinical appearance, and management strategies for white lesions, and evaluate their potential for premalignancy.
Analyze pigmentation variations in oral tissues, assess their underlying etiology, and determine the need for further clinical follow-up or referral.
Discuss the presentation and oral manifestations of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and explain the dental hygienist's role in educating patients about HPV-related oral health concerns.
Classify soft tissue enlargements by etiology and formulate appropriate referral or management plans based on clinical examination findings.
Interpret radiographic and clinical features of hard tissue lesions and describe their pathophysiology in the context of diagnosis and treatment planning.
Identify, document, monitor, and refer suspicious skin lesions, collaborating with interdisciplinary health teams to ensure appropriate follow-up and patient care.

Course Content

Introduction to general and oral pathology
1. Health and wellness versus disease
2. Role of the dental hygienist
3. Objectives of the clinical evaluations
  1. Identifying deviations from normal
  2. Premalignant and malignant neoplasms
  3. Oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening
4. Performing extra-oral and intra-oral examination
  1. Visual inspection
  2. Palpation
  3. Describing and documenting clinical findings
  4. Describing radiographic findings
5. Determining a diagnosis
  1. Differential diagnosis
  2. Definitive diagnosis
6. Referral protocols and guidelines
Inflammation and repair
1. Acute inflammatory process
2. Chronic inflammation
  1. Granulomatous inflammation
    1. Abscess formation
  2. Regeneration
  3. Fibrous repair
Vesicular lesions
1. Traumatic or inflammatory lesions
  1. Mucus retention cyst and extravasation phenomena (mucocele)
2. Infectious viral diseases
  1. Herpes simplex virus
    1. Human herpesvirus type 1
      1. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis
      2. Secondary or recurrent herpes simplex infections
  2. Other forms of herpes simplex infections
    1. Herpetic whitlow
    2. Ocular herpes
    3. Herpes simplex virus and genital herpes
    4. Primary varicella (chickenpox)
    5. Secondary varicella-zoster (shingles or herpes zoster)
  3. Coxsackievirus infections
    1. Hand-foot-mouth disease
    2. Herpangina
  4. Paramyxoviridae virus Infections
    1. Rubeola (measles)
  5. Togavirus infections
    1. Rubella (German measles)
  6. Noninfectious vesiculobullous diseases
    1. Autoimmune disease
      1. Pemphigus vulgaris
    2. Pemphigoid
      1. Mucous membrane pemphigoid
      2. Bullous pemphigoid
  7. Congenital or genetic diseases
    1. Epidermolysis bullosa
Ulcer and ulcer-like lesions
1. Traumatic and inflammatory lesions
  1. Traumatic ulcers
  2. Necrotizing sialometaplasia
2. Infectious agents
  1. Syphilis
  2. Gonorrhea
  3. Actinomycosis
  4. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
  5. Deep fungal infections
3. Immune system disorders
  1. Aphthous ulcers
  2. Erythema multiforme
  3. Hypersensitivity reactions (allergic contact stomatitis)
  4. Lupus erythematosus
4. Neoplasms
  1. Squamous cell carcinoma
Red and purple lesions
1. Reactive, traumatic, or inflammatory lesions
  1. Pyogenic granuloma
  2. Peripheral giant cell granuloma
  3. Petechiae, ecchymoses, purpura
2. Immune system disorders
  1. Lichen planus
  2. Hypersensitivity reactions
3. Fungal infections
  1. Candidosis (candidiasis)
4. Neoplasms
  1. Kaposi sarcoma
  2. Erythroplakia
5. Vascular malformations
  1. Varicosity (varix)
  2. Congenital hemangioma
  3. Lymphangioma
White lesions
1. Variations of normal
  1. Fordyce granules
  2. Leukoedema
2. Traumatic and inflammatory lesions
  1. Geographic tongue
  2. Frictional keratosis
  3. Linea alba
  4. Cheek chewing
  5. Nicotine stomatitis
  6. Hairy tongue
  7. Chemical and thermal burns
3. Infections
  1. Acute pseudomembranous candidiasis
  2. Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis
  3. Hairy leukoplakia
  4. Parulis
4. Immune system disorders
  1. Lichen planus
5. Genetic or congenital disorders
  1. White sponge nevus
6. Premalignant/malignant disorders
  1. Leukoplakia
  2. Oral submucous fibrosis
Pigmented lesions
1. Variations of normal
  1. Physiologic pigmentation
2. Traumatic or inflammatory lesions
  1. Amalgam tattoo
3. Other metal pigmentations
  1. Titanium implants
  2. Intentional tattooing
  3. Heavy metal pigmentation
4. Pigmentation associated with drugs
  1. Minocycline tissue staining
  2. Azidothymidine
  3. Smoking-associated melanosis
  4. Betel quid use
  5. Toombak use
5. Congenital or genetic disorders
  1. Nevus (blue nevus)
  2. Oral melanotic macule
6. Neoplasms
  1. Oral melanoma
Raised lesions with a rough or papillary surface
1. Infections
  1. Oral squamous papilloma
  2. Verruca vulgaris
  3. Condyloma acuminatum
  4. Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia
2. Inflammatory or reactive lesions
  1. Papillary hyperplasia
3. Premalignant/malignant lesions
  1. Verrucous carcinoma
  2. Oropharyngeal cancer and tonsillar cancer
Soft tissue enlargements
1. Traumatic or inflammatory lesions
  1. Traumatic neuroma
  2. Fibroma
  3. Peripheral ossifying fibroma
  4. Generalized gingival hyperplasia
  5. Ranula
2. Infections
  1. Mumps
  2. Bacterial sialadenitis
3. Immune system disorders
  1. Sjogren syndrome
4. Salivary gland neoplasms
  1. Pleomorphic adenoma
  2. Minor salivary gland malignancies
5. Genetic and congenital disorders
  1. Lymphangioma
Hard tissue enlargements
1. Variations of normal
  1. Torus palatinus/mandibular torus
  2. Exostosis
2. Infections
  1. Chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis
3. Neoplasms
  1. Ameloblastoma
  2. Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (Pindborg tumor)
  3. Ossifying fibroma
  4. Central giant cell granuloma
  5. Osteosarcoma
Radiographic lesions
1. Traumatic or inflammatory lesions
  1. Focal sclerosing osteomyelitis
2. Neoplasms
  1. Cementoblastoma
  2. Odontoma
  3. Osteoma
  4. Gardner syndrome
3. Congenital or genetic disorders
  1. Osteopetrosis
Radiolucent lesions
1. Traumatic or inflammatory lesions
  1. Periapical granuloma
  2. Radicular cyst
  3. Cementoosseous dysplasia
  4. Periapical cementoosseous dysplasia
  5. Focal cementoosseous dysplasia
  6. Florid cementoosseous dysplasia
2. Developmental cysts
  1. Lateral periodontal cyst
  2. Gingival cyst
  3. Dentigerous cyst
  4. Eruption cyst
  5. Odontogenic keratocyst
  6. Calcifying odontogenic cyst
  7. Nasopalatine duct cyst
3. Neoplasms
  1. Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor
  2. Ameloblastic fibroma
Abnormalities of the teeth
1. Post developmental abnormalities of the teeth
  1. Traumatic conditions
    1. Attrition
    2. Abfraction
    3. Abrasion
    4. Erosion
  2. Inflammatory conditions
    1. Pulpitis
      1. Reversible pulpitis
      2. Irreversible pulpitis
      3. Hyperplastic pulpitis
    2. Pulp stones
      1. Internal resorption
      2. External resorption
    3. Enamel hypoplasia
2. Developmental abnormalities of the teeth
  1. Alterations in the number of the teeth
    1. Decreased number of the teeth/anodontia
    2. Decreased number of the teeth associated with syndromes
      1. Hereditary hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia
    3. Increased number of the teeth/hyperdontia
    4. Increased number of the teeth associated with syndromes
      1. Cleidocranial dysplasia
      2. Gardner syndrome
  2. Alterations in the size of the teeth
    1. Decreased size of teeth/microdontia
    2. Increased size of teeth/macrodontia
  3. Alterations in the shape of teeth
    1. Abnormalities affecting the crowns of teeth
      1. Shovel-shaped teeth
      2. Accessory cusps
      3. Gemination
      4. Fusion
      5. Congenital syphilis
    2. Abnormalities affecting the roots of teeth
      1. Accessory roots
      2. Dilaceration
      3. Enamel pearl
      4. Taurodontism
      5. Concrescence
      6. Hypercementosis
  4. Alterations in the structure of teeth
    1. Enamel hypoplasia
    2. Amelogenesis imperfecta
    3. Dens invaginatus
    4. Dentiongenesis imperfecta
    5. Dentinal dysplasia
    6. Regional odontodysplasia
  5. Alterations in the color of teeth
    1. Fluorosis
    2. Tetracycline staining
HIV/AIDS
1. HIV infection
  1. Oral manifestations
Skin lesions
1. Malignant skin lesions
  1. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma
2. Benign skin lesions
  1. Angular chelitis

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Multimedia classroom.
2. When taught as a hybrid section, 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:

Written quizzes: midterm and final examination including both objective and essay questions
Presentation on a lesion type, with written, oral and digital presentation

Method(s) of Instruction

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

Lecture
Discussion
Case studies
Oral presentations

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

DeLong, et al.. General and Oral Pathology for the Dental Hygienist, 3rd ed.. 2019.

Although this textbook is older than five years, it remains relevant and is the newest edition published.

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

Weekly required readings from the chapters in the textbook, 1-2 chapters.
Writing assignment: research report on an oral lesion of the student's choice, using current evidence based literature.

Discipline(s)

Dental Technology

Academic Catalog