D H 50: ORIENTATION TO DENTAL HYGIENE

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading	Value
Effective Term:	Fall 2026
Units:	1
Hours:	1 lecture, 1 laboratory per week (24 total per quarter)
Prerequisite:	D H 200L.
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 correct instrumentation skills on a dental typodont using an 11/12 explorer by achieving at least 75% accuracy on a performance rubric assessing modified pen grasp, fulcrum placement, instrument adaptation, insertion, and activation.
Identify correct infection control procedures and methods to prevent cross-contamination in the dental environment by scoring at least 75% on a written exam based on established infection control protocols.

Description

This course offers an introduction to the field of dental hygiene, focusing on essential topics that prepare students for success in the dental hygiene program and their future career. Foundations of infectious diseases, standard precautions and management of hazardous materials and waste in a dental environment are covered. Students will be introduced to key dental terminology for effective communication in the field. Students will also learn basic instrumentation skills and apply the skills on a typodont. 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 correct use of dental terminology.
Describe and demonstrate correct exploring technique on a typodont.
Explain the significance of various infectious diseases to the provision of dental hygiene care.
Explain the correct techniques for infection control procedures and avoiding cross-contamination.
Describe the importance of the ethical principles in the American Dental Hygienists' Code of Ethics.

Course Content

Dental terminology
1. Anatomical terms of dentistry
  1. Tooth anatomy
    1. Crown
    2. Root
    3. Enamel
    4. Dentin
    5. Cementum
    6. Periodontal ligament
    7. Alveolar bone
2. Surfaces of the tooth
  1. Occlusal/Incisal
  2. Mesial
  3. Distal
  4. Lingual
  5. Buccal/Facial
3. Types of teeth
  1. Incisors
  2. Central
  3. Lateral
  4. Cuspids/Canines
  5. Bicuspids/Premolars
  6. Molars
  7. Mandibular teeth
  8. Maxillary teeth
Basic instrumentation techniques and skills
1. Grasp
  1. Modified pen grasp (MPG)
2. Fulcrum
  1. Intraoral
3. Adaptation of working end of instrument
4. Types of strokes
  1. Oblique
  2. Vertical
5. Activation of instrumentation stroke
  1. Rocking
  2. Rolling
  3. Pivoting
6. Clock positioning
7. Lighting for instrumentation
  1. Position of light for maxilla
  2. Position of light for mandible
Infectious diseases in dentistry
1. Hepatitis A, B, and C
  1. Etiology
  2. Signs and symptoms
  3. Modes of transmission
2. Herpes
  1. Etiology
  2. Signs and symptoms
  3. Modes of transmission
3. Tuberculosis
  1. Etiology
  2. Signs and symptoms
  3. Modes of transmission
4. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
  1. Etiology
  2. Signs and symptoms
  3. Modes of transmission
5. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2)
  1. Etiology
  2. Signs and symptoms
  3. Modes of transmission
Infection and hazard control procedures
1. Standard precautions
  1. Prevention of disease transmission among patients, dental professionals, and the environment
    1. Hand hygiene
    2. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
    3. Proper handling of sharps
2. Pathways of cross-contamination
  1. Contact transmission
    1. Direct transmission
    2. Indirect transmission
  2. Droplet transmission
  3. Airborne transmission
3. Disinfection and sterilization procedures
  1. Disinfection methods
    1. Removing debris, blood, and other materials from surfaces and instruments before disinfection
    2. Chemical disinfectants
      1. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)-registered surface disinfectants
      2. Classification of disinfectants
        
        High
        
        Effectiveness
        
        Uses
        
        Intermediate
        
        Effectiveness
        
        Uses
        
        Low
        
        Effectiveness
        
        Uses
  2. Sterilization procedures
    1. Steam sterilization
    2. Dry heat sterilization
    3. Chemical vapor sterilization
Ethical and legal principles for dental hygienists
1. ADHA (American Dental Hygienists' Association) Code of Ethics
  1. Autonomy and respect for human beings
  2. Confidentiality
  3. Societal trust
  4. Non-Maleficence
  5. Beneficence
  6. Justice and fairness
  7. Veracity

Lab Content

Exploring techniques with the ODU 11/12 explorer on dental typodont models.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Classroom with multi-media equipment and dental hygiene clinic for lab work.
2. When taught as a hybrid course, access to computer with email software and hardware; email address. Students must participate in lab sessions located on Foothill campus.

Method(s) of Evaluation

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

Written exams
Homework assignments
Instrumentation evaluation

Method(s) of Instruction

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

Lecture and demonstration of clinical techniques with online enrichment resources

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Nield-Gehrig. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation, 9th ed.. 2025.

Leicht, Jennifer. D H 50 Orientation to Dental Hygiene Course Manual. 2025.

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

Weekly reading assignments in required instrumentation book and course manual
Weekly instrumentation videos demonstrating exploring techniques

Discipline(s)

Dental Technology

Academic Catalog