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Curriculum

First Year Curriculum - 1st Semester

Basic Science Courses

Clinical Science Courses

First Year Curriculum - 2nd Semester

Basic Science Courses

Clinical Science Courses

TOTAL for First Year Dental Hygiene: 32

Second Year Curriculum - 1st Semester

Basic Science Courses

Clinical Science Courses

Second Year Curriculum - 2nd Semester

Clinical Science Courses

TOTAL for Second Year Dental Hygiene: 32

DHY 3101 Gross Anatomy
A lecture course to orient the student toward an understanding of the anatomical make-up and integral relationships of the human body and its parts. Particular emphasis is placed on head and neck anatomy. A systematic study is followed by a regional approach to each of the body areas so that the systems are studied in relation to one another.

DHY 3102 Morphology and Occlusion
A lecture and laboratory course involving a detailed study of the anatomy of the teeth, individually and collectively. Information about the anatomical and embryonic differences between individual teeth, developmental disturbances involving the teeth, root structure anomalies, the physiology of mandibular movement, and an introduction to occlusion are integral parts of the course. Students gain laboratory exposure to the individual teeth through drawings of the entire tooth.

DHY 3103 Fundamentals of Dental Radiology
An introductory course in dental radiology which includes didactic instruction in radiation physics, radiation biology, radiation hygiene, and radiographic and processing techniques. This course also includes an introduction to the radiological interpretation of normal anatomy, caries, periodontal disease and periapical disease. The student receives supervision in taking and processing intra- and extra-oral digital radiographs on mannequins, as well as patients. Specific requirements on occlusal, panorex, and complete series of X-rays must be met.

DHY 3104 Oral Diagnosis
An introductory course in diagnosis of normal and pathological conditions of the oral cavity using didactic and clinical instruction. The course includes patient medical history, normal anatomy, general appraisal, soft tissue examination, charting procedures and the use of appropriate laboratory techniques and other diagnostic aids. The clinical aspect utilizes the application of diagnostic techniques as they apply individually and to each other.

DHY 3105 Pre-Clinic
A lecture and laboratory course dealing with the fundamentals necessary in preparation for the clinical experience in dental hygiene. Information on the dental/dental hygiene profession, prophylaxis techniques, clinical procedure, patient management, and oral health education is an integral part of the course. Experience that can be applied to the oral cavity is obtained through instrumentation procedures on mannequins.

DHY 3106 Infectious Disease Control
An introductory course which provides instruction in blood-borne infections such as AIDS and Hepatitis. The epidemiology and prevention of these diseases, and a complete infection control policy is presented in order that the student may function properly in a dental setting. Federal, state, OSHA and LSUHSC policies concerning legal issues are discussed.

DHY 3107 Overview of the Dental Profession
An introductory course designed to introduce students to the various disciplines in dentistry. An overview of the dental specialties and dental nomenclature is strongly emphasized.

DHY 3108 Professional Development I
An introductory course designed to introduce the role of the student as a member of the LSU School of Dentistry and the dental hygiene program. This lecture/seminar course introduces the philosophical concepts of ethics and moral reasoning. Human behavior principles are shared which create an awareness of the issues presented by a culturally diverse student/faculty/patient population. The course also introduces the students to aspects of professional development, such as involvement in professional organizations, and the future of dental hygiene.

DHY 3201 Microbiology
Introduction to the basic principles of bacteriology, mycology, virology and immunology with special emphasis on how they relate to the microbial flora of the oral cavity and to oral disease. Methods of sterilization and disinfection are stressed along with their application to the prevention of cross contamination in the dental office.

DHY 3202 General and Oral Physiology
An introductory course that presents a general survey of the basic physiological principles underlying the function of the different organ systems of the human body, including the central and peripheral nervous system, neuromuscular, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and gastrointestinal systems. The influence of each of these systems on the oral cavity is presented as a separate group of lectures. Lectures are supplemented by slides and videotaped demonstrations.

DHY 3203 Histology
An introductory course designed to provide the student with an understanding of the microscopic anatomy of the human body. Functional topics and embryological development are integrated with histology in the lectures. The course is roughly divided into thirds. The first third of the course is devoted to the study of cell biology and the organization of basic tissues. The second portion deals with histology of selected systems. The final third is concerned with detailed development and histology of the oral cavity and teeth. Lectures are supplemented with photographic slides to enhance the students' appreciation of microscopic anatomy.

DHY 3204 Oral Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
An introductory course that presents the etiology and steps in the prevention of dental diseases. Philosophies of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention are discussed. The development and maintenance of dental disease programs are addressed as they relate to communicating with, educating and motivating patients.

DHY 3205 Introductory Clinic
A clinical course that applies techniques, procedures and information presented in Pre-Clinic. The course consists of the clinical treatment of patients for prophylaxis, in varying degrees of difficulty; complete series of X-rays, fluoride treatments, and oral health instruction. The course is supplemented by scheduled seminars on root planing, special patients, use of power scalers, auxiliary health aids, and laboratory diagnostic tests used in dental practice.

DHY 3206 Radiographic Interpretation
A comprehensive course in radiographic interpretation of normal anatomy, anomalies, caries, periapical lesions, periodontal disease, cysts, trauma and various pathological lesions of the jaws and associated structures.

DHY 3208 Professional Development II
This course is designed to facilitate communication concepts and skills, and includes exercises in practical application with the dental patient, and other dental professionals. The student is made aware of the various barriers to successful communication by exposure to concepts of culture, verbal and non-verbal language, and group dynamics. Principles of human behavior affecting the dental hygienist's relationships with co-workers and patients, the influence of personality types on interpersonal relations, and motivation of patients to proper oral health will also be addressed. Students will also be introduced to a Professional Code of Ethics and further study in ethics as it relates to patient care.

DHY 3210 Pain ControI II-A
This course consists of two parts. The first part is to make the student aware of and become proficient in the prevention, recognition, and treatment of medical emergencies occurring during dental treatment. The importance of the medical history review prior to dental treatment and the recognition of the clinical signs of impending emergencies are stressed. The second part is to provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to be able to create an environment where the patient will be able to satisfactorily accept the necessary professional services. The techniques included will all be designed to maintain a patient with intact protective reflexes. Pharmacologic agents will include nitrous oxide, valium, analgesic and sedatives. Patient evaluation and the psychological aspects of patient management will be presented.

Second Year Curriculum

DHY 4101 Pharmacology
This course consists of a series of lectures, conferences, and demonstrations emphasizing the pharmaco-dynamics of drug action. This includes modes of administration, mechanisms of action, biotransformation, excretion, drug interactions, and side effects. Special considerations are given to those drugs relevant to the practice of dentistry.

DHY 4102 General and Oral Pathology
This course educates students regarding the pathologic basis for systemic and oral disease. It includes a consideration of basic principles of pathology as well as specific disease processes. The definition, epidemiology, distribution, morphology, symptoms, etiology, treatment, and prognosis of each disease process is studied. Emphasis is placed on oral, and head and neck pathology.

DHY 4103 Clinical Nutrition
This course consists of techniques for diet assessment, nutritional counseling and patient management. It is designed to increase the student's skill in developing a comprehensive disease program to treat individual patients. There is a combination of lectures, presentation of abstracts, and discussion of current nutritional issues.

DHY 4104 Periodontics
A fundamental lecture course in periodontics with emphasis on a basic understanding of the normal and diseased states of the periodontium. An orientation to the concepts of periodontal examination, charting, diagnosis, treatment planning, root planing, soft tissue curettage, and other surgical therapeutic techniques is presented.

DHY 4105 Intermediate Clinic
This is a continuation of clinical treatment of patients from Introductory Clinic with the addition of impressions, study casts, root planing, and limited local anesthesia experiences. Scheduled seminars are held to review clinical procedures. Students are assigned to selected departments within the school as well as extramural clinics for observation and participation.

DHY 4110 Pain Control I
A lecture course designed to develop an understanding and knowledge of the various techniques of local anesthesia. The course includes the landmarks and relationships of the anatomical structures involved, the chemistry and pharmacology of the local anesthetic solutions, pre-anesthetic evaluation, and the management of complications and emergencies of local anesthesia. A laboratory/clinical session follows the didactic phase. Competence in administering local anesthesia is evaluated in the Intermediate and Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinical courses.

DHY 4106 Dental Materials
This course provides a working knowledge of metallurgy, ceramics and polymer science. Specific restorative and dental laboratory products are presented and their proper manipulation is described. Laboratory sessions involve experience in handling these materials.

DHY 4107 Internal Medicine
This course presents basic principles of medicine as they relate to patients receiving local anesthesia for dental treatment. Emphasis is on understanding disease processes and medical or pharmacologic treatment of the diseases, rather than on diagnosis of disease. Dental treatment concerns and anesthesia modifications for patients with diseases such as hypertension, asthma, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, and end stage renal disease are covered. The interrelationship of medicine and dentistry is stressed.

DHY 4109 Statistical Evaluation of Dental Literature I
This course provides guided direction and practice in reading and interpreting dental literature to enable the student to critically evaluate the reported findings of research studies. It introduces scientific methodology and the use of its attendant statistics, i. e., sample selection, measures of central tendency, measures of variation, tests of significance and correlation coefficients.

DHY 4203 Practice Management (Professional Development III)
The course is designed to facilitate the transition from student to dental hygiene clinician in a private practice. Topics include, but not limited to, are the use of technology, recall systems, scheduling of patients, maintaining the appointment book, ordering supplies and equipment, and studying state laws and ethics. Students will also be given methods to solve an ethical dilemma as it relates to dental practice. An integral part of the course includes preparation for employment search.

DHY 4204 Interdisciplinary Principles for Dental Hygiene Practice
This course integrates the various disciplines taught in the dental hygiene curriculum. It consists of guest lecturers and case-based exercises.

DHY 4207 Community Dentistry and Public Health Mechanisms
This course focuses on the role of the practicing hygienist in the health ecology of the United States, exploring social issues, consumerism, legislation, alternative systems of health care and other issues. The students are afforded the opportunity for a wide variety of extramural experiences, both observation and participation. The students learn the principles of basic public health mechanisms of epidemiology, disease measurement, including dental indices, and public health program planning.

DHY 4205 Advanced Clinic
A continuation of clinical treatment from Intermediate Clinic with the additional application of duties including sulcular irrigation, tobacco cessation counseling techniques, and pit and fissure sealants. Students have specific local anesthesia requirements. Students are assigned to selected departments within the school, as well as extramural clinics for observation and participation.

DHY 4206 Advanced Clinic Seminars
This course incorporates the literature with the didactic and clinical applications of dental hygiene care. It promotes the student's understanding of the latest trends and newest technologies in comprehensive dental care.

DHY 4209 Statistical Evaluation of Dental Literature II
This course offers a review of current dental hygiene and periodontal literature to provide the basis for understanding current philosophies of theory.

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