Revised 05/2010

DNH 227 - Public Health Dental Hygiene II (1 CR.)

Course Description

This course applies concepts of public health program planning through student-directed community projects with an emphasis on preventative oral health education. Includes development of table clinics, bulletin boards, and volunteer service in the community. Laboratory 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

To provide the dental hygiene student with experience for developing, planning, and implementing community oral health education programs.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

None.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • Discuss the criteria necessary to develop a successful oral health education program.
  • Identify and discuss the types of resources that are needed to successfully implement an oral health education program.
  • Identify the needs of dental treatment, demand, and utilization for oral health care services according to various target populations.
  • Discuss the importance of an assessment visit when planning an oral health education program for a community group.
  • Discuss the importance of demographic characteristics and identify how they can influence the planning of an oral health education program in the community.
  • Describe and discuss the differences between various methods of teaching.
  • Discuss various types and appropriate scope of topics covered in a lesson plan.
  • Discuss the importance of learning objectives and why they must be specific and measurable.
  • Discuss the importance for monitoring and evaluating a community oral health education program.
  • Prepare and present an oral health education program in the community.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Overview of Community Oral Health Education Programs
  • Planning of Assessment Visits for Community Oral Health Education Programs
  • Demographic Characteristics
  • Designing Learning Objectives for Community Oral Health Education Programs
  • Teaching Methods
  • Designing Lesson Plans for Community Oral Health Education Programs
  • Monitoring and Evaluating Community Oral Health Education Programs