Dental Hygiene (DNH) at Northern Virginia Community College
Distance Learning
Time of Day
Term
- DNH 111 - Oral Anatomy
- Studies the morphology and function of the oral structures with emphasis on the primary and permanent dentition, eruption sequence, occlusion, and intra-arch relationships.Lecture 2 hours per week.
2 credits - DNH 115 - Histology/Head and Neck Anatomy
- Presents a study of the microscopic and macroscopic anatomy and physiology of the head, neck, and oral tissues. Includes embryologic development and histologic components of the head, neck, teeth, and periodontium.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - DNH 120 - Management of Emergencies
- Studies the various medical emergencies and techniques for managing emergencies in the dental setting. Additional practical applications and simulations of emergencies maybe conducted to enhance basic knowledge from the one hour lecture component.Lecture 1-2 hours per week.
1-2 credits - DNH 130 - Oral Radiography for the Dental Hygienist
- Studies radiation physics, biology, safety, and exposure techniques for intra- and extra-oral radiographic surveys. Laboratory provides practice in exposure, processing methods, mounting, and interpretation of normal findings.Lecture 1-2 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 4-5 hours per week.
2-3 credits - DNH 141 - Dental Hygiene I
- Introduces clinical knowledge and skills for the performance of dental hygiene services; basic skill components, lab manikins. and client practice.Lecture 3 hours. Clinic 6 hours. Total 9 hours per week.
5 credits - DNH 142 - Dental Hygiene II
- Exposes students to instrument sharpening, time management, and client education techniques and methods. Provides supervised clinical practice in the dental hygiene clinic with emphasis on developing client treatment and instrument skills.Lecture 1-2 hours. Clinical 9-12 hours. Total 11-13 hours per week.
Prerequisite: DNH 141.5 credits - DNH 143 - Dental Hygiene III
- Introduces dental health care for clients with special needs. Includes introduction to computer concepts and applications. Provides supervised clinical practice in the dental hygiene clinic with emphasis on refining client treatment and instrumentation skills, including oral radiographs.Lecture 1- 2 hours. Clinic 3-6 hours. Total 5-8 hours per week.
3-4 credits - DNH 145 - General and Oral Pathology
- Introduces general pathology with consideration of the common diseases affecting the human body. Particular emphasis is given to the study of pathological conditions of the mouth, teeth and their supporting structures.Lecture 2 hours per week.
Prerequisite: DNH 113, 114 or 115.2 credits - DNH 146 - Periodontics for the Dental Hygienist
- Introduces the theoretical and practical study of various concepts and methods used in describing, preventing, and controlling periodontal disease. Presents etiology, microbiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of diseases.%Lecture 2 hours per week.
2 credits - DNH 150 - Nutrition
- Studies nutrition as it relates to dentistry and general health. Emphasizes the principles of nutrition as applied to the clinical practice of dental hygiene.Lecture 2 hours per week.
2 credits - DNH 196 - On-Site Training
- Specializes in career orientation and training program without pay in selected businesses and industry, supervised and coordinated by the college.Credit/work ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - DNH 198 - Seminar and Project
- Requires completion of a project or research report related to the student's occupational objectives and a study of approaches to the selection and pursuit of career opportunities in the field.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - DNH 199 - Supervised Study
- Assigns problems for independent study incorporating previous instruction and supervised by the instructor.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - DNH 214 - Practical Materials for Dental Hygiene
- Studies the current technologic advances, expanded functions, and clinical/laboratory materials used in dental hygiene practice. Provides laboratory experience for developing skills in the utilization and applications of these technologies and functions.Lecture 1 hour. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
2 credits - DNH 216 - Pharmacology
- Studies the chemical and therapeutic agents used in dentistry, including their preparation, effectiveness, and specific application.Lecture 2 hours per week.
2 credits - DNH 226 - Public Health Dental Hygiene I
- Studies and compares concepts of delivery of health care, applying the public health delivery model. Utilizes epidemiologic methods, research and biostatistics as applied to oral health program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Incorporates and applies current health issues and trends.Lecture 2 hours per week.
2 credits - DNH 227 - Public Health Dental Hygiene II
- 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.
Prerequisite: DNH 226.1 credits - DNH 230 - Office Practice and Ethics
- Studies the principles of dental ethics and economics as they relate to the dental hygienist. The course also includes a study of jurisprudence and office procedures.Lecture 1 hour per week.
1 credits - DNH 235 - Management of Dental Pain and Anxiety in the Dental Office
- Provides a study of anxiety and pain management techniques used in dental care. Students will understand the necessary theory to appropriately treat, plan and successfully administer topical anesthesia, local anesthesia, and nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia. Includes the components of pain, pain control mechanisms, topical anesthesia, local anesthesia and nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia.Lecture 1 hour. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
Prerequisites: DNH 115 and DNH 120. Corequisite: DNH 216.2 credits - DNH 244 - Dental Hygiene IV
- Introduces advanced skills and the dental hygienist's role in dental specialties. Includes supervised clinical practice in the dental hygiene clinic and/or off-campus clinical rotations at various community facilities. Emphasizes treatment of clients demonstrating periodontal involvement, stressing application and correlation of knowledge and skills from previous semesters.5 credits
- DNH 245 - Dental Hygiene V
- Exposes student to current advances in dentistry. Includes supervised clinical practice in the dental hygiene clinic and/or off-campus clinical rotations at various community facilities. Emphasis is placed on synthesis of knowledge from previous semesters, treatment of clients with moderate to advanced periodontal involvement and improving clinical speed while maintaining quality in preparation for practice.Lecture 1 hour. Clinic 12 hours. Total 13 hours per week.
Prerequisite: DNH 244.5 credits - DNH 298 - Seminar and Project
- Requires completion of a project or research report related to the student's occupational objectives and a study of approaches to the selection and pursuit of career opportunities in the field.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits
