Allied Dental Programs

Allied Dental Programs - IU Fort Wayne

Dental Hygiene (B.S.)

IUFW General Education Requirements Credits: 33

The required 33 General Education credits have been embedded in the BS-DH curriculum (see below).

Dental Hygiene Curriculum

Prerequisite Courses: 26 Credits

To apply for the B.S. in Dental Hygiene program, you must complete the prerequisite courses listed below by May 25 of the application year with a prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or higher:

  • BIOL 20300 - Human Anatomy and Physiology (Cr. 4.)
  • BIOL 20400 - Human Anatomy and Physiology (Cr. 4.)
  • CHM 11100 - General Chemistry (Cr. 3.)
  • CHM 11200 - General Chemistry (Cr. 3.)
  • COM 11400 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication (Cr. 3.)
  • ENG W131 - Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I (Cr. 2-3.)
  • PSY 12000 - Elementary Psychology (Cr. 3.)
  • SOC S161 - Principles of Sociology (Cr. 3.)

Co-requisite Course:  Biol 220 - Microbiology  4 Credits

NOTE: Microbiology (BIOL 220) must be completed prior to beginning the Dental Hygiene professional program. Since Microbiology is not calculated into the prerequisite GPA for admission, it may be completed during summer sessions, just prior to admission into the dental hygiene program. However, the student’s acceptance is based on successful completion of Microbiology with a grade of C- or better prior to the beginning of fall semester. Failure to complete this required co-requisite course with a C- or better will result in the student being withdrawn from the professional program and his/her position given to the next qualified applicant. Microbiology taken more than five years prior to admission into the professional program must be retaken.

  • BIOL 22000 - Microbiology for Allied Health Professionals (Cr. 4.)

Program Requirements

After acceptance into the program, the requirements of IUFW must be fulfilled and students must satisfactorily complete the following courses:

  • DHYG H204 - Periodontics Cr 1 -2.
  • DHYG H205 - Medical and Dental Emergencies Cr. 1-2.
  • DHYG H211 - Head and Neck Anatomy Cr. 2.
  • DHYG H214 - Oral Anatomy Cr. 3.
  • DHYG H215 - Pharmacology and Therapeutics - 1st Year Cr. 1-2.
  • DHYG H216 - Chemistry and Nutrition- First Year Cr. 2-3.
  • DHYG H217 - Preventive Dentistry Cr. 1-3.
  • DHYG H218 - Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene (lecture and lab) Cr. 5.
  • DHYG H219 - Clinical Practice I Cr. 3-4.
  • DHYG H221 - Clinical Dental Hygiene Procedures Cr. 1-2.
  • DHYG H240 - Introduction to Dental Ethics Cr. 1-2.
  • DHYG H250 - Local Anesthesia and Pain Control Cr. 1 -2.
  • DHYG H301 - Clinical Practice II Cr. 4-5.
  • DHYG H302 - Clinical Practice III Cr. 3-5.
  • DHYG H303 - Radiology Cr. 1-3.
  • DHYG H304 - Oral Pathology - 2nd Year Cr. 1-2.
  • DHYG H305 - Radiology Clinic I Cr. 1-3.
  • DHYG H308 - Dental Materials Cr. 2-3.
  • DHYG H309 - Practice of Community Dental Hygiene Cr. 1-3.
  • DHYG H320 - Practice Management, Ethics, and Jurisprudence Cr. 1-2.
  • DHYG H321 - Periodontics Cr. 1-2.
  • DHYG H344 - Senior Hygiene Seminar Cr. 1-2.
  • DHYG H347 - Dental Public Health Cr. 2-5.
  • DHYG H420 – Advanced Clinical Procedures Cr. 5
  • NUR 30900 - Transcultural Healthcare Cr. 3.
  • PHIL 31200 - Medical Ethics (A/H Elective #2) Cr. 3.

Total Credits: 69

Other Required Courses (General Education) Credits: 12

General Education:  3 credits - Analytical Reasoning Elective #1(MA15300, MA 21300)

General Education:  3 credits - Analytical Reasoning Elective #2 (STAT 301, CS 112 Informatics)

General Education: 3 Credits - Arts and Humanities Elective

General Education: 3 Credits - Open Elective 

Specialty Concentration Core Options:  9 Credits

All students must choose one of the Specialty Concentration Core Options: 1) Community Dental Hygiene, or 2) Dental Leadership and Sales. 

Specialty Concentration #1 - Community Dental Hygiene Credits: 9

  • DHYG H403 - Advanced Community Dental Hygiene (Cr. 3-4.)
  • DHYG H408 - Practicum in Community Health (Cr. 3-4.)

Community Dental Hygiene Electives

Choose one of the following:

  • ANTH E445 - Medical Anthropology (Cr. 3.)
  • PSY 31400 - Introduction to Learning (Cr. 3.)
  • PSY 36900 - Development Across the Lifespan (Cr. 3.)
  • PPOL H320 - Health Systems Administration (Cr. 3.)
  • PPOL V263 - Public Management (Cr. 3.)
  • PSY 25100 - Health Psychology (Cr. 3.)
  • PSY 31700 - Addictions: Biology, Psychology and Society (Cr. 3.)
  • SOC S314 - Social Aspects of Health and Medicine (Cr. 3.)

Specialty Concentration # 2 - Dental Leadership & Sales Credits: 9

  • OLS 25200 - Human Relations in Organizations (Cr. 3.)
  • OLS 27400 - Applied Leadership (Cr. 3.)

Leadership & Sales Electives 

Choose one of the following:

  • COM 31800 - Principles of Persuasion (Cr. 3.)
  • COM 32500 - Interviewing: Principles and Practice (Cr. 3.)
  • OLS 32000 - Customer Service and Commitment (Cr. 3.)
  • OLS 34200 - Interviewing Strategies in Organizations (Cr. 3.)
  • OLS 45400 - Gender and Diversity in Management (Cr. 3.)
  • OLS 48500 - Leadership for Team Development (Cr. 3.)

Total BSDH Degree: 120 Credits 

Dental Hygiene Program Course Descriptions

  • DHYG H204 Periodontics (1-2 cr.)

    Study of the normal periodontium at the clinical, histologic, and biochemical levels; procedures involved in carrying out a comprehensive periodontal examination and performing a periodontal prophylaxis.

  • DHYG H205 Medical and Dental Emergencies (1-2 cr.)

    A study in emergency situations in the dental office, including predisposing factors and drugs, and treatment to include the support of the cardiopulmonary system.

  • DHYG H211 Head and Neck Anatomy (2 cr.)

    A detailed study of the anatomy of the head and neck. Some attention is given to oral embryology and the growth of tooth structure.

  • DHYG H214 Oral Anatomy/Histology (3 cr.)

    A study of the morphology, structure, and function of deciduous and permanent teeth and surrounding tissues, also including osteology of the maxilla and mandible, nerve and vascular supply of teeth, and muscles of mastication, with reinforcing laboratory procedures and clinical application.

  • DHYG H215 Pharmacology and Therapeutics: First Year (1-2 cr.)

    Actions and uses of drugs and theory of anesthetics; emphasis on drugs used in dentistry.

  • DHYG H216 Chemistry and Nutrition: First Year (2-3 cr.)

    Specific ideas in chemistry are correlated with working principles in dentistry. Previous knowledge of chemistry required. Dental aspects of nutrition and dietetics are given special attention.

  • DHYG H217 Preventive Dentistry (1-3 cr.)

    Detection and prevention of dental diseases.

  • DHYG H218 Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene (lecture and lab) (5 cr.)

    An introduction to the dental and dental hygiene professions, including the basic didactic, laboratory, and clinical practice for the performance of dental hygiene services.

  • DHYG H219 Clinical Practice I (3-4 cr.)

    Applies dental prophylaxis technique to child and adult patients; in clinical experiences, students inspect oral hard and soft tissues; take complete medical and dental histories; apply fluoride; expose X-rays; provide patient education; and, apply/perform sterilization techniques.P: DHYG H218.

  • DHYG H221 Clinical Dental Hygiene Procedures (1-2 cr.)

    Clinical assignment for instruction and experience in performing dental hygiene services.

  • DHYG H240 Introduction to Dental Ethics (1-2 cr.)

    Provides background in ethical issues that impact dental healthcare providers and their patients. Emphasis will be on developing critical thinking skills and evidence-based decision making. Case studies providing examples of legal and ethical issues relevant to dental patient care will be explored.

  • DHYG H242 Introduction to Dentistry (1-3 cr.)

    Provides an overview of the field of dentistry with emphasis on the specialties in dentistry, an introduction to common dental procedures with information a hygienist needs in patient education, as well as issues related to access to dental care and the dental workforce.

  • DHYG H250 Local Anesthesia and Pain Control (1-2 cr.)

    Addresses coverage management for conscious dental clients. The indications, contraindications, and pharmacology of topical anesthesia, local anesthesia, and nitrous oxide and oxygen sedation used in dentistry will be discussed. Local anesthesia techniques and the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen sedation will be studied.

  • DHYG H301 Clinical Practice II (4-5 cr.)

    Continuation of H219, including taking study models, completing dietary surveys, applying other preventive measures, and performing root planing and periodontal charting. P: DHYG H219.

  • DHYG H302 Clinical Practice III (3-5 cr.)

    Clinical Practice III is a combination of clinical experiences, professional organization activities and community health education. The didactic information obtained through the curriculum is designed to complement students’ advanced clinical work and experiences. These experiences will include evaluating patient’s nutritional status and identifying treatment modifications necessary for patients with special needs. P: DHYG H219 and H301.

  • DHYG H303 Radiology Clinic I (1-3 cr.)

    Includes principles associated with production of X-rays and manipulation of X-ray equipment.

  • DHYG H304 Oral Pathology - 2nd Year (1-2 cr.)

    Addresses developmental abnormalities and acquired disorders of teeth and surrounding structure.

  • DHYG H305 Radiology Clinic I (1-3 cr.)

    Includes clinical application of intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs.

  • DHYG H308 Dental Materials II (2-3 cr.)

    Addresses composition, physical and chemical properties of materials used in dentistry with opportunity for experience in their manipulation.

  • DHYG H309 Practice of Community Dental Hygiene (1-3 cr.)

    A supervised field experience in various community settings, including dental health instruction and treatment in schools and dental health education to community organizations. This course covers didactic information in the first half of the course to prepare students for the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination. Students are orientated to community fieldwork experiences, with the majority of service hours completed in the latter half of this course.

  • DHYG H320 Practice Management, Ethics, and Jurisprudence (1-2 cr.)

    Addresses the study of the organization, administration, and prudent operation of professional and financial resources for a successful dental practice in a community.

  • DHYG H321 Periodontics (1-2 cr.)

    A study of periodontal disease including the anatomy, classification, etiology, treatment, and relationship to systemic conditions.

  • DHYG H344 Senior Hygiene Seminar (1-2 cr.)

    Includes a systematic and comprehensive review of basic science courses with emphasis on their relationships to clinical practice; current concepts in multiple auxiliary delivery systems and practice management concepts.

  • DHYG H347 Dental Public Health (2-5 cr.)

    A study of public health principles as they relate to dentistry, introducing students to those aspects of public health that will enable them to plan, administer, and evaluate a dental health program.

  • DHYG H403 Advanced Community Dental Hygiene (3-4 cr.)

    Public health principles including a study of the health care delivery system and preventive public health care at the community level.

  • DHYG H408 Practicum in Community Health (3-4 cr.)

    Structured practical experience coordinating and evaluating instruction in an educational setting and/or assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating public health programs.

  • DHYG H420 Advanced Clinical Procedures (5 cr.)

    The expansion into the Bachelor Degree in Dental Hygiene allows for additional clinical practice with more exploration of advanced assessment theories, protocol and instructional technologies, as well as greater self-evaluation while treating a variety of patient types.

  • DAST A300 Special Topics in Dental Education (1-4 cr.)

    An advanced course for dental education majors. Supervised reading or projects on approved topics in dentistry. Hours, subject matter, and evaluation to be determined by faculty. Preparation for Course - P: admission to certified dental assisting, dental hygiene, or dental technology program, and director’s permission.

  • DHYG H401 Clinical Supervision (3 cr.)

    Supervisory experience in clinics and laboratories involved in teaching students enrolled in dental hygiene curriculum; problems incident to patient-student and instructor-student relationships.

  • DHYG H402 Practicum in Dental Sciences Education (3 cr.)

    Experience in teaching in the Division of Allied Dental Education under the direction of a supervising instructor. Students will learn strategies in curriculum development, effective evaluation methods, teaching-learning styles, student-faculty relationships, and problem-solving strategies in a didactic setting.

Academic Bulletins

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