10-508-115Community Dental Health
Course Information
Description
This course prepares the Dental Hygienist student to play a proactive role in improving the dental health of community members of all ages. Students perform and interpret dental health research to determine community dental health needs.
Total Credits
2
Course Competencies
  1. Analyze community dental health services
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    classify both private and public methods of dental services delivery
    compare the goals of delivery service programs
    compare target populations
    compare sources of funding
    compare barriers to service
    compare processes of care
    compare service delivery environments

  2. Explore the science of oral epidemiology
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    perform basic computations
    identify indices that effectively quantify the disease in given population, noting whether they are reversible or irreversible
    calculate selected indices
    create a diagram or chart that graphically represents the calculations
    recommend a course of action regarding a new or existing community dental health program
    identify the causes and predict the patterns of diseases
    describe the data collection methodology and comment on how the strengths and limitations impact the given study
    include an analysis of interaction and relationship among host, agent, time, and environment
    identify the causes and predict patterns of diseases
    propose community health intervention(s)
    proposals are logical and defensible

  3. Examine research in dentistry
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    choose dental research article published in a peer-reviewed public health journal
    article is scientific or evidence based research
    critique presents a brief and accurate summary of the article
    critique includes comments on the author's qualifications
    critique includes a description of the target research problem
    critique includes comments on the validity of the references
    critique presents a description of the research methods, commenting on sampling methodology and validity and reliability of data gathering techniques
    critique includes comments on the validity of the conclusions
    critique includes a proposal for modifications that would improve the validity, reliability, and usefulness of the research
    critique presents suggestions for applying the research to community dental health
    critique exhibits correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and use of dental terminology

  4. Examine the role of the dental hygienist in a public health setting
    Assessment Strategies
    participating in a service learning experience and reflecting on it
    Criteria
    reflection summarizes and quantifies your participation experiences (e.g. nature, role played, number of hours, services provided)
    evidence of your participation meets requirements of your college's program
    reflection compares your anticipated experience with the actual experience
    reflection describes your perceptions of the strengths and needs for improvement in the program (e.g. benefits to target population and sustainability)
    reflection suggests how you might improve the program
    reflection summarizes how this experience will affect you professionally and personally

  5. Develop a community dental health program
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    select and define the target population
    assess community dental health needs
    analyze the data
    plan the community dental health program
    implement the community dental health program
    evaluate the community dental health program