Introduction to the dental hygiene profession and the process of care. Infection control, patient assessment, preventive treatment and dental hygiene instrumentation are practiced. Students are introduced to self assessment skills and quality improvement.

Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.

Principles of periodontology; etiology, microbiology, pathogenesis, classification and characteristics of healthy and diseased periodontal tissues. Surgical treatment of periodontal disease and the effects of dental hygiene therapy, surgical techniques and maintenance therapy. Evaluation of the scientific literature and multi-media resources are used extensively.

Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.