Class Schedule

• Description: Provides an opportunity for the student to expand their studies in Dental Hygiene beyond the classroom by completing a project or an assignment arranged by agreement between the student and instructor. The student is required to contract with the instructor to determine the scope of assignment and the unit value assigned for successful completion. Students may take a maximum of 6 units of Independent Study per department.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory:
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 6 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Introduction to the profession of dental hygiene. Emphasis on dental terminology, communication skills, legal and ethical aspects of dental hygiene practice and licensing requirements. An overview of dental hygiene clinical and lab technique including infection control and examination of the head and neck. This course is a prerequisite for the BS degree in Dental Hygiene and is intended for students in that program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory:
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1.5 hours lecture per week, 1 hours lab per week. 30 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: None
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: First in the series of oral biology courses for dental hygiene students, this course provides a comprehensive overview of head and neck anatomy, including the skull, blood vessels, lymphatic system, muscles, and nerves. Dental anatomy will be covered in detail, including tooth morphology, classification of occlusion, eruption schedules, and numbering systems. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 52A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week. 36 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Introduces the principles and rationale of patient assessment as the initial phase of the dental hygiene process of care. Emphasizes the collection and interpretation of clinical data, including medical and dental histories, vital signs, extra/intraoral examinations, periodontal and dental charting, and radiographic interpretation. Integrates analysis of current evidence-based literature to support clinical decision-making. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 53.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week. 36 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: This is the first course in the clinical series in the dental hygiene program. Students will begin to apply scientific principles in a clinical context with hands-on experience in the dental hygiene clinic. Students will acquire and refine clinical skills in patient assessment procedures, including disease transmission prevention, health history documentation, extra- and intraoral examinations, gingival evaluations, periodontal assessments, and caries detection. These techniques will be practiced in the pre-clinical setting, utilizing typodonts and peer classmates to ensure hands-on learning and skill development. Clinical performance, focused on the demonstration of skill acquisition and competency with assessment procedures, will be evaluated in the pre-clinic setting. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 54.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week, 9 hours lab per week. 120 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: This is the first in the series of four courses in dental radiography for dental hygiene students. This course provides a foundation for understanding the various components, functions, and operation of dental x-ray units with an emphasis on radiation safety. Radiation physics and biology are covered, and students will learn how to analyze the relationships between anatomical structures and radiographic landmarks through interactive lectures, videos, and discussions. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 60A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week. 24 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: This is the second of two courses in periodontics designed for dental hygiene students. The course focuses on developing evidence-based periodontal care plans for the treatment of periodontal disease. Topics include nonsurgical periodontal therapy, periodontal surgical procedures, dental implants, peri-implant disease, and the management of periodontal emergencies. Students will also learn patient-centered approaches for assessing motivation and risk management strategies for documentation of patient care. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 57B.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week. 24 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: This course is a continuation of dental hygiene clinic practice, with an emphasis on assessments, planning, and implementation of comprehensive dental hygiene care for diverse patient populations including those with special needs. Students apply knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical skills acquired in previously completed dental hygiene theory and clinical courses. Progress of development in clinical performance will be evaluated with each successive academic period. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 62B.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week, 16 hours lab per week. 204 hours total per quarter. This is a clinical laboratory course.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: This course provides an in-depth study of the pathology of the head, neck, and oral structures. It covers developmental conditions, diseases of bacterial and viral origin, and neoplasms of the oral cavity. Emphasis is placed on the clinical recognition of deviations from normal, accurate documentation, differential diagnosis, and appropriate referral processes. Additionally, the course highlights the role of the dental hygienist in patient education, prevention, early detection, and referral of lesions in the head and neck regions. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 55B.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week. 24 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: First in the series of three courses in community dental health for dental hygiene students. This course explores contemporary public health issues with an emphasis on equitable access to care. Foundational skills in epidemiology, research methodology, statistics, and academic writing are presented with a focus on the analysis of current dental health challenges at the community level. Students will learn how to critically evaluate scientific literature and begin to plan a community dental health program using culturally responsive strategies to address health disparities. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 58A or 63C.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week, 1 hours lab per week. 36 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Discussion and demonstration of advanced and supplemental dental hygiene functions: digital intraoral photography, advanced dental hygiene instrumentation, advanced patient-operator positioning, and soft tissue curettage. Supportive course to reinforce and amplify the knowledge and skills needed to perform dental hygiene procedures in the clinical setting for D H 320B. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in D H 75A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 48 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: First in the series of three courses, this course introduces students to the capstone research project, with a focus on identifying and developing an appropriate dental hygiene research topic. Students will explore diverse topics in dental hygiene research with the goal of aligning their project to their professional interests. Components of a scholarly review of the literature will be introduced, including literature search strategies, various study designs, and source evaluation. Students will also learn to formulate well-defined research questions and problem statements, applying these skills to writing the introduction of their chosen capstone project. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory:
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 5 hours lecture per week. 60 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Health communication and cultural issues unique to the dental and medical fields. Topics include intercultural communication; health literacy; interpersonal, small group, electronic, and nonverbal communication; listening; persuasion, caring for limited English proficient people; and working with interpreters. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the completion track.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory:
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 5 hours lecture per week. 60 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: None
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note: