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:English
• 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 hour lab per week. 30 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: The embryologic development of the structures and tissues of the head, neck, teeth and oral cavity; histology of the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. Anatomy of the tooth crown, root and pulp; development and structural defects involving the oral cavity and the teeth. The normal periodontal tissues, oral mucous membranes, and salivary glands. 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 52B.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week. 36 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: The second in a series of dental radiology courses. Introduction to the radiology laboratory. Emphasis on dental x-ray techniques, film development and mounting, digital radiography and scanning. Radiation safety protection is practiced for all laboratory procedures. All films will be viewed for self-critique and instructor evaluation. 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 60B.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lab per week. 36 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: The fourth and last in a series of dental radiology courses for the second year dental hygiene student. Emphasis is on the understanding of radiographic localization techniques and common technical, operator, and processing errors. Continued application of digital radiography with use of sensors and scanners and alternative imaging techniques. 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 60D.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hour lecture per week. 12 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: Continuation of dental hygiene clinical practice and instrumentation techniques including: instrumentation for scaling and root debridement and instrument sharpening. Adjunctive dental hygiene procedures taught include: fluorides, selective coronal polishing. Clinical activities utilize typodonts and student partners. The course requires evaluation of clinical performance through demonstration. Evaluation of best practices through evidence based research. Supportive labs and observation to reinforce and amplify the knowledge and skills needed to perform dental hygiene procedures in the clinical setting for D H 308. 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 61A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 9 hours lab per week. 144 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: Properties of dental materials, characteristics and manipulation of dental materials and the equipment used in the manipulation of these materials with an emphasis on dental hygiene care. Course also covers caries risk assessment, hazardous waste management, MSDS and regulations related to dental materials. 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 72.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 60 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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 study of common medical emergencies that may occur during delivery of dental care. Emphasis is placed on methods to prevent emergencies from occurring and procedures to manage emergency situations. Ethical and legal aspects in assisting during emergencies are also discussed. 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 71.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hour lecture per week. 12 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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 learning theories applied to patient education. Topics include: communication theory, health literacy, working with interpreters, development of client/clinician relationships, patient motivation with particular attention to psychological, social, and economic, cultural and life stage factors. Emphasis on prevention of dental diseases through effective patient education, such as: mechanical plaque removal techniques, antimicrobial therapies, nutritional counseling for dental hygiene, and smoking cessation counseling. Preventive dental products will be reviewed and analyzed using current evidence based literature. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: PSYC 1 or 1H; not open to students with credit in D H 73.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week. 24 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: Continuation of clinical dental hygiene practice providing comprehensive dental hygiene care in a clinic setting on patients. Emphasis on assessing, planning, and implementing comprehensive dental hygiene care for diverse patient populations and management of patients with special needs in a clinical setting. Students apply knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical skills acquired in previous completed dental hygiene courses. Additional procedures include soft tissue curettage, alternative fulcrums and operatory positioning and interim therapeutic restorations. Progress of development in clinical performance will be evaluated with each successive academic period including evaluation of periodontal probing with a passing grade of 84%. 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 62C.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hour lecture per week, 23 hours lab per week. This is a clinical laboratory course. 288 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: Continuation of D H 326A. Emphasis on the steps to developing community dental health programs, including health promotion programs. Local, state, and federal departments of public health services, types of fluoridation, and school-based dental health programs and screenings. Evidence-based decision making will be applied to the dental public health 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 58B or 63D.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week, 1 hour lab per week. 36 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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, interim therapeutic restorations, advanced instrumentation techniques, advanced local anesthesia techniques, dentinal desensitization, air polishing, implants in dentistry, orthodontic therapy and new technologies in dental hygiene. Supportive course to reinforce and amplify the knowledge and skills needed to perform dental hygiene procedures in the clinical setting for D H 320C. 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 75B.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hour lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 48 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: The study of nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia used in the dental practice. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the mechanism of sedation, risks and benefits associated with nitrous oxide sedation, how to administer and properly document the use of nitrous oxide. 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 67.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hour lecture per week, 1 hour lab per week. 24 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: The second in a series of three capstone courses; continuation of D H 350A. Emphasis is placed on critical analysis of scientific literature. Structuring a literature review based on themes and patterns as well as grouping resources based on findings will be discussed. Students will also review several published review articles, with an emphasis on critiquing the way ideas and arguments are presented and cited in each article. At the end of the quarter students will create an outline of their literature review and list the key arguments of their literature review. 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:English
• 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: The study of education theories and principles for didactic, lab and clinical courses. The faculty role in active teaching and learning, development of critical thinking and reflective writing, development of curriculum, outcomes and competencies, and course delivery methods. Theory and practices of clinical instruction and supervision, related to psychomotor skill development, competency-based evaluation, student mentoring and remediation. Examination of organizational and administrative philosophy and practice in curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation based on accreditation standards. Intended for students in the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the completion degree track.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory:
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 5 hours lecture per week. 60 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• 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: