vcc.ca
DHYG 3100: Foundations of Dental Hygiene 3
Effective date
September 2026
Department
Dental Hygiene
School
Health Sciences
Description
This course will further develop the learners’ knowledge, skills and attitudes for the provision of preventive, therapeutic, and supportive dental hygiene care. This course will explore topics of professional responsibility, risk assessment, provision of care and advocacy for clients with diverse and complex needs, and advanced periodontal management strategies to provide preventive, therapeutic, and supportive dental hygiene care to individuals and groups from vulnerable populations throughout the lifespan.
This course is part of the full time Dental Hygiene Diploma program.
Credits
5.0
Year of study
3rd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
DHYG 2200.
Corequisites
DHYG 3110.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Evaluate health promotion, prevention and educational strategies utilizing the ADPIE framework and the influence of the determinants of health to support optimal oral health.
- Evaluate the physical risk of dental hygiene care for the provision of safe and comprehensive person-centered care.
- Evaluate the outcomes of therapeutic and behavioural dental hygiene interventions to support ongoing comprehensive care and optimal oral health.
- Demonstrate critical reflection of the relationship between personal values and health beliefs, professional ethical standards, and dental hygiene practice.
- Analyze the need for advanced dental hygiene interventions to support dental hygiene care in complex cases.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 75
Total Hours: 75
Total Hours: 75
Instructional Strategies
Instructional strategies include active, collaborative learning; lecture; experiential learning in simulation; group work; discussion; self-reflection; and guest speakers.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Project |
35 |
Critical reflection essay * must achieve 60% to pass the course |
|
Project |
35 |
Literature Review |
|
Quizzes/Tests |
30 |
2-3 Formative Quizzes |
Course topics
- Course Introduction
- Physical Risk Assessment and the provision of Dental Hygiene Care
- Sealants
- Personal Values and Dental Hygiene Practice
- Dental Hygiene Areas of Specialization
- Women’s Health Issues
- Social Gerontology
- Clients with Compromised Health Conditions
- The Aging Process: Oral and General Health
- Older Adults in Assisted Living
- Advanced Instrumentation
- Periodontal Chemotherapeutics
- Evaluation of Dental Hygiene Therapeutic and Behavioural Outcomes
- Alternative Pain Management
- Impressions
Learning resources
Course resource information will be supplied by the department/instructor.
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.