vcc.ca
DHYG 3250: Dental Hygiene Professional Practice 3
Effective date
September 2026
Department
Dental Hygiene
School
Health Sciences
Description
This course prepares learners for integration into regulated dental hygiene practice by applying ethical standards, best practices, and legislative requirements necessary for entry-level practice. This course includes basic practice management and business principles including ethics, economics, marketing, and entrepreneurship applied to a variety of practice settings. Political action and advocacy initiatives to address oral health inequities are also explored.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
3rd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
DHYG 2250.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Integrate regulatory standards, and legislative and professional responsibilities when fulfilling practice management or administrative responsibilities.
- Demonstrate cultural safety, and principles of equity and inclusion in dental hygiene practice management.
- Use effective communication approaches that articulate and maintain a professional image and presence.
- Reflect on professional performance in relation to the national dental hygiene entry-to-practice competencies.
- Analyze opportunities for continuing competence in relation to quality assurance requirements in dental hygiene practice.
- Integrate basic principles of business management including business ethics, economics, marketing, and entrepreneurship into a variety of practice settings.
- Explore dental hygiene advocacy initiatives that address oral health inequities.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 45
Total Hours: 45
Total Hours: 45
Instructional Strategies
Instructional strategies include both online and in-person cooperative group work, lectures, seminars, large group discussions, case-based learning, self-reflection, and other experiential learning activities.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Project |
50% |
Business Plan (Project 30%; Pres 20%) |
|
Project |
30% |
Advocacy Initiative Activity |
|
Assignments |
20% |
Inquiry Case Analysis |
Course topics
- Documentation and Billing Practices Dental Practice Economics and Marketing Professional Presence (incl. social media) Entrepreneurship and Business Concepts Alternative Practice Models Post-diploma Dental Hygiene Education Dental Hygiene Regulation (practice standards, code of ethics and legislation) Ethical Decision-making Cultural Safety & Humility Quality Assurance, Continuing Competence and Jurisprudence Fitness to Practice, Duty to Report and Reflective/Reflexive Practice Advocacy in Dental Hygiene Practice Governability, Professionalism and Preparation for Entry to Practice Evaluation of Care
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.