Dental
Dental Assisting
DAT 113 Dental Materials (3-3-4)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program
This course is a study of physical and chemical properties of matter and identification, characteristics, and manipulation of dental materials.
DAT 115 Ethics & Professionalism (1-0-1)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program
This course introduces a cursory history of dental assisting, professional associations, scope of service in dentistry and ethical, legal and professional considerations. The State Dental Practice Act is reviewed. (This course is only offered online.)
DAT 116 Fundamentals of Dental Medicine (3-0-3)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program
This course is a study of dental office emergencies, microbiology, pharmacology and oral pathology as related to the role of the dental assistant.
DAT 118 Dental Morphology (1-3-2)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program
This course emphasizes the development, eruption and individual characteristics of each tooth and surrounding structures.
DAT 121 Dental Health Education (1-3-2)
Offered Spring Semester
This course defines the responsibilities of the dental assistant in individual and community dental health education with emphasis on the etiology of dental disease, methods for prevention and principles of nutrition in relation to oral health and preventive dentistry.
DAT 122 Dental Office Management (1-3-2)
Offered Summer Semester
Co-requisite: DAT 177
This course provides a study of the business aspect of a dental office and dental computer software.
DAT 127 Dental Radiology (3-3-4)
Offered Spring Semester
This course provides the fundamental background and theory for the safe and effective use of x-radiation in dentistry. It encompasses the history of x-rays, production and uses of radiation, radiographic film, exposure factors, interpretation of radiographs and radiation hygiene.
DAT 154 Clinical Procedures I (2-6-4)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program (Infection Control Online component must be completed prior to course start date)
This course includes preparation to assist a dentist efficiently in four-handed dentistry. Emphasis is on the names and functions of all dental instruments, the principles involved in their use and the assistant’s role in dental instrumentation.
DAT 160 Expanded Duties/Specialties (1-3-2)
Offered Spring Semester
This course provides practical experience in performing the expanded duties designated by the SC State Board of Dentistry for Expanded Duty Dental Assistants. In addition, the course covers an overview of dental specialties.
DAT 175 Introduction to Clinical Experience (1-12-5)
Offered Spring Semester
This course is an introduction to chairside assisting with emphasis on general practice and exposure to several dental specialties. Students will be assigned to a variety of dental practice settings and will record experiences in an online journal for faculty review. Seminars will be held to allow sharing of experiences.
DAT 177 Dental Office Experience (2-15-7)
Offered Summer Semester
Co-requisite: DAT 122
This course consists of practice in the dental office or clinic with rotation of assignments to encompass experiences in office management and clinical experience in all areas of dentistry.
Dental Hygiene
DHG 115 Medical & Dental Emergencies (2-0-2)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Completion of Phase I courses and admittance to the Dental Hygiene program
This course provides a study of the various medical/dental emergencies and appropriate treatment measures. Additionally, it includes managing medically compromised dental patients and provides for CPR certification. CPR certification is obtained prior to entering the dental hygiene program.
DHG 121 Dental Radiography (2-3-3)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Completion of Phase I courses and admittance to the Dental Hygiene program
This course provides the application of the principles of radiology with emphasis on exposing, processing, mounting, evaluating and interpreting dental radiographs. Radiation safety is stressed.
DHG 122 Office Management for the Dental Hygienist (2-0-2)
Offered Spring Semester
This course provides a study of the business aspect of a dental office and dental office software for the dental hygienist.
DHG 125 Tooth Morphology & Histology (2-0-2)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Completion of Phase I courses and admittance to the Dental Hygiene program
This course covers the embryogenesis and histology of the head and neck structures with primary emphasis on the oral cavity. The formation, eruption patterns and morphology of primary and permanent dentitions are studied.
DHG 140 General & Oral Pathology (2-0-2)
Offered Summer Semester
This course provides a correlation of basic pathologic principles to disease processes in the oral cavity. The role of the dental hygienist in early disease detection is emphasized. Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of diseases affecting the head and neck are discussed.
DHG 141 Periodontology (2-0-2)
Offered Spring Semester
This course presents a study of the principles, etiologies, classifications and treatments of periodontal disease with emphasis on the role of the dental hygienist.
DHG 143 Dental Pharmacology (2-0-2)
Offered Spring Semester
This course provides a study of drugs used in dentistry. Emphasis is placed on the physical and chemical properties of the drugs, dosages and therapeutic effects, methods of administration and indications/contraindications for the use of the drug. A study of dental anesthetics is included.
DHG 161 Clinical DHG I Foundations (2-7-4)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisites: Completion of Phase I courses and admittance to the Dental Hygiene program
This course completes the basic instrumentation instruction; introduces polishing and anticaries therapies; presents periodontal health assessment and introduces the clinical setting for application of dental hygiene skills for patient care.
DHG 165 Clinical Dental Hygiene I (2-9-5)
Offered Spring Semester
This is an introduction course to the clinical setting for application of dental hygiene skills for patient care.
DHG 175 Clinical Dental Hygiene II (2-9-5)
Offered Summer Semester
This course provides for the continued development of the skills necessary to perform dental hygiene care. Emphasis is placed on total patient care and treatment planning.
DHG 232 Community Oral Health Outreach (1-3-2)
Offered Fall Semester
Co-requisite: DHG 255
This course provides a study of literature reviews, analysis of oral health needs, epidemiology and prevention of oral diseases including assessment of community needs, project planning, implementation and evaluation. Emphasis will be placed on setting-up on-going community-based projects/programs to facilitate a “serving to learn” philosophy and enhancing access to oral health care for diverse populations.
DHG 241 Integrated Dental Hygiene I (0-3-1)
Offered Summer Semester
This course provides for the integration of the basic and dental hygiene sciences with current concepts of clinical dental hygiene practice.
DHG 242 Integrated Dental Hygiene II (0-3-1)
Offered Spring Semester
Co-requisite: DHG 265
This course provides for the integration of the basic and dental sciences with current dental hygiene concepts. Emphasis is placed on ethical/legal aspects of dental hygiene practice and practice management techniques.
DHG 244 Dental Materials (2-3-3)
Offered Fall Semester for Dental Assisting students and Spring Semester for Dental Hygiene students
This course is a study of the physical and chemical properties, identification, characteristics and manipulation of dental materials.
DHG 255 Clinical Dental Hygiene III (1-12-5)
Offered Fall Semester
Co-requisites: DHG 232
This course provides for the development of proficiency in the clinical dental hygiene setting with emphasis on the implementation of treatment plans to meet the individual patient’s oral health needs.
DHG 265 Clinical Dental Hygiene IV (1-12-5)
Offered Spring Semester
Co-requisite: DHG 242
This course permits refinement of clinical techniques and skills, technology and current procedural practices of the dental hygienist with emphasis on self-evaluation and quality assurance.