Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Describe the factors associated with the prevention of dental caries and management therapies.
2. Explain processes related to dental caries and dental erosion, and how these present clinically and radiographically.
3. Describe caries classification systems and how they are utilized.
4. Identify dental caries at the individual level applying traditional and technology-based methodologies.
5. Explain various methods of caries risk assessment and their application to patient care.
6. Identify various caries management modalities based on individual patient presentation and risk level.

Weekly quizzes
Completion of online continuing education courses
Completion of caries risk assessment on patient
Completion of nutritional assessment on patient
Final Exam

Course Content (Themes, Concepts and Issues)

Dental decay is an infectious disease;
The emerging role of the dental hygienist detection and treatment;
The role of fluoride in preventing oral disease;
Caries etiology;
Caries Risk assessment;
Nutritional assessment;
The medical model for treatment of caries vs. operative model;
Caries detection devices;
Identification of individuals/populations at risk for caries;
Prevention of oral disease;
Treatment of caries;

Competencies and Skills:
1. Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the principles involved in the etiology and prevention of dental disease;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of fluoride and other plaque inhibiting agents and their benefit to the client.

3. Determine appropriate fluoride recommendations;
4. Demonstrate knowledge of caries preventive agents and OTC products;
5. Demonstrate an understanding of caries diagnosis and use of detection devices;
6. Explore the medical model of caries management including re-mineralization techniques;
7. Understand the difference between the medical model and the operative model in treatment modalities for caries; 
8. Demonstrate the ability to assess the risk factors contributing to dental caries using various models;

9. Understand and demonstrate the ability to assess the nutritional factors contributing to dental caries for an individual;'

10. Explore the emerging role of the dental hygienist regarding detection, prevention and treatment.