Dental Hygiene Education (DHED)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
DHED 101. Dental Hygiene Academic Orientation1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Admission to Dental Hygiene Lower Division.
Description: This course is designed especially for dental hygiene students. It will include understanding a career in dental hygiene, academic policies and requirements, and making use of the diverse resources offered at a metropolitan research university.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 301. Dental Hygiene Theory I3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Provides the fundamentals of scientific knowledge and clinical skills necessary for entering the clinical phase of the curriculum of dental hygiene.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 302. Dental Hygiene Principles of Practice I2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course is a laboratory course teaching students the concepts and principles of dental instrumentation.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 303. Dental Anatomy2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Students must have completed or be in the process of completing all of the prerequisite lower division courses.
Description: Nomenclature, morphology, structure, function and occlusion of teeth.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 304. Radiography2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: History and development of the x-ray, its nature and properties, safety precautions, and uses of the x-ray in dentistry. Theory in the fundamentals of oral radiographic technique, darkroom processing, and dental radiographic analysis.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 305. Structural Biology of Head and Neck3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program.
Description: Origin and structure of tissues, histology and embryology of teeth, face and oral cavity. Biochemistry as it relates to oral structures. Study of anatomy of oral structures.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 307. Physical Diagnosis and Medical Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Course teaches clinical patient evaluation, emphasizing medical histories and vital signs. Students learn to recognize and manage patients who need treatment and modifications or special precautions for safe dental care.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 308. Pre-Clinical Radiography1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 304.
Description: Laboratory experiences in film placement, film mounting, exposure and processing techniques. Application of the techniques of radiographic surveys.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 309. General and Oral Pathology3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Study of disease mechanisms affecting the human body, with particular emphasis on diseases of the oral and paraoral structures. Clinical diagnostic criteria are emphasized and correlated with pathological entities.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 310. Periodontology3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program.
Description: An understanding of the etiology, mechanisms and processes involved in periodontal disease. Emphasis on integration of research findings to provide evidence-based periodontal therapy.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 311. Dental Materials3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program.
Description: Physical properties of dental materials and basic principles of their preparation.Students work on typodonts, placing rubber dams, applying matrices, inserting bases and restorative material in anterior and posterior prepared teeth. Polishing of restorations and taking impressions for diagnostic study models are introduced.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 312. Oral Health Education2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Course addresses theories and principles of health education, assessment and evaluation techniques, and teaching strategies with regards to oral health education. Will include information specific to selected topics such as tobacco cessation and community health education.
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 313. Dental Hygiene Theory II3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 301.
Description: This course is a continuation of DHED 301.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 314. Dental Hygiene Principles of Practice II3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 302.
Description: This course is the laboratory continuation and beginning clinical component of DHED 302.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 315. Pain and Anxiety Control3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Summer Only
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program.
Description: Provides basic understanding in the use of local anesthesia and anxiety management techniques for the control of pain and anxiety in the clinical practice of dental hygiene.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 316. Community Dental Health I2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Summer Only
Description: Course provides students with an overview of the dental health care system, introduces students to epidemiological study methodologies, explores selected dental public health practices and introduces basic skills in program planning.
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 402. Pharmacology3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Course focus is drugs and anesthetics, with emphasis on those used in the dental office. Discussion of the origin of drugs and anesthetics, physical and chemical properties, preparation, mode of administration and effects on body systems.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 403. Evidenced Based Practice1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program.
Description: This course is designed to provide students with the analytical skills needed to interpret and evaluate studies that include the collection and analysis of data. The course focuses on research design, and descriptive and inferential techniques commonly used research activities.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 404. Special Needs Patients2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Course teaches students about the management of dental patients with a variety of physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs. Will include information about the demographic and sociological trends concerning the elderly and will relate those trends to the dental care delivery system.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 405. Advanced Periodontology I1 Unit
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 310.
Description: Introduction to the use of chemotherapeutics in the treatment of periodontal disease. Use of case studies to enhance recognition of periodontal disease and identification of subsequent treatment.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 406. Community Dental Health II2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 316.
Description: Course focuses on skills development in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of dental public health programs. Will include practicum to enhance student experience in program planning and critical thinking skills
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 407. Advanced Technology and Patient Care Procedures I2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Correlation of medical conditions to dental hygiene treatment utilizing both lecture and case study seminars. Emphasizes the application of information technology to improve the management of diagnostic data.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 408. Dental Hygiene Principles of Practice III4 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 314.
Description: Continuation of DHED 314 including rotations to dental clinics in other facilities to further acquaint students with diverse oral and medical conditions.
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 409. Clinical Radiography I1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 308 and DHED 304.
Description: Clinical application of radiography and radiology.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 410. Advanced Radiology1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 409.
Description: This course teaches advanced extra oral radiography, advanced interpretation and introduction into radiographic case studies. Some campus visits are required to complete the course requirements.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 411. Clinical Radiography II1 Unit
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 409.
Description: Clinical application of radiography and radiology. A continuation of DHED 409.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 412. Dental Hygiene Principles of Practice IV4 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 314 and DHED 408.
Description: Continuation of DHED 408.
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 413. Advanced Periodontology II1 Unit
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 310 and DHED 405.
Description: Continuation of DHED 405.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 414. Advanced Technology and Patient Care Procedures II1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): DHED 407.
Description: Continuation of DHED 407.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 415. Dental Hygiene Ethics and Practice Mangement2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Role of the dental hygienist as related to the health professions and to the dental hygiene association; relationship of the dental hygienist to members of the health team; principles of professional ethics, laws, rules and regulations covering the practice of dental hygiene and dentistry; introduction to the administration and management of a dental health team.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
DHED 417. Dental Hygiene Extramural Education - CUE2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Extramural clinical rotation that affords the student an opportunity to provide patient care and community service projects within a health care delivery system.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status., CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
