Bachelor of Dental Hygiene

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

The Riyadh Elm University program has established a (48) – month program of studies leading to a bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene. This four year (8 Semesters).

The program integrates education, experiential learning and clinical practice to prepare the students to work with the dentist and the dental team to treat all kinds of patients. Dental hygienists work hand in hand with dentists to prevent, diagnose and treat oral diseases.

Students of the dental hygiene program are trained to provide quality dental hygiene care, in general. They are trained to assess, plan, implement and evaluate dental hygiene services for individual patients and community oral health programs; develop patient counseling programs to encourage disease prevention and good oral health; and provide prescribed clinical patient care for patients of all ages and backgrounds, including those with special needs.

They are also expected to continuously improve and enhance their professional development and face the challenges of the dental hygiene profession.

Program Mission:

Effective dental hygiene education and training with an active contribution towards scientific oral health research and meeting the oral health needs of the society.

Program Goals:

Graduate dental hygienists competent to meet the oral health care needs of the population
Engage students in community service
Provide oral health and promote health awareness to the public
Conduct scientific oral health research
Utilize the values of professional ethics, lifelong learning, accountability, and teamwork in professional practice

Program Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge and Understanding
K1	Identify the principles of oral health, its disease development, diagnosis, prevention, and management
K2	Demonstrate basic research skills in the field of oral science
K3	Demonstrate the knowledge necessary to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate community-based programs in all health promotion and disease prevention activities
K4	Integrate basic, biomedical, and behavioral sciences in the practice of dental hygiene care
Skills
S1	Utilize critical thinking, problem solving, and evidence-based decision making in the dental hygiene process of care
S2	Evaluate the patient’s oral and medical status and request the needed diagnostic investigations
S3	Perform comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and risk assessments based upon the application of scientific evidence with consultations as appropriate
S4	Provide the dental hygiene process of care (assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, documentation) for patients/clients in all settings
S5	Develop skills to access, critically appraise, apply and communicate scientific literature and research as it relates to providing evidence-based patient care
S6	Understand and master the competencies of Dental Hygiene Professional Practice
S7	Provide oral health care to individuals at all stages of life and for all periodontal classifications by performing procedures safely and preventing iatrogenic injuries
S8	Use health informatics in oral care effectively
S9	Communicate effectively with patients, peers, the public, and other healthcare professionals using verbal, nonverbal, and written language with clarity, coherence, and purpose
Values
V1	Demonstrate self-assessment to maintain professional standards, accountability and encourage life-long learning
V2	Apply a professional code of ethics while adhering to appropriate legal and regulatory measures when providing oral health services following health care rules and regulations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
V3	Participate constructively in a team and demonstrate a practice of leadership when appropriate