Health Promotion & Com. Dental Hygiene

In this course, the promotion of oral health and the prevention of oral diseases are introduced. Health and wellness, determinants of health, community health indicators, and community health status are discussed. Students develop a plan for a community oral health promotion activity, applying the process of needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. An introduction to the methods and materials for instructional design and planning are reviewed. Lesson planning and education preparation with an emphasis on goal and objective writing, lesson plan development, and the use of appropriate visual aids is presented. Students prepare and conduct oral health education activities with various community groups. Social marketing techniques are discussed, and students create and present display boards on a variety of oral health topics. The concepts of social responsibility and access to oral care are discussed. Cultural variables influencing oral health, appropriate communication techniques and managing client anxiety are reviewed.