Division of Dental Hygiene
Mission and Goals of the Division of Dental Hygiene
The Mission of the University of New Mexico Division of Dental Hygiene is to
educate dental hygienists through the transmission of dental science
knowledge acquired from research and patient care; to improve the health of
the people of New Mexico through academic and clinical training of highly
qualified dental hygiene professionals; to provide the highest quality oral
health care services to the community; to advance the art and science of
dental hygiene via research and other scholarly/creative activities; to
provide, sponsor and/or participate in activities and services that validate
the educational programs of the University as integral and vital parts of
the entire health care spectrum.
The following goals of the University Of New Mexico Division Of Dental Hygiene
are integral to accomplish this mission:
Goal #1
Education
Prepare
students, through appropriate academic and clinical education, to be
qualified dental professional utilizing a competency-based curriculum.
Goal #2
Patient Care
Provide
comprehensive dental hygiene treatment and referrals to those individuals
served by the University through a complete, sequential, and monitored
system of oral health care delivery.
Goal #3
Professional Development/Research
Create a
positive environment through the provision of development programs that
facilitate continued growth and enrichment of all students and faculty.
Goal #4
External Programs
Foster
opportunities, utilizing resources both locally and nationally, for faculty
and student involvement in service activities that are consistent with
personal development goals and that promote dental health as an integral
component in the overall health and welfare of the community.
Goal #5
Recruitment
Recruit
the highest quality of students.
Dental
hygiene competencies related to goals:
- Obtain, review and update a complete medical, family psychological and dental
history, including assessment of vital signs, and record findings.
-
Recognize
the patient record as a legal document and maintain its accuracy and
consistency.
-
Recognize
medical conditions and medications that require special precautions or
consideration prior to or during dental hygiene treatment.
-
Identify
the patient at risk for medical emergency and be prepared to handle
emergency should it occur during an appointment.
-
Perform
an extraoral and intraoral examination and record findings.
-
Perform
an examination of the teeth and accurately record the results.
-
Identify
need for an obtain radiographs of diagnostic quality.
-
Radiographically distinguish normal from abnormal anatomical findings.
-
Evaluate
the periodontium and identify conditions that compromise periodontal health
and function.
-
Identify
conditions and diseases that affect dietary intake and food selection and
recognize risks and benefits of alternative food patterns.
-
Analyze
and interpret the data related to and congruent with the diagnosis of the
dentist and other health professionals.
-
Utilize,
interpret and analyze appropriate indices for patient assessment.
-
Assess
and analyze patient risk factors that may impact dental hygiene care.
-
Develop a
dental hygiene diagnosis.
-
Develop a
dental hygiene treatment plan based upon the patient's diagnosis, and
present treatment plan case to the patient.
-
Recognize
the importance of informed consent, and obtain it from the patient prior to
treatment.
-
Evaluate
and utilize methods to ensure the health and safety of the patient and the
dental hygienists in the delivery of dental hygiene care.
-
Apply
basic and advanced principle of hand and powered dental hygiene
instrumentation to remove deposits without trauma to hard and or soft
tissue.
-
Control
pain and anxiety during treatment through the use of accepted clinical
techniques and appropriate behavioral management strategies.
-
Select
and administer the appropriate chemotherapeutic agent and provide pre and
post-treatment instructions.
-
Provide
adjunct dental hygiene services that can be legally performed.
-
Providing
health education and preventive counseling.
-
Provide
nutritional counseling related to oral conditions and/or disease.
-
Implement
and evaluate measures to minimize occupational hazards in the work place,
including postural and engineering factors such as equipment and instrument
design.
-
Determine
outcomes of DH interventions (re-evaluation) using indices, instruments,
exam techniques and patient self-report.
-
Evaluate
the patient's satisfaction with oral health status achieved.
-
Evaluate
patient's dental needs, and provide a referral to patients when indicated.
-
Apply the
provisions of the New Mexico Dental Practice Act in dental hygiene practice.
-
Apply the
provisions of the American Dental Hygienists' Association Code of Ethics in
a dental hygiene practice.
-
Apply the
principles of ethical behavior in decision-making, in interactions with
patients and staff, and in personal conduct.
-
Ensure
the privacy of the client during dental hygiene treatment and counseling and
the confidentiality of client records.
-
Identify
the health needs of individuals and assist them in the development of
appropriate and individualized self-care regimens.
-
Respect
the goals, values, beliefs and preferences of the patient while promoting
optimal oral and general health.
-
Evaluate
factors that promote patient adherence to disease prevention and encourage
patients to assume responsibility for health and wellness.
-
Promote
the values of oral and general health and wellness to the public and
organizations within and outside the profession.
-
Identify
services that promote oral health and prevent oral diseases and related
conditions.
-
Assess,
plan, implement and evaluate community-based oral health programs.
-
Be able
to influence consumer groups, businesses and government agencies to support
health care issues.
-
Use
screening, referral and education to bring consumers into the health care
delivery system.
-
Provide
dental hygiene services in variety of settings including offices, hospitals,
clinics, extended care facilities, community programs, and schools.
-
Evaluate
reimbursement mechanisms and their impact on the patient's access to oral
health care.
-
Recognize
and use written and electronic sources of information.
-
Evaluate
the credibility and potential hazards of dental products and techniques.
-
Evaluate
published clinical and basic science research and integrate this information
to improve the oral health of the patient.
-
Recognize
the responsibility and demonstrate the ability to communicate professional
knowledge verbally and in writing.
-
Accept
responsibility for solving problems and making decisions based on accepted
scientific principles.
-
Advance
profession through leadership, service activities and affiliation with
professional organizations.
-
Expand
and contribute to knowledge base of dental hygiene.
-
Promote
the values of the profession to the public and other organizations outside
of the dental profession.
