Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College

Revised 09/2026

DNH 227 - Public Health Dental Hygiene II (1 CR.)

Course Description

Applies concepts of public health program planning through student directed community projects with an emphasis on preventative oral health education. Includes development of table clinics, bulletin boards, and volunteer service in the community. Laboratory 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

To provide the dental hygiene student with experience for developing, planning, and implementing community oral health education programs.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

 Prerequisites DNH 150, DNH 226, DNH 235, DNH 244 and PSY 200.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • Discuss the criteria necessary to develop a successful oral health education program.
  • Identify and discuss the types of resources that are needed to successfully implement an oral health education program.
  • Identify the needs of dental treatment, demand, and utilization for oral health care services according to various target populations.
  • Discuss the importance of an assessment visit when planning an oral health education program for a community group.
  • Discuss the importance of demographic characteristics and identify how they can influence the planning of an oral health education program in the community.
  • Describe and discuss the differences between various methods of teaching.
  • Discuss various types and appropriate scope of topics covered in a lesson plan.
  • Discuss the importance of learning objectives and why they must be specific and measurable.
  • Discuss the importance for monitoring and evaluating a community oral health education program.
  • Prepare and present an oral health education program in the community.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Overview of Community Oral Health Education Programs
  • Planning of Assessment Visits for Community Oral Health Education Programs
  • Demographic Characteristics
  • Designing Learning Objectives for Community Oral Health Education Programs
  • Teaching Methods
  • Designing Lesson Plans for Community Oral Health Education Programs
  • Monitoring and Evaluating Community Oral Health Education Programs