Dental Hygiene Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering core concepts, roles, supervision levels, ethics, infection control, and sterilization protocols from Dental Hygiene Test 1.

Dental hygiene

The art and science of preventive oral healthcare, including the management of behaviors to prevent oral disease and to promote health.

Clinician (Dental Hygienist Role)

Provides direct patient care in collaboration with other health professionals.

Corporate (Dental Hygienist Role)

Employed by a company that supports oral health through the promotion of oral health products and services.

Researcher (Dental Hygienist Role)

Conducts studies to test new procedures, products, or theories for accuracy and effectiveness.

Educator (Dental Hygienist Role)

Uses educational theory and methodology to educate competent oral health professionals or provide continuing education for licensed providers.

Public Health (Dental Hygienist Role)

Enhances access to care in community health programs funded by government or non-profit organizations.

Administrator (Dental Hygienist Role)

Applies organizational skills, communicates objectives, identifies and manages resources, and evaluates and modifies health or education programs.

Entrepreneur (Dental Hygienist Role)

Initiates or finances new oral health-related enterprises.

Dental hygiene practice act

Laws established in each state and/or province to regulate the practice of dental hygiene, define the legal scope of practice, and establish a board to oversee policies.

Direct supervision

Level of supervision where the dentist needs to be present during treatment.

Personal supervision

Level of supervision where the dentist needs to authorize treatment, be present, and check work before the dismissal of the patient.

General supervision

Level of supervision where the dentist has authorized the procedure and it is performed in accordance with the diagnosis and treatment plan, but the dentist does not need to be present.

Direct access supervision

Level of supervision where the dental hygienist can provide appropriate services without specific authorization, typically limited to preventative services in public health settings.

Collaborative practice

Practice setting where the dental hygienist may practice without supervision under a collaborative agreement between a licensed dentist and dental hygienist.

Indirect supervision

Level of supervision where the dentist must authorize the procedure and be in the office while the services are being performed.

Remote supervision

Level of supervision where the supervising dentist is not on site and communication between providers occurs through the use of a tele-dentistry affiliated dental hygiene practice.

Independent practice

Practice setting where the dental hygienist can provide services within the scope of dental hygiene practice in any setting without authorization or supervision by a dentist.

Assessment (Process of Care)

The collection and analysis of data to identify patient needs.

Dental hygiene diagnosis

The identification of an individual's health behaviors, attitudes, and oral health care needs.

Planning (Process of Care)

The establishment of realistic goals and the selection of dental hygiene interventions.

Implementation (Process of Care)

The act of carrying out the dental hygiene plan of care.

Evaluation (Process of Care)

The measurement of the extent to which the client has achieved goals.

Interprofessional collaboration

Care provided by a dental hygienist in collaboration with an interprofessional team of healthcare providers to meet the needs of patients with complex medical problems.

Client (Paradigm Concept)

An individual, group, or community, including people of all ages, genders, and sociocultural and economic status receiving care.

Environment (Paradigm Concept)

Factors affecting the client, including economic, psychological, cultural, physical, legal, educational, ethical, and geographic factors.

Individual autonomy and respect for human beings

Core ethical value asserting that people have the right to be treated with respect, informed consent prior to treatment, and full disclosure of relevant information to make informed choices.

Non-maleficence

Core ethical value accepting the fundamental obligation to provide services in a manner that protects all patients and minimizes harm to them and others.

Beneficence

Core ethical value asserting a primary role in promoting the well-being of individuals and the public through health promotion and disease prevention activities.

Veracity

Core ethical value accepting the obligation to tell the truth and expecting others to do the same.

Dr. Alfred C. Fones

Known as the father of dental hygiene; he trained Irene Newman and named the profession to emphasize prevention rather than treatment.

Irene Newman

Trained by Dr. Alfred C. Fones to demonstrate that education and prevention reduced dental disease; became the first licensed hygienist in 1917.

Standard precautions

The standard of care to protect healthcare providers and patients from pathogens spread by bodily fluids, treating all patient body fluids as if they were infectious.

Transmission-based precautions

Precautions used when standard precautions are insufficient, which may require postponing treatment until the patient is noninfectious or cleared by a healthcare provider.

Infectious agent

The invading organism (such as bacteria, virus, fungi, or protozoa) in the chain of infection.

Reservoir

The essential environment where invading organisms live and multiply, such as inanimate matter, an insect, or human cells/blood.

Port of exit

The mode of escape of an infectious agent from its reservoir (e.g., respiratory tract, bloodstream).

Mode of transmission

The mechanism by which an infectious agent is transferred directly (person to person) or indirectly to a host.

Port of entry

The path by which an infectious agent enters a new susceptible host (e.g., eyes, mucous membranes, skin breaks).

Susceptible host

An individual who lacks immunity to an invading infectious agent (e.g., medically compromised, non-vaccinated, or elderly individuals).

Direct contamination

Person-to-person transmission, such as aerosols spreading directly from the respiratory tract of one person to the oral cavity of another.

Indirect contamination

Transmission occurring when droplets pass from a person to an inanimate object and are subsequently transferred to a susceptible host.

Aerosols

Solid or liquid particles ranging in size from $1\text{ to }100\text{ nanometers}$ that can remain suspended in the air and contain infectious agents.

Spatter

Heavier, larger particles (greater than $100\text{ nanometers}$) that remain airborne for a short time, falling within $2\text{ ft}$ of origin onto objects, people, or the floor.

Resident bacteria

Microorganisms that inhabit the surface epithelium or deeper areas of skin glands/hair follicles, tending to be less susceptible to destruction by disinfection procedures.

Transient bacteria

Microorganisms on the skin that may cause infection if a skin break exists, but can typically be removed with soap and water or antiseptic hand rub.

Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE)

A measurement of a face mask's resistance to bacteria.

Type I latex hypersensitivity

An immediate allergic reaction to latex products, causing symptoms ranging from urticaria, dermatitis, and respiratory distress to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Type IV latex hypersensitivity

A delayed hypersensitivity reaction resulting in contact dermatitis that develops $8\text{ hours to }5\text{ days}$ after contact with latex.

Chemical indicator

A strip placed inside cassettes prior to wrapping that changes color to confirm the sterilizer reached the required temperature, though it does not prove sterilization.

Biological Monitor (Spore Test)

A weekly test conducted in each sterilizer to verify that all forms of life are destroyed, where a negative result (purple) indicates successful sterilization.

Critical items

Infection control classification for instruments that penetrate soft tissue or bone, requiring heat sterilization between each use.

Semi-critical items

Infection control classification for items that contact oral fluids but do not penetrate soft tissue or bone, requiring heat sterilization between uses.

Non-critical items

Infection control classification for items that only come into contact with intact skin, requiring intermediate to low level disinfection.

Shock (DUWLs)

The application of strong disinfection to kill existing contaminants within dental unit waterlines.

Treat (DUWLs)

The ongoing purification of all water entering the dental unit waterlines.

Test (DUWLs)

The procedure of measuring bacteria levels in water samples obtained from dental unit waterlines.