1.

TITLE OF COURSE:

APPLIED DENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

PREFIX/NUMBER:

DEA 176

CREDIT HOURS:

1

2.

PREREQUISITE:

3.

RESOURCES NEEDED:

TEXT:

Modern Dental Assisting, Torres and Erhlich, Saunders, 9^th Edition, 2008.

Modern Dental Assisting Workbook, 9^th Edition, 2008.

SUPPLIES:

4.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course provides the student with direction in the study of human behavior and social adjustment as it relates to dentistry. Emphasis will be placed on the special patient and their emotional needs as well as enhancing student learning towards professionalism, goal setting and workforce development skills.

5.

COURSE GOAL:

To provide students direction in the study of human behavior and identifying levels of social adjustment applicable to individuals. Incorporating communication and management techniques in working with the factors affecting behaviors of dental patients and special needs patients. To develop professional behaviors with the dental health team and patients, enhancing work ethics and self-motivation, and stress management in the practice of dental assisting and the dental profession.

This course carries three credits for a total of 15 contact hours.

6.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the completion of this course the student should be able to:

A.

Demonstrate professional behavior by identifying and working on self-esteem, motivation, and goal setting to incorporate into the dental profession.

B.

Describe and list stress related cases that may occur in the dental office and recommended forms of stress reduction for staff and patients.

C.

Explain human relations in dentistry.                    

D.

Describe and identify temperament and personality traits of self and peers.     

E.

Discuss and describe psychological theories and behaviors.

F.

Explain and discuss the concept of dentistry as a service profession.

G.

Identify desirable characteristics in building relationships.

H.

Describe the relationship between communication and productivity.

I.

Identify barriers to communication.

J.

Recognize and demonstrate the use of verbal and nonverbal communication.

K.

Define patient rights.

L.

Explain staff management and professional etiquette.

M.

Describe the appearance of a cleft palate patient and a Downs Syndrome patient.

N.

Identify and display an understanding of medically compromised patients – such as: patients with epilepsy, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, cardiovascular disorders, and Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, asthma and severe kidney disease.

O.

Be familiar with dentistry for the home-confined patient.

P.

Describe management techniques and precautions when treating the pregnant patient and nursing mother.

Q.

Identify special needs and problems of the dental patient.

R.

Describe role of dental team in detecting reporting suspected cases of child, spouse, or geriatric abuse.

S.

Describe the role of the dental team in detecting and reporting drug and alcohol abuse.

T.

Determine and identify career (professional) goals and develop a life-long learning strategy.

U.

Demonstrate and develop professional work ethics and morals through self evaluation of appropriate interpersonal skills needed in the workforce.

7.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

40%

The student’s grade will be based on the scores received on worksheets, assignments, and unit tests. 

20%

Will be applied to the final examination.

20%

Will be based on student’s attendance and tardiness (1 pts per session = 15 pts. per semester), clinic team rotation participation (5 pts per session = 75 pts per semester), and professional behavior/ work ethic (See Student Handbook - ex. respectable, team player, responsible patient care, dependable, etc.).  3 tardy’s equate to 1 absence.

20%

The student’s grade will be based on scores received by the student on task performance competencies.

8.

COURSE OUTLINE:

UNIT I.

Psychology of Human Relations

A.

Temperament Evaluation

B.

Personality and Psychology Evaluations

C.

Dentistry as a Service Profession

D.

Desirable Characteristics for Building Relationships

1)

Self Confidence

2)

Genuineness

3)

Openness to Experience

4)

Acceptance of Others Background’s and Values

5)

Enthusiasm

6)

Assertiveness

7)

Integrity

8)

Effective Listening

9)

Recognition of others Needs

10)

Sense of Humor

E.

Communication Skills

1)

Communication and productivity

2)

Barriers to Communication

F.

Using Nonverbal Communication

1)

Improving Verbal Images

UNIT II.

The Special Patient

A.

Pregnancy and nursing mothers

B.

Children

C.

Geriatric patient

E.

Handicapped patient’s and the American Disabilities Act (ADA)

F.

Blind patient

G.

Hearing impaired

H.

Cleft palate

I.

Mental retardation

J.

Down's syndrome

K.

Cerebral palsy patient

L.

Epilepsy

M.

Diabetes

N.

Arthritic patient

O.

Cardiovascular

P.

Asthma patient

Q.

Kidney and stroke patient

R.

Alzheimer's patient

S.

Dentistry for the confined patient

T.

Dentist and Dental Auxiliaries Role in Suspected Abuse

Unit III

Marketing your Skills

A.

Self- Assessment

1)

Identifying personal Assets and Liabilities

B.

Marketing your Skills

C.

Self-evaluation

D.

Changing career paths

E.

Attitudes for Continued Success

F.

Stress Management

9.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

To be successful in this course, students are expected to participate in discussions, readings, in-class writing, team projects, case studies, simulations, group research, and peer review evaluation activities. The instructor may assign point values to such activities.

10.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty, and personal misrepresentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor.

11.

ADA NOTICE:

Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class.  Please contact the PCC Adaptive Services Advisors at (719) 549-3331.