This course introduces the dental hygiene student to clinical dental hygiene practice. It provides a historical overview of dentistry and dental careers, ethical principles, the science behind disease transmission, instrument sterilization, and infection control procedures. Ergonomics, communication skills, and preliminary patient assessment tools, including vital signs, are covered. The dental hygiene process of care, basic instrumentation, extrinsic stain removal, and fluoride application will be covered in the simulation laboratory.