Dental Hygiene (DNTL 2242 Ethics, Law & Practice Management) Course Syllabus

Sep 13, 2026

Comprehensive course syllabus for Dental Hygiene DNTL 2242 Ethics, Law & Practice Management (3 units). Covers federal and California legal frameworks for oral healthcare delivery, including the California Dental Practice Act, workplace labor laws, and criminal and civil law, alongside ethical theories, core professional values, and informed consent. Includes dental office business fundamentals such as leadership, insurance, procedure codes, marketing, profitability, and structured job-seeking components (cover letter and resume) to prepare students for professional practice in California.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Course Overview

Prerequisite and Units

Catalog Description

Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes

Course Scope and Content

Unit I Ethical Theories

Unit II Ethical Principles

Unit III Informed Consent

Unit IV Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-making

Unit V Law

Unit VI Dental Practice as a Business

Unit VII Job-Seeking

Unit VIII Planning For the Future

Instruction, Evaluation, and Learning Activities

Learning Activities Required Outside of Class

Methods of Instruction

Methods of Evaluation

Supplemental Data

Prepared by: C. Adriano Reviewed by: E. Hershkowitz Reviewed by: D. Champion Date Prepared: Fall 2024 Dental Hygiene (DNTL 2242 Ethics, Law & Practice Management (3 Units) CSU [formerly DNTL 2241 and DNTL 2245] Prerequisite: Successful completion of all first, second and third semester Dental Hygiene Program courses with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Hours and Unit Calculations: 48 hours lecture. 96 Outside of class hours. (144 Total Student Learning Hours) 3 Units Catalog Description: This course provides a comprehensive analysis of the ethical and legal frameworks governing oral healthcare delivery, with a particular focus on California law. It covers essential topics including dental office management, financial and business considerations, and effective job-seeking strategies, such as resume writing and interview techniques, to equip future dental hygienists for their professional career. Type of Class/Course: Degree Credit Texts: Kimbrough, Vickie J., and Charla J. Lautar. Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Practice Management in Dental Hygiene. 3rd ed., 2022 update, Pearson, 2022. Additional Required Materials: Access to the California Dental Hygiene and Dental Board website Course Objectives: By the end of the course, a successful student will be able to: 1. Discuss federal laws as they apply to delivery of healthcare. 2. Discuss the California Dental Practice Act as it applies to the practice of dental hygiene. 3. Identify and discuss moral and ethical core values as it applies to the practice of dental hygiene and current oral healthcare issues. 4. Explain the business aspect of a dental practice setting which includes marketing, profitability, dental insurance, procedure codes, and management styles. 5. Identify the sections of dental hygiene cover letter and resume. 6. Discuss aspects of searching for a dental hygiene position, including interviews and compensation packages. 7. Discuss California labor laws as they apply to the dental hygiene profession. 8. Identify retirement plan and investment options and the various insurances available to dental hygienists to ensure career longevity. Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) 1. Apply the decision-making model and core values to identify and implement the most ethical course of action in a dental hygiene patient care scenario. 2. Prepare a cover letter and resume for a dental hygiene position demonstrating professionalism and attention to detail. 3. Develop and deliver well-structured responses to questions during a simulated interview for a dental hygiene position 4. Analyze and interpret the California Dental Practice Act and labor laws in the context of their application to dental hygiene practice. Course Scope and Content: Unit I Ethical Theories A. Utilitarianism B. Kantian Ethics C. Virtue Ethics Unit II Ethical Principles A. Core Values B. Professional Association Codes of Ethics Unit III Informed Consent A. Types of consent B. Exceptions to the rule Unit IV Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-making A. Stages in Moral development B. Decision making model Unit V Law A. Workplace labor laws B. California Dental Practice Act C. Criminal and civil law D. Federal laws as applied to healthcare Unit VI Dental Practice as a Business A. Leadership/Management styles B. Dental team concept and staff roles C. Time management D. Dental insurance and procedure codes E. Marketing F. Profitability and production Unit VII Job-Seeking A. Components of resumes B. Interview questions C. Employment contracts D. Temporary positions and the working interview Unit VIII Planning For the Future A. Insurance coverage for dental hygienists B. Investment options Learning Activities Required Outside of Class: The students in the class will spend a minimum of 6 hours per week outside of the regular class time doing the following: 1. Independent study and reading 2. Reviewing the California

FAQs

What prerequisites are required for DNTL 2242?

Successful completion of all first, second, and third semester Dental Hygiene Program courses with a grade of C or better.

What legal topics are covered in the course?

Federal laws as applied to healthcare, the California Dental Practice Act, workplace labor laws, and criminal and civil law.

What job-seeking deliverables must students prepare?

A dental hygiene cover letter and resume, plus well-structured responses for simulated interview questions, including employment contract concepts and compensation discussions.

Sep 13, 2026

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