07 - Biology

History and evolution of Nuclear medicine as an imaging modality. Radionuclide identification, radionuclide energies and half-lives, and commonly used radiopharmaceuticals for Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine procedures. Introduction to Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine procedures. Patient handling techniques and nursing and laboratory procedures relating to Nuclear Medicine. Introduction to professional medical ethics, legal issues and patient rights. Quality assurance procedures for the radiation protection of Nuclear Medicine personnel.

Principles of disease transmission. Infection control policies, patient procedures, patient assessment and fundamental instrumentation for the dental hygienist. Foundation of knowledge and strategies of preventive dental hygiene practice. Emphasis on mechanical and chemical plaque control, use of fluoride and health promotion.  (3 lecture hours.)

Rationale for collection of assessment data and associated clinical procedures. Data collection. Use of instruments, dental sealants, topical fluorides, development of dental hygiene treatment plans. Introduction to direct patient care.  (2 lecture hours.)

Principles of atomic structure, nomenclature and radiation. Introduction to radionuclides, physics of radiation (particulate and non-particulate), natural and artificial radiation, calculations of radioactive decay, exponential equations, calculation of radiation dosimetry, half-life equations, radionuclide production, radiopharmaceutical dose determinations, radiation interaction with matter, radiation protection and safety methodology, radiation shielding formulation, and counting statistics. Basic aspects in imaging and non-imaging radiation detection instrumentation, including scintillation detectors, planar, SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography), PET (Positron Emission Tomography) multichannel analyzers, and quality assurance testing for Nuclear Medicine instrumentation, including G-M detectors, ionization chambers and scintillation detectors. Nuclear Medicine basic data acquisition and analysis.

Nuclear Medicine radiopharmacy, including production of radionuclides, radiopharmaceutical chemistry, radiopharmaceuticals and methods of radiolabeling; characteristics of specific radiopharmaceuticals, biorouting and physiological mechanisms of tracer uptake; pharmacokinetics; radiation units; specific activity; concentration determination; dose calculations; methods of dispensing; quality assurance of radiopharmaceuticals; and universal precautions. Specialized clinical radiopharmaceuticals, including monoclonal antibodies, peptides, receptors, Positron Emission Tomography therapy and current research. Radiopharmacy design, management and recordkeeping, radiation safety, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) radiopharmacy rules and regulations.

Physical and chemical properties of dental materials, characteristics and manipulation of impression materials, gypsum products, investments, waxes, cements, resins, metallic and non-metallic restorative agents.  (2 lecture hours, 3 lab hours.)

Topics in radiation biology, including qualitative and quantitative effects on the human body following exposure to various types of ionizing radiation, and the potential harmful effects and the benefits of the medical uses of radiation. Procedures for personnel and environmental monitoring, emergency management, decontamination, and proper methods of receiving, storing and disposing of radioactive materials. Basic concepts of radiation exposure reduction. Concepts of radiation safety for personnel, patients and the environment.

First in a three-course sequence of supervised clinical instruction in Nuclear Medicine Technology. Comprehensive study of imaging and non-imaging techniques, instrumentation quality control, patient care, radiopharmacy, computer analysis, and quality assurance. Students are expected to demonstrate competency according to defined objectives at prospective clinical affiliates.

Periodontal anatomy. Physiology/etiology of periodontal diseases. Clinical, histopathogenesis of gingivitis/periodontitis. Role of genetics, tobacco use and systemic preventative/therapeutic procedures associated with diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and initial phase of periodontal therapy.  (2 lecture hours.)

Concepts of radiation history, radiation physics, radiation biology, radiation protection, dental X-ray equipment, film, image characteristics and film processing. Introduction to radiographic examination techniques.  (1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours.)

Emphasis on clinical appearance of oral structures, dental terminology, morphology of the permanent and primary dentition, patterns, and the occlusion and malocclusion within and between the dental arches. Review of dental anomalies and other clinical appearances.  (1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours.)

Integration of the scientific and clinical principles underlying the practice of dental hygiene. Clinical procedures and techniques for patient assessment, including: prevention of disease transmission, health history, extra and intraoral examination, gingival evaluation and periodontal examination. Operation of the dental unit and basic instrumentation techniques for the removal of plaque and calculus are presented.

Comprehensive examination procedures, charting and patient treatment. Adjunctive procedures are presented, dental caries preventive agent application and stain removal procedures. Integration of scientific and clinical principles underlying the practice of dental hygiene. Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating dental hygiene care on patients in the clinical setting.

Continuation of clinical dental hygiene practice. Includes assessment, planning and implementation of patient care. Adjunctive clinical services include dental sealants, ultrasonic scaling, air polishing, topical fluoride treatments and dental radiographs.

Organization, structure and function of the head and neck. Focus will be placed on histologic and embryologic development and structural microanatomy to gain an understanding of clinical and oral manifestations of the regions of the head and neck.  (2 lecture hours.)

Review and evaluation of dental literature for the contemporary dental hygienist. Focus on research methodologies and statistical analysis as it applies to dentistry. (1 lecture hour.)

Principles of nutrition and biochemistry applied to dental hygiene patient care. Skills in diet analysis and patient counseling.  (2 lecture hours.)

Pathology of the head and neck and oral structures. Specific pathologic processes, repair, healing and regressive changes. Developmental conditions, diseases of bacterial and viral origin, and neoplasms of the oral cavity.  (2 lecture hours.)

Familiarity with critical steps in prevention, preparation, early recognition and appropriate management of common medical emergencies in the dental office.  (1 lecture hour.)

Applied anatomy and physiology of cardiovascular, skeletal, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, respiratory and endocrine systems. Diagnostic imaging techniques, radiopharmaceutical agents, indications and limitations of Nuclear Medicine procedures, normal and abnormal pathology, and dosimetry. Case study critiques, journal review and case study presentations.

Application of dental hygiene theory to direct patient care. Techniques and theory related to local anesthesia administration of local anesthetic agents. Emphasis of dental hygiene care of patients with various systemic, mental and physical disorders in the dental office setting. Introduction to use of heavy scaling hand instruments is included.  (1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours.)

Application of dental hygiene theory to direct patient care. Overview of dental hygiene care of patients with various systemic and mental disorders. Presentation of periodontal cases is included.  (2 lecture hours.)

Applied anatomy and physiology of the central nervous, immune, lymphatic, hematopoietic, exocrine and gastrointestinal systems. Non-imaging tests, including Schilling's Helibacter pylori, and blood volume determination. Advanced topics in Nuclear Cardiology, tumor imaging, neurology, radioimmunoimaging, radioimmunotherapy and miscellaneous procedures. Diagnostic imaging techniques, radiopharmaceutical agents, indications and limitations of Nuclear Medicine procedures, normal and abnormal pathology, and dosimetry. Computer acquisition and processing techniques. Case study critiques, journal review and case study presentations.

Second in a three-course sequence of supervised clinical instruction in Nuclear Medicine Technology. Comprehensive study of imaging and non-imaging techniques, instrumentation quality control, patient care, radiopharmacy, computer analysis, and quality assurance. Students are expected to demonstrate competency according to defined objectives at prospective clinical affiliates.

Third in a three-course sequence of supervised clinical instruction in Nuclear Medicine Technology. Comprehensive study of imaging and non-imaging techniques, instrumentation quality control, patient care, radiopharmacy, computer analysis, and quality assurance. Students are expected to demonstrate competency according to defined objectives at prospective clinical affiliates.

Description of clinical procedures associated with surgical phase of periodontal therapy. Evaluation of periodontal treatment, maintenance phase, ad relationship between periodontics and other dental specialties. Discussion of clinical management of the periodontum and adjunctive therapies.  (2 lecture hours.)

Advanced dental radiographic and related procedures including exposure and technique errors, occlusal and localization techniques, normal anatomy, panoramic films and radiography, extraoral radiography and digital radiography. Radiography for patients with special needs, introduction to radiographic interpretation: dental caries, periodontal disease, trauma and pulpal and periapical lesions. Introduction to forensic odontology.  (1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours.)

Continuation of clinical dental hygiene practice. Includes assessment, planning and implementation of patient care. Adjunctive clinical services include dental sealants, ultrasonic scaling, air polishing, topical fluoride treatments, amalgam polishing, application of desensitizing agents and dental radiographs. Introduction to outside rotational experiences.

Continuation of clinical dental hygiene practice. Includes assessment, planning and implementation of patient care. Adjunctive clinical services include dental sealants, ultrasonic scaling, air polishing, topical fluoride treatments, amalgam polishing, application of desensitizing agents and dental radiographs. Administration of topical and local anesthetic agents.

Dental hygienist's role in community. Epidemiological concepts, trends in oral diseases, research assessment tools, and strategies to improve public access to oral health care. Review of biostatistics, federal and state agencies, and managed care.  (2 lecture hours.)

Creation, implementation, and evaluation of a dental health care program in the community.  Presentation of projects to faculty and peers.  (6 lab hours.)

Classifications and varieties of drugs, pharmacologic effects, adverse reactions, usual indications and contraindications. Discussion of drugs utilized to treat common diseases. Pharmacokinetics of local and general anesthetic agents, and their use.  (2 lecture hours.)

Physics, instrumentation and radiochemistry of PET (Positron Emission Tomography). Quality assurance of the PET and PET-CT (computerized tomography) instrumentation. Physiological, biochemical and pharmacological mechanisms of PET radiopharmaceuticals. Radiation safety and protection. Clinical PET imaging in neurological, cardiovascular, oncological and psychiatric disorders. Image reconstruction and display protocols. Case study presentations and journal review.

Preparation for professional role as health care provider and member of dental health team. Focus on ethical and legal responsibilities, dental practice act, malpractice issues, and scope of dental hygiene practice.  (2 lecture hours.)

Prepares student for the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board Examination (NMTCB). Test-taking tips and practice exams. Practical application of patient care, human anatomy and physiology, pathology, radiation biology, radiation protection, physics, instrumentation, radiopharmacy, in vivo and in vitro procedures, diagnostic and therapeutic Nuclear Medicine procedures, and Positron Emission Tomography. Students complete a registry review project and a mock registry.