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Clinical competency assessment at George brown college - August 8, 9, & 10, 2008

Additional information will be available mid June 2008

 

General Information

The clinical competency assessment involves the treatment of one adult client over 18 years of age, having a minimum of 20 teeth with some anterior and posterior teeth present in each arch.

At the commencement of the assessment, candidates are required to present the client's signed consent form, completed medical history, hard and soft tissue assessment and mounted radiographs (if available).  Radiographs are not mandatory.  If the clinical assessment has not been completed prior to presentation, time will be allotted.

The time allotted for the evaluation is three and a half (3 1/2) hours (plus the time required for the clinical assessment if it has not been completed previously).  The first hour will be used for the purpose of client acceptance and assignment of work areas.  During this period, the team of assessors may spend several minutes with the candidate checking the client's medical and dental history, oral inspection and charting forms.  Candidates will participate in the decision for assignment based on the needs of the client and candidate’s evaluation of the client’s oral condition.  Candidates will start treating their client at a time announced and documented by the assessors and all treatment will be terminated two and one half (2 l/2) hours later, or earlier, if a candidate desires. Candidates are expected to evaluate their own work and the condition of the client’s tissues.  Assessors will then complete their evaluation of the clinical performance of the candidates. 

Scaling will be by hand instrumentation only as the candidate must demonstrate that s/he is able to perform debridement when mechanical devices are unavailable.  Instruments will not be provided.  Candidates must bring properly packaged and sterilized instruments.

Client Selection

The following criteria are in accordance with the DD2-DD3 category outlined in the client classification system agreed upon by the CDHO and the Ministry of Education and Training:

a)        evidence of removable stain is not required;

b)        some light to moderate supragingival calculus must be present,

c)        subgingival calculus must be present on most posterior teeth

d)        periodontal status to include periodontitis with 4 mm sulcus depth in three or more             areas

e)        bleeding upon probing/exploring

Clients must meet the qualifications of a definite DD2 (Class 2) or a light DD3 (Class 3) category in order to provide an appropriate experience in which the candidate can demonstrate debridement and evaluation skills.  (A client that is too difficult may be rejected by the assessors.)

Please ensure that your client does not require pre-medication, local anaesthesia or have any medical contraindications to the procedures of scaling or root planing.

Treatment Exercise

The area to be treated will be determined with consideration for the degree of difficulty presented by the client and the joint assessment by the candidate and evaluator.  Candidates may choose to use topical anesthetic if it benefits the client and there are no medical contraindications.  This must be documented.

Each candidate will perform a treatment exercise with the client and will be expected to demonstrate competency in dental hygiene procedures.  For example:

      a)        detecting and removing supra and subgingival calculus

      b)        removing plaque and extrinsic stains, if required

      c)        tissue care

      d)        client management

Evaluation Criteria

      Pass             A satisfactory performance.  The candidate has performed the task to an acceptable standard of an entry-level dental hygienist meeting the objective with ease and proficiency (within reason).  There may have been a certain amount of difficulty related to lack of experience (skill, speed and dexterity), but not to lack of knowledge or judgment.

There may be detectable areas of subgingival calculus remaining, but the candidate is aware of these areas and has identified them.  The removal of deposits has taken into account the client assessment, determinants, and the time objective.

      Failure          An unsatisfactory performance. The candidate has not performed the task to an acceptable standard expected of an entry-level dental hygienist.

Prior to making the final assessment of the candidate, assessors will consider written self-evaluation comments made by the candidate on the assignment sheet.