Ateneo - UPO

This module focuses on the active ingredients and mechanisms of action of the primary products and instruments used in dental hygiene practice.
The topics covered include: (i) the formation of oral bacterial biofilms and the mechanisms by which they develop resistance to therapeutic agents; (ii) the formulation and active ingredients of mouthwashes and toothpastes; (iii) the fundamentals and application principles of lasers and ozone; (iv) products for tooth hypersensitivity and whitening; and (v) fluoride prophylaxis.

The slides presented during lectures contain data from scientific literature and provide sufficient material for preparing for the exam.
All slides are uploaded and made available to students on the DIR platform.
The full text of all articles from which the data in the slides are drawn can be obtained upon request to the professor.

Upon completion of the course, the student will have acquired the fundamental knowledge required (i) to understand the biological, clinical, and technological principles of the products and technologies available to the dental hygienist, and (ii) to effectively communicate with and instruct patients regarding the proper implementation of the treatment plan.

1. Basic knowledge of biology, histology, and microbiology, acquired through the courses included in the first-year curriculum.
2. Successful completion of the "Technologies and Materials I" course, which is part of the first-year curriculum.

Lectures are delivered using slides prepared by the instructor, based on research articles and literature reviews from the scientific literature.
All slides are uploaded and made available to students on the DIR platform.
The full text of all articles from which the data in the slides are drawn is available upon request to the professor.

The course content is determined in collaboration with clinical tutors to ensure it aligns with the clinical activities carried out in a hospital setting.
The objective is to provide students with theoretical and practical training on the clinical issues they will encounter when treating patients.
Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request specific services and tools tailored to their needs by contacting the "Career Development and Coordination and Student Services" staff and by consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizistudentesse-e-studenti-condizione-di-disabilit%C3%A0-e-dsa. Once they have established contact with the University staff, students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN may reach out to the instructor of a given course to discuss the specific arrangements for examinations and other didactic aspects.

The exam consists of open-ended questions on the topics covered in class, designed to assess students' knowledge and understanding of the material.

The topics covered in the course are detailed below:
1. Principles of oral bacterial biofilm formation and drug resistance (including the biology of *S. mutans*)
2. Mouthwash formulations and active ingredients: chlorhexidine, essential oils, and probiotics
3. Toothpaste formulations and active ingredients: abrasivity (RDA), chlorhexidine, probiotics, lactoferrin, fluorides, zinc-based compounds, whitening agents (hydrogen peroxide, carbamide), and desensitizing agents for hypersensitivity
4. Fundamentals and principles of clinical instrumentation: lasers and ozone therapy
5. Nitrate-based products for hypersensitivity and whitening
6. Fluoride prophylaxis: bacteriostatic effects and the prevention of acid-induced demineralization through the formation of fluorapatite

The goal of the course is to provide a solid theoretical foundation regarding the materials and instruments available to the dental hygienist for patient care, in alignment with the clinical activities planned with hospital-based tutors.