This course is designed to enhance the curriculum for delivering effective Oral Hygiene Instruction (OHI) to students, utilizing the innovative principles of iTOP (Individually Trained Oral Prophylaxis). One area where many programs struggle is adequately preparing students to feel confident and comfortable engaging in conversations with patients about disease prevention techniques.

Through this innovative curriculum, participants will learn how to effectively teach students not only the technical aspects of OHI but also the essential motivational skills needed to educate patients about their oral health. By fostering a comprehensive understanding of disease prevention and homecare education skills, we aim to empower future dental professionals to make a positive impact in their patients' lives.

Objectives

• Evaluate evidence-based strategies for managing biofilm-related oral diseases, with an emphasis on individualized mechanical biofilm control approaches that extend beyond traditional homecare recommendations.
• Discuss innovative teaching methods for disease prevention, such as “touch to teach” and collaborative patient-provider models, to support student development of effective patient education skills.
• Incorporate advanced oral hygiene techniques into curriculum and clinical instruction that prioritize patient comfort, motivation, and effectiveness—enhancing both student competency and patient care outcomes.
• Integrate educational strategies and resources to enrich preventive oral health curricula, fostering a comprehensive and engaging learning experience for students to prepare them for evidence-based, patient-centered care.