Dental Hygiene, A.A.S.

Degree: Associate in Applied Science
HEGIS Code: 5203
Curriculum Code: 0545
Campus Location(s): North
Health Sciences Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations: Biology, Chemistry, Math I, 85% H.S. average
Recommended High School Courses and/or Experiences: Regents Science
Career Opportunities/Further Education: Dental Offices, Hospital Clinics, Community Health Agencies, Dental Products Sales, Transfer to 4-yr. University

Career Opportunities Program Description Program Accreditation Program Mission and Goals Program Competencies

Characteristics of Successful Dental Hygiene Students Special Admissions Requirements/Prerequisites Department Notes Curriculum

Career Opportunities

Dental Hygiene offers exceptional career opportunities for men and women of all ages and backgrounds. Most graduates are employed in general or specialty dental practices or clinics. Alternate practice settings include hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, public health agencies, public and private institutions, health maintenance organizations and the military. Graduates may continue their educations in baccalaureate or higher degree programs to expand their career options to teaching, research, management, professional consulting and the dental products industry.

Program Description

The Registered Dental Hygienist is a licensed healthcare professional dedicated to the maintenance of optimal oral health and the prevention of oral disease. These professional goals are accomplished through individual and community education; through delivery of preventive dental health services and through highly skilled patient treatment. Professional responsibilities vary by state or province but generally include the following clinical skills: perform thorough patient assessment, including review of health history; recording vital signs; head and neck inspection; oral cancer screening and dental charting; develop individualized oral self-care strategies; educate patients on the value of good oral health and its relationship to systemic health; perform various types of dental radiographic films; administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation; remove deposits and stains from the teeth; apply chemotherapeutic agents to treat or prevent dental diseases; manage special needs and medically compromised patients.

Dental hygienists are licensed by the state or province in which they plan to practice. Generally, candidates for licensure must be graduates of an accredited dental hygiene program, must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination taken near graduation and must pass a state or regional clinical examination. New York State uses the clinical examination administered by the Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners. This examination is accepted by 15 states and the District of Columbia. Applicants for licensure in New York must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, must be of good moral character and will be subject to special review if criminal charges are pending or there has been a previous felony or misdemeanor conviction.

Dental hygienists are valuable members of the dental healthcare team who work with dentists to provide oral health services to patients. They enjoy helping people, welcome challenging opportunities like performing detailed work and have an interest in life sciences. As a respected member of the dental team, dental hygienists can have a positive influence on the health of others, play a key role in the prevention of oral diseases and enjoy a flexible, rewarding career.

Program Accreditation

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.

Program Mission and Goals

The mission of the Dental Hygiene program is to provide a high quality, affordable curriculum which meets the requirements of the state dental practice act and national accreditation standards and enables graduates to attain licensure to practice as a Registered Dental Hygienist. The goals of the program are to:

• Comprehensively prepare competent, entry-level oral healthcare professionals with current scientific knowledge, clinical training, interpersonal skills and ethical behaviors to provide oral health services to a diverse community
• Maintain an educational environment which facilitates open inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving and evidence-based decision making
• Support the personal responsibility of students to learn by providing an integrated, sequenced variety of didactic, laboratory and clinical experiences
• Encourage student appreciation of the value of community service, life-long learning and participation in professional associations
• Implement a broad-based outcomes assessment plan to evaluate and improve curriculum effectiveness
• Perform ongoing curriculum planning to assure that the program responds to scientific and technological advances, to the changing needs of students and the community and supports student attainment of program competencies

Program Competencies

The Dental Hygiene curriculum provides content in general education, biomedical sciences, dental sciences and clinical skills. Graduation from the program requires attainment of the following competencies:

Professional Integrity – graduates must apply the American Dental Hygienists’ Association Code of Ethics and practice with personal and professional integrity in accordance with the state dental practice act. Specifically, the dental hygiene graduate must:

• Uphold ethical and legal behaviors with all patients, colleagues and other professionals
• Exhibit cultural awareness and sensitivity to patients’ goals, values, beliefs and preferences in healthcare choices while promoting optimal oral care and general health during patient treatment

Assessment – graduates must apply medico-legal principles to the systematic collection, analysis and accurate recording of general, personal and oral health status of patients. Specifically, the dental hygiene graduate must:

• Recognize medical conditions that necessitate special considerations prior to or during treatment
• Identify the patient at risk for a medical emergency and be prepared to manage the event should it occur during treatment
• Perform an extra-oral and intra-oral examination of hard and soft tissues, distinguish abnormal from normal findings and accurately record the clinical observations
• Identify the need for dental radiographs, perform and process radiographs of diagnostic quality and interpret the films or digital images
• Evaluate oral tissues, health history and personal and cultural behaviors to identify risk factors that require intervention to prevent disease
• Determine the need for referral to the appropriate healthcare provider

Planning – graduates must establish a planned sequence of patient care based on the dental hygiene diagnosis by identifying oral conditions, potential problems, etiologic and risk factors and available treatment modalities. Specifically, the dental hygiene graduate must:

• Analyze and interpret assessment data to formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis
• Determine priorities and establish oral health goals with the patient and family/guardian as active participants
• Communicate the plan for dental hygiene services to the dentist and appropriate interdisciplinary health team members
• Obtain the patient’s informed consent based on a thorough case presentation

Self-Care Instruction – graduates must provide planned educational services using appropriate interpersonal communication skills and educational strategies to achieve oral health goals. Specifically, the dental hygiene graduate must:

• Identify the health needs of patients and assist them in the development of individualized self-care regimens
• Encourage patients to assume responsibility for their health and promote adherence to self-care regimens

Implementation – graduates must provide treatment that includes preventive and therapeutic procedures to promote and maintain oral health. Specifically, the dental hygiene graduate must:

• Adhere to state and local policies and procedures for maintaining safety in the dental facility
• Provide an oral environment for patients which is conducive to health by applying principles of dental hygiene instrumentation without causing trauma to tissues
• Control pain and anxiety during treatment through the use of appropriate clinical techniques and behavioral management strategies
• Select and administer appropriate chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment or prevention of dental diseases and provide pre-and post-treatment instructions

Evaluation – graduates must evaluate the effectiveness of planned clinical and educational services and modify them as necessary. Specifically, the dental hygiene graduate must:

• Evaluate the clinical outcomes of dental hygiene treatment interventions using dental health indices, instruments and examination techniques and determine appropriate re-care schedules for patient
• Determine a patient’s satisfaction level with the dental hygiene care received and the oral health status achieved

Community Involvement – graduates must be able to initiate and assume responsibility for health promotion and disease prevention for diverse populations. Specifically, the dental hygiene graduate must:

• Promote oral health and wellness strategies within the community
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate community-based oral health programs
• Provide community educational services and refer clients to appropriate resources in the health care system

Information Management and Critical Thinking – graduates must acquire and synthesize information in a critical, scientific and effective manner. Specifically, the dental hygiene graduate must:

• Evaluate the scientific literature and dental product or therapeutic claims and use information technology to assist in developing evidence-based decisions regarding patient care
• Be informed of current issues that impact the profession and clinical practice

Characteristics of Successful Dental Hygiene Students

Applicants to the dental hygiene program should have a well-rounded academic background with strong preparation in the sciences. The two-year program is a rigorous schedule of academic and clinical courses which requires a full-time commitment. In addition to spending time in lectures, labs and clinics each week, students must devote considerable out-of-class time to study and the preparation of assignments. The physical demands of dental hygiene practice require good vision, depth perception and handeye coordination to perform finely detailed clinical procedures. Individuals should be free of serious hand, wrist or back problems and should not have allergies or skin conditions which prevent use of required infection control items such as surgical masks, gloves, soaps or disinfectants. Successful dental hygiene students also demonstrate the following personal characteristics: good study habits and test-taking skills; excellent communication ability; good written, verbal, and interpersonal skills; an interest in sciences and working with people; good manual dexterity; highly motivated with good stress coping skills and the ability to accept constructive criticism; the financial and personal support to carry a full-time academic schedule; mature behavior that takes responsibility for actions and an understanding that effort is essential and expected but that it is performance that counts. Arrangements for financial assistance and personal needs such as child care should be completed three months prior to the anticipated start of classes.

Special Admissions Requirements/Prerequisites

The clinical dental hygiene course sequence begins in the fall semester. Admission is competitive and limited to 60 students. Completed applications and supporting transcripts must be received in the North Campus Admissions Office by March 31 for fall admission. Applications received after that date are considered on a space available basis. Acceptances are contingent on satisfactory College Placement Test results and successful completion of current academic courses.

The Admissions Office has responsibility for selecting qualified applicants who have the potential for successfully completing the dental hygiene program. To be considered for admission to the dental hygiene program, applicants must demonstrate evidence of the following requirements:

• Current high school graduates – a cumulative average of 88 percent or higher and courses in general biology and chemistry at 88 percent or higher. Reading and writing competencies at the EN 110 level and mathematics competency at the MT 007 level as determined by the College Placement Tests or other admissions criteria.
• Current college students – internal and external college transfer applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and grades of “C” or higher in general education courses required in the dental hygiene curriculum. Reading and writing competencies must be at the EN 110 level and mathematics competencies at the MT 007 level. Applicants who do not meet the chemistry requirement for current high school graduates must take CH 100 and CH 101 or CH 200 and CH 201 (General Chemistry with lab). Applicants who have not had a biology course must take BI 149 (Survey of Anatomy & Physiology) or BI 107 (Human Biology) prior to BI 150/151 (Anatomy and Physiology with lab). Science courses taken more than 10 years ago may not be applicable. Preference is given to qualified applicants who have completed EN 110, BI 150, BI 151, BI 230 and BI 231.

Most dental hygiene students elect to complete required general education courses in the curriculum prior to entering clinical courses as part of an extended curriculum option. This path is helpful to students who have other personal responsibilities or who have no college experience. Applicants who do not meet admission requirements may also be accepted to an extended curriculum option. This option provides an individually developed schedule of courses based on the applicant’s academic background and College Placement Test results. This path provides an opportunity to meet program admission requirements for clinical courses. Students may begin either option in fall, spring, or summer semesters.

Department Notes

• Dental hygiene courses are integrated and sequenced in a specific manner to enable students to attain program competencies. Candidates admitted to dental hygiene courses must enroll in all courses required during each semester of the program. All required courses must be passed each semester in order to advance to the following semester. Dental hygiene courses must be taken in the prescribed sequence. General education courses may be taken in advance but not later than the prescribed schedule.
• Withdrawal from or failure of a required course results in dismissal from the curriculum. Academically dismissed students must re-apply for program admission on a space available basis and must meet admission requirements. Students who experience a second course failure or excessive withdrawals demonstrate unsatisfactory academic progress and will be dismissed from the curriculum.
• A physical examination and current immunization report are required prior to the start of clinical courses to ensure candidates are in good physical and mental health and capable of completing the requirements of the program.
• Students entering dental hygiene are strongly recommended to receive immunization against Hepatitis B.
• Malpractice insurance, accident insurance and membership in the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association are required of students in each year of clinical courses. Student health insurance is strongly recommended for those who are not insured.
• Students are required to purchase textbooks, uniforms, supplies, instruments and safety equipment as prescribed by the faculty. Contact the department for a current list of estimated costs.
• Students must participate in clinical practice activities as clinicians and as patients.
• Students must provide their own transportation to off-campus assignments.
• Students are required to recruit patients for treatment at scheduled clinical practice sessions.
• Special attention should be given to course pre-requisites and co-requisites during schedule planning. Students must meet with their dental hygiene academic advisers each semester.
• “C-” is the minimum passing grade in all required courses in the Dental Hygiene curriculum. The grading system for dental hygiene courses is: A = 94-100; B = 87-93; C = 80-86.
• Dental hygiene students are expected to manifest exemplary ethical and professional behaviors and must adhere to the Professional Code of Ethics developed by each class. Academic dishonesty or other unprofessional conduct is subject to peer review by elected members of the dental hygiene student Professional Honor Council and faculty and may result in disciplinary action.
• If continuous registration in the program cannot be maintained, the department reserves the right to have returning students demonstrate skills and knowledge through written, oral, laboratory, and/or clinical evaluation in order to determine the appropriate courses for program re-entry.
• Students may be excluded from clinical courses when, in the judgment of the college, they are unable to provide safe patient care or have demonstrated unprofessional behavior. Appropriate professional conduct is outlined in clinical manuals provided to students.
• To assure current and adequate preparation for licensure examinations at graduation, transfer credit for biomedical sciences taken more than five years ago may not be accepted. Transfer credit for DH courses may be granted only for courses taken at a CODA accredited dental hygiene  program within the past three years.

Curriculum

The dental hygiene faculty conducts ongoing curriculum reviews and planning to maintain currency and effectiveness. Please contact the department to receive the most current curriculum format.