Objective
An integral member of the professional dental team, the Dental Hygienist assumes a major role in the prevention of dental diseases for patients. Advanced technology and increased public awareness of preventive health modalities have contributed to the growth of the dental industry. Increased demand for dental services has led to the expansion of roles for hygienists to include clinician, educator, administrator and advocate. The responsibilities of the dental hygienist continue to evolve requiring advanced skills in preventive, educational, and therapeutic dental services. The objective of the dental hygiene program is to train and prepare students in all skills necessary to perform dental hygiene services in a variety of entry-level employment settings.
Description
The Dental Hygiene program prepares students to achieve competency in the delivery of the most current dental procedures and to prepare the individual to pursue a career as a dental hygienist with skills to fulfill responsibilities as practitioner and patient advocate. Students learn to provide preventative, educational, clinical therapeutic services supporting the total health of their patients, control oral disease symptoms, and promote good oral health.
Supervised Clinic
The Dental Hygiene program has a significant component of supervised clinical on campus to allow students opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills on patients. The clinic hours are scheduled throughout the curriculum to fulfill the clinical practice requirements. During the clinical hours, students work under the supervision of an instructor and a licensed dentist.
Academic Progression
In addition to meeting the standards set in the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, students must complete all concentration courses and prerequisite science courses with a minimum grade of C+ to be considered passing. Any concentration course below a grade of C+ must be retaken. A student can attempt a concentration course no more than two times. Any student who fails to pass a concentration course after two attempts is subject to dismissal from the program.
Credentialing Exams
In order to be eligible for employment as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), graduates of the program must successfully pass all applicable exams and receive a license from the State Board of Dentistry. Licensing requirements vary by state, and one such requirement is to pass several credentialing exams. Students must pass the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and a regional or state board examination that includes a clinical component and in some jurisdictions a written component. Most states require passing a written jurisprudence examination administered by the State Board of Dentistry.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this program are prepared to seek entry-level employment as dental hygienists.