Dental Hygiene

Program Prerequisites and General Education Courses - 23-24 Credits

Program Requirements - 46 Credits

• SOCL 101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credit(s).
• CMNS 101 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 Credit(s).
• CSIT 120 - Diversity in a Technological Society 3 Credit(s).

Total Number of Credits Required for Degree 69*

*If you are a credit student who is new to the college (meaning you have not successfully completed transferable college credits at another institution(s)), you are required to take ACDV 101  during your first semester at CCBC, thereby increasing the number of credits required for the degree to 70 credits. This course must be finished prior to completing the Selective Admissions process and entering the Dental Hygiene program. Students are required to provide an official transcript(s) to document successful completion of college coursework at another institution(s) in order for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

Admission Requirements:

Admission to this program is competitive and selective, based on grades on prerequisite courses and general education courses relating to the program. The minimum acceptable GPA calculated on all program prerequisite courses is 2.50. Students are required to have a minimum grade of “C” for all program requirements and general education courses. In addition, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and document 16 hours of observation of a dental hygienist in a clinical setting. In addition, applicants must register to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) prior to the application deadline.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this degree, students will be able to:

1. recognize and manage ethical issues and problems in the practice, use critical thinking and sound judgment, and communicate with other individuals, groups, and professionals from diverse populations;
2. provide accurate, consistent, and complete dental hygiene process of care for all clients that include assessments, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation;
3. in consultation with dentist, analyze and interpret data to formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis;
4. effectively use interpersonal and communication skills to interact with diverse population groups;
5. provide dental hygiene care to promote client health and wellness utilizing critical thinking and problem solving in the provision of evidenced-based practice;
6. recognize and practice the principles of infection control and environmental safety;
7. systematically collect biological, psychological, and social information needed to evaluate the medical and oral conditions for clients of all ages;
8. collaborate with the client and other health professionals to formulate a comprehensive dental hygiene care plan that is client-centered and based on current scientific evidence;
9. provide specialized treatment that includes prevention and therapeutic services designed to achieve and maintain optimum oral health for the child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric client;
10. provide dental hygiene care for all types of periodontal disease classifications;
11. evaluate the effectiveness of the clinical and educational services provided and modify as deemed necessary;
12. perform regular self-evaluations and take the necessary corrective actions to address any perceived deficiencies;
13. assess, plan, and implement programs and activities to benefit the oral health of the general population;
14. assume responsibility for actions taken and care provided based on accepted scientific theories, research, and standard of care; and
15. critically assess the validity of new information, products, and/or techniques and their relevance to the practice of dental hygiene.

Program Description:

The Dental Hygiene Program is a mix of academic and clinical coursework that is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a competent entry-level registered dental hygienist. Students will apply the skills and principles they have gained from their general education, basic sciences, dental sciences and dental hygiene sciences studies in the assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation of dental hygiene care for the individual and the community. Each student will actively participate in clinical dental hygiene experiences in the college dental hygiene clinic.

The Dental Hygiene program is a two-year degree program and includes a summer session. The curriculum is designed to meet the accreditation standards of the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60611. Graduates may be eligible to take the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination and Regional and/or State Board Licensing Examinations. Employment opportunities include working as a licensed registered dental hygienist in private dental offices, public clinics, industry, research, and community health programs.

This program is a selective admissions program. Admission to this program is a separate process from admission to CCBC. Applications and information packets are available in the Office of Selective Admissions in Room J-101 on the Essex Campus. This information is also available in the Admissions or Registrar’s office on each campus. Each program has unique prerequisite courses and a unique application deadline. For more information, contact the admissions office for the School of Health Professions by calling 443-840-2810 or go to http://www.ccbcmd.edu/allied_health/.

Semester Sequence

• Dental Hygiene Semester Sequence