Dental Hygiene

Important Information

Semester Sequence

This is a suggested full-time schedule for a student who has completed any developmental course work and has no transfer credits. Refer to the College catalog for specific requirements in selecting General Education Courses .

Students are required to complete the English and Mathematics general education requirements within the first 24 credit hours of courses (and ACDV 101  in the first semester, if applicable). All Prerequisite and General Education classes must be completed before students apply to the Dental Hygiene program. Science classes must have been completed within 5 years of starting the program.

Courses Needed for This Program*

Total Number of Credits Required for Degree 70*

Notes

*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed transferable college credits from other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101 - Academic Development: Transitioning to College . This 1-credit course is designed to be taken in the first semester at CCBC. Students must provide an official transcript(s) from an accredited institution to document successful completion of college coursework for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

**BIOL 110  is a General Education course and is a pre-requisite for BIOL 220  and BIOL 230 . The option to challenge or receive a waiver for BIOL 110  can be requested through the Biology Department. (Different programs within the School of Health Professions have different Biology requirements; these are noted in each specific program of study.)

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.

School of Health Professions Policies

Students in the School of Health Professions are expected to conduct themselves according to an honor code; exhibit professional behavior; communicate effectively in English; provide proof of health insurance, immunizations, and a tuberculosis (TB) test; and submit to a criminal background check and drug testing. Students are expected to pay the costs associated with these requirements.

Admission

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 the School of Health Professions website.

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.