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2016-2017 Catalog 
    
    Dec 04, 2024  
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2016-2017 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Dental Hygiene, A.A.S.

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Special Admissions Requirements: Program Application Deadline: March 1

Career Programs Building, Room 170G

Award: Associate of Applied Science degree, A.A.S.

Total Credit Hours: A minimum of 70 credit hours

  

Dental hygienists are licensed preventive oral health care professionals.  They provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services to patients in dental offices, schools, long-term facilities, and public health settings.  Clinical skills include: taking health histories, blood pressure screenings, oral cancer screenings, dental charting, periodontal assessment, exposing and interpreting dental radiographs, non-surgical periodontal therapy, dental prophylaxis, application of fluoride and sealants, nutritional counseling and tobacco cessation. 

Purpose: For students who wish to complete a dental hygiene program with an associate of applied science degree. The dental hygiene program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skill, and clinical practice to function effectively as an entry-level registered dental hygienist.

Curriculum: The curriculum is divided into several broad areas of study and consists of lectures, laboratory and clinical experiences.  Emphasis is on implementation of the dental hygiene process of care to meet the oral health needs of a variety of patients in multiple practice settings.  Courses in general education and biological and behavioral sciences prepare students to interact with patients, other health care professionals and the community.  It is the Dental Hygiene program’s philosophy to create ethical, competent professionals who are lifelong learners.  Students who are considering transferring to a four year college should inform their advisors at the earliest opportunity to discuss the options available. 

Dental Hygiene Program Competencies and Supporting Competencies 

1.  Prepare graduates with the knowledge and clinical competency required to provide current comprehensive dental hygiene services 

Supporting Competencies
1.1. Provide care to all patient types including children, adolescent, adult, geriatric patients.
1.2. Assess the treatment needs of patients with special needs (medically compromised).
1.3. Provide the dental hygiene process of care, assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation (ADPIE).
1.4. Document and accurately record the patient’s information and interactions including assessment, treatment and outcomes.
1.5. Provide care for all types of periodontal disease.
1.6. Provide management of medical emergencies.
1.7. Problem solve for management of comprehensive patient care.
1.8. Apply current infection/hazard control measures.
1.9. Assess and provide health education strategies.

2.  Interact effectively with patients, peers and dental health care members utilizing professional written and oral communication.

Supporting Competencies
2.1. Evaluate scientific literature.
2.2. Solve problems and make decisions based on accepted scientific principles.
2.3. Present detailed process of care to meet the individual needs of each patient.
2.4. Effectively interact and communicate with a diverse patient population.
2.5. Demonstrate increased use of professional language over time.

3.  Develop an identity of self, supportive of continuous learning and professional endeavor.

Supporting Competencies
3.1. Self-assess for lifelong learning.
3.2. Assess professional resources and social networks to support continuous learning.
3.3. Identify sources of continuing education and degree completion programs.
3.4. Advance the profession through leadership, service activities and affiliations with professional organizations.
3.5. Demonstrate ability to identify weaknesses and develop appropriate problem solving strategies.
3.6. Illustrate ability to recognize strengths and maximize them.

4.  Exhibit ethical behavior consistent with professional conduct.

Supporting Competencies
4.1. Apply ethical, legal and regulatory concepts to care.
4.2. Serve all clinical patients without discrimination.
4.3. Comply with all existing state and federal laws governing the practice of dental hygiene.
4.4. Provide considerate, respectful and confidential treatment to all patients.
4.5. Insure reasonable continuity of care and completion of treatment.

5.  Initiate and assume responsibility for health promotion and disease prevention activities.

Supporting Competencies
5.1. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate community-based oral health programs.
5.2. Assess the oral health needs of the community and the availability of resources.
5.3. Provide dental hygiene education in a variety of settings.

6.  Acquire and synthesize information in a critical, scientific and effective manner.

Supporting Competencies
6.1. Determine priorities and establish oral health goals with each patient.
6.2. Evaluate current scientific literature as a basis for life-long learning and foundation for practice and change.
6.3. Analyze and evaluate alternative treatment methods.
6.4. Assume the roles of the profession. (Clinician, educator, researcher, change agent, consumer advocate, and administrator).

7.  Prepare graduates to be competent in the use of technology 

Supporting Competencies
7.1. Utilize technology as it pertains to the delivery of patient care and practice management.
7.2. Demonstrate effective use of technology in didactic course work, case presentations, and community based activities.
 

Admission Requirements: Admission to HCC does not guarantee admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. The requirements below must be completed and submitted to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management by the application deadline (March 1):

  • Submit a completed program application known as the Supplemental Application for the Dental Hygiene Program form.
  • Official transcripts (all schools attended). Students who have completed classes at HCC do not need to submit an HCC transcript.
  • Completed Dental Hygiene Observation Verification Form (8 hours of observation). Observation forms older than three years will not be accepted.
  • A minimum of 17 credits completed or in progress at the time of application to the program. The courses include ENG 101 ,    (or   must be completed and   must be in progress), CHM 101  , MAT 109 ,  and PSY 101 . Recommended courses completed prior to application are SPD 108  or SPD 103  , a 3-credit  Arts and Humanities course from  approved General Education course list , and BIO 205 . 
  • General Education science courses completed within five years with a grade of “C” or higher.
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average for all college coursework of a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. In addition, a minimum grade point average of 2.5 for all program courses is required.
  • Foreign educated students’ transcripts evaluated by WES (World Education Services) or AACRAO International Education Services (IES)

Program Requirements: Students learn and practice dental hygiene skills on each other and provide preventive dental hygiene services to community members and patients in the HCC Dental Education Clinic.  It is the student’s responsibility to find their own patients to meet the clinical requirements necessary for program completion.  All dental hygiene students must receive:

  1. A final course grade of 75% or higher in all dental hygiene courses.
  2. A final clinical skills component grade of 75% for DHY 102; 80% for DHY 111 and DHY 202 and 85% for DHY 221. 

Students who receive a grade of unsatisfactory on the clinical laboratory or clinical skills competency evaluations will be referred for remediation.  Students who receive a final total course grade below a 75% in the clinical courses, despite a passing theory grade, will not be permitted to progress in the dental hygiene program.

Students who violate the college’s Honor Code and Standards of Conduct, the dental hygiene program’s Standard of Conduct, the American Dental Hygiene Association Code of Ethics for Dental Hygienists and the American Dental Association Standard of Care that results in termination from the dental hygiene program are not eligible for readmission.

Program Pathway

First Year Fall   First Year Spring
Course Number Course Name Credits   Course Number Course Name Credits
ENG 101  English Composition 3   SPD 108 Introduction to Human Communication 3
Gen Ed Mathematics 3   Gen Ed Arts/Humanities 3
BIO 116 or 103 & 104 Human Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health or Anatomy and Physiology I & II 4   PSY 101 General Psychology 3
CHM 101 Introduction to College Chemistry 4   BIO 205 Microbiology 4
TOTAL   14   TOTAL   13

 

Second Year Fall   Second Year Spring
Course Number Course Name Credits   Course Number Course Name Credits
DHY 101 Dental Hygiene Theory I                    2   DHY 110 Dental Hygiene Theory II 2
DHY 102 Dental Hygiene Clinical I 2   DHY 111 Dental Hygiene Clinical II 2
DHY 104 Dental Radiology 3   DHY 112 Dental Materials and Procedures 2
DHY 108 Head, Neck, and Oral Anatomy 4   DHY 113 General and Oral Pathology 2
        DHY 116 Dental Pharmacology 2
TOTAL   11   TOTAL   10

 

Third Year Fall   Third Year Spring
Course Number Course Name Credits   Course Number Course Name Credits
DHY 201 Dental Hygiene Theory III 2   DHY 210 Community Dental Health 2
DHY 202 Dental Hygiene Clinical III 3   DHY 211 Dental Hygiene Ethics and Jurisprudence 1
DHY 203 Periodontics and Advanced Procedures 4   DHY 220 Dental Hygiene Theory IV 2
DHY 204 Pain Management in Dental Hygiene 2   DHY 221 Dental Hygiene Clinical IV 4
DHY 205 Nutrition and Biochemistry in Dentistry 2        
TOTAL   13   TOTAL   9

General Education Requirements (27 Credits)

Arts/Humanities

Behavioral/Social Sciences

Biological/Physical Science

English

Mathematics

Program Requirements (43 Credits)

Degree Requirement (70 Credits)

Selection Criteria

Students will be admitted to the dental hygiene program each August. Students are selected for admission based on a point system. Points are earned by the number of courses completed, cumulative grade point average for all required program courses, residency, and credentialing of a dental assisting certificate or equivalent. Those with the greatest number of points are admitted to the program.

Those students not admitted to the August class will be placed on a standby list until August 1. The standby list is dissolved after August 1, and students who desire admission to the dental hygiene program in the subsequent year, must fill out another Supplemental Application for Selective Admissions Programs form.

Final Acceptance

Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon the following criteria. Students unable to meet these criteria will be withdrawn from the program and the seat filled by a student from the standby list.

  1. Those students accepted into the program must submit a $50 enrollment deposit when accepting their spot in the program.  This deposit will be applied to your tuition for the semester and is not refundable.
  2. Successful completion of program requirements at the time of application
  3. Students attend the mandatory orientation session
  4. Students must successfully pass a drug screen and criminal background check
  5. Students must be able to meet Dental Hygiene Technical Standards
  6. Satisfactory completion of a health examination record and all required tests and immunizations, including a yearly TB test and Hepatitis series
  7. Current American Heart Association “BLS Provider” CPR certification

Readmission to the Dental Hygiene Program

Readmissions Procedures:

  1. If a student wishes to re-enter the program, he/she must submit a written letter of this intent to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management. Decisions relative to readmission will be made by the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management and the Coordinator of the Dental Hygiene Program based upon resolution of the previous situation.
  2. If a student reapplies to the Dental Hygiene Program and is in good academic standing, he/she can be accepted if the class of students will not exceed the maximum number as established by the Commission on Dental Accreditation’s Standards for Dental Hygiene Education.
  3. If the number of students requesting readmission exceeds class capacity, acceptance to the program will be determined by the highest grade point average.
  4. If a student receives a grade lower than a “C” in a science or dental hygiene course(s), he/she must satisfactorily complete the course prior to consideration for readmission into the sequence.
  5. A student may be readmitted into the Dental Hygiene Program once. 
  6. If an unsatisfactory grade is achieved in science or dental hygiene course(s) a second time, the student is not eligible for readmission.

A satisfactory Mantoux (tuberculin) test or a chest x-ray; complete physical examination and necessary immunizations; panel 10 urine drug screen; and State and Federal background checks must be received one month before a student is readmitted into the Dental Hygiene Program.

In order to keep our curriculum current, it is revised from time to time. Therefore, the curriculum under which a student seeks readmission may be different from the one under which the student left. Students who are accepted for readmission must complete the degree requirements in place at the time of readmission. Students may need to buy different books, supplies, or equipment.

Transfer from Other Colleges

Students who wish to transfer into the HCC Dental Hygiene program may do so during the fall, spring, and summer semester provided there are unfilled seats in the class and meet all admission requirements.  Students transferring to HCC from other colleges who seek admission as a first time student into the Dental Hygiene program must be enrolled as an HCC student and complete the Supplemental Application for Selective Admissions Programs form by the established deadline dates.  In order to be considered for admission, students must meet the same requirements as other first time students and will be selected according to the same criteria.  Official transcripts from other colleges attended must be received by the application deadline.  A transfer evaluation will be done on all transcripts by the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management to determine which courses a student may transfer to HCC for credit.  Science courses that are older than five years must be repeated.  Online science labs are not accepted in transfer.

Advanced Placement Requirement

Students may be considered for advanced placement in the dental hygiene program if the coursework has been completed within the last year. Students transferring from another CODA-approved accredited dental hygiene program to Hagerstown Community College must meet the following criteria for advanced placement:

  1. Fulfill all academic criteria for admission to the dental hygiene program, including submission of official transcript(s) from the former institution.
  2. Attended a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
  3. Achieved satisfactory grades (“C” or higher) in academic courses with a 2.0 and 2.5 in all former program courses. Minimum grade point average of 2.5 is required.
  4. Achieved a score of 75% or greater on written and oral comprehensive examinations and 85% or greater in performance competency tests in the clinical area. For courses which include a lab, a practical exam is required.  The student has to demonstrate clinical competence in all aspects evaluated in the course and pass a written exam.
  5. Submit a letter of recommendation from the Director of the former program. In addition, an interview with the program director from which the student is leaving will be conducted.
  6. Admission of applicants for advanced placement in the dental hygiene program are considered on an individual basis and restricted by the student capacity of the program. Students should contact the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management for information.

For all students (transfer dental hygiene students, or CODA Dental Assisting Program graduates) we offer competency exams, which is usually the final exam for the course.  This would be administered in written format and also have an oral component.  For courses which include a lab, there would also be a practical component.  We do not encourage opting out, especially from the theory portions.  The student has to demonstrate clinical competence in all aspects evaluated in the course and pass a written exam.

Criminal Background Checks

All students who are offered admission to the Dental Hygiene program will be required to submit to fingerprinting and a complete criminal background check.  If a student cannot meet program requirements because of the background check, the student will be dismissed from the dental hygiene program.

Drug Screen

All students who are offered admission to the Dental Hygiene program will be required to submit to a drug screen.  Drug screen results are disclosed to clinical facilities as required.  A random drug screen may also be requested at any time during the dental hygiene program if a dental hygiene faculty member or a clinical facility representative has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is impaired and poses a safety concern to patients or others.  If a student cannot meet program requirements because of the drug screen results, the student will be dismissed from the dental hygiene program.

Ionizing Radiation and Pregnancy

Reporting of pregnancy to program officials is voluntary on the part of the student. Regulatory Guide 8.13, Instruction Concerning Prenatal Radiation Exposure, (www.nrc.gov) published by the United States Regulatory Commission provides information and guidelines.

Technical Standards

There are technical standards and skill requirements which students are expected to possess and demonstrate in order to be successful in this program. More information on these standards can be found on the Web page for this program.

Standards of Conduct

Students enrolled in the Hagerstown Community College Dental Hygiene Program are required to adhere to the program’s established standards of conduct, in addition to the standards of conduct set forth by the College.

Adherence to these standards are expected at all times while students are enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program and engaged in professional activities during the course of their instruction both at the College and in the community.

A violation of the standards of conduct will be reviewed for appropriate action by the Dental Program Faculty or the Director, Division of Health Sciences.

In addition to the Honor Code of Hagerstown Community College and the requirements of the Dental Hygiene Program, students are required to adhere to the American Dental Hygiene Association Code of Ethics and the State Regulation and Scope of Practice for a registered Dental Hygienist. Violations of any of these policies and/or requirements may result in immediate dismissal from the Dental Hygiene Program.

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