NDSCS College Catalog

Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene program is designed to prepare students as professionals in the discipline of dental hygiene. The roles of the dental hygienist can vary depending on the state board regulations. Some of the patient care services performed by a dental hygienist may include:

• patient screening procedures such as reviewing of the health history, dental charting, oral inspections, taking and recording blood pressure;
• exposing and developing radiographs (X-rays);
• removing calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from the teeth;
• teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene measures to maintain healthy teeth and gums;
• counseling patients concerning nutrition, tobacco cessation and other risk factors of disease;
• applying cavity-preventive agents such as fluoride and sealants; and
• taking impressions of patients teeth for study models and dental whitening procedures.

Career opportunities

Dental hygienists are usually employed in general dental practices or specialty practices such as pediatric dentistry (treatment of children) and periodontics (treatment of diseases of the gum and supporting bone of the teeth). Dental hygienists also can apply their skills and knowledge in other career activities including office management and dental hygiene education depending on the level of education, and experience they have achieved.

Although career placement is excellent, students interested in pursuing an advanced degree in dental hygiene or related fields have a number of transfer options to four-year colleges and universities.

Dental Hygiene competencies

At completion of the North Dakota State College of Science Dental Hygiene program, the graduate will be competent to:

1. Collect, organize, record and analyze patient data for a diverse population of patients.
2. Discuss and plan dental hygiene services in an effective and efficient manner.
3. Demonstrate adequate preventive and therapeutic procedures for the promotion of oral health.
4. Integrate critical thinking in the evaluation of care provided and use evaluation results to modify treatment as necessary.
5. Promote optimum oral health through individualized education.
6. Promote optimum oral health through community involvement activities.
7. Apply self-assessment principles.
8. Evaluate scientific information to enhance their knowledge and skills in the promotion of oral health.
9. Manage the ethical and professional responsibilities of the dental hygiene profession and comply with state and federal regulations governing the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene.

Dental Hygiene curriculum

The Dental Hygiene program is two years in length with an eight-week summer session between the first and second year. Students are provided with classroom, laboratory and clinical experience emphasizing skill development, self-assessment and professionalism. The majority of the clinical experience is in the NDSCS dental clinic. Students are also assigned to off-campus affiliation sites to enhance their dental hygiene education. Students must provide their own transportation to off-campus affiliation sites.

Admission requirements

High school preparation should include biology and chemistry. The following prerequisites must be complete by February 1 prior to the year of entry into the dental hygiene program:

• High school diploma or G.E.D.;
• ACT or SAT;
• A minimum of a 2.5 college GPA;
• College courses: Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 115 and 115L), Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 220 and 220L) and College Composition I (ENGL 110).  Anatomy and Physiology II   (BIOL 221 and 221L) must be completed by August 1 prior to entry into the program.  In addition, College Algebra (MATH 103) or equivalent is highly recommended.

The Dental Hygiene program is a limited-enrollment program. The Enrollment Services office and the Allied Dental Education Department will provide student advising and details regarding criteria for program acceptance phone toll free: 1-800-342-4325, ext. 3-2333 or email. The program Web site also contains selection criteria and program goals.

Award

Upon program completion of the required courses, students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene.

Dental hygienists are licensed by a state to provide dental hygiene care. Licensure requirements include successful completion of Dental Hygiene National Board and state or regional clinical examinations.

Other information

The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-2678