Dental Hygiene . . .
can be an exciting and rewarding career in which you can make a difference helping others. Dental hygienists provide educational, preventive and therapeutic services in a variety of health care settings including private practices, school systems, hospitals, long term care facilities, HMO's, research centers, industry, dental supply companies, veterinarian dentistry, military bases, government agencies, and higher education. Dental hygienists are also in demand in other countries.

Program Goals
The dental hygiene profession, as an integral part of the health care team, demands individuals who have been instructed in the psychosocial, biophysical and technical elements of the dental hygiene process of care. Dental hygiene practitioners must be able to effectively interact with clients, other professionals and the community. They must be able to apply current concepts to changing societal and oral health needs. The KCC Department of Dental Hygiene Education is committed to educating dental hygienists who will provide quality oral health services and education to and for the public; foster leadership and innovation in health promotion issues; appreciate cultural diversity and respect for the individual; and demonstrate the highest standards of honesty, integrity, accountability and ethics.

The goals of our department are stated here and reflect our commitment to the dental hygiene student, to the professional development of the registered dental hygienist as well as to advancing the profession of dental hygiene.

The KCC Department of Dental Hygiene Education will:

1. Prepare a competent, entry level dental hygienist as defined by the KCC Dental Hygiene Competency Statement.
   
   
2. Maintain a contemporary dental hygiene program that reflects relevant and current dental hygiene theories, practices and educational methods.
   
   
3. Provide a student-centered teaching environment that integrates general education, biomedical sciences, dental sciences and dental hygiene sciences.
   
   
4. Maintain an admission policy which provides for a diverse and qualified student body.
   
   
5. Provide opportunities to the dental hygienist for professional growth and development through life long learning experiences.
   
   
6. Respond to the oral health needs of the community by providing therapeutic, educational and preventive dental hygiene services.
   
   

Dental Hygienists . . .
are professional oral health care providers who can provide the following dental hygiene services: review medical and dental health histories; blood pressure screenings; oral cancer screenings ; oral health instruction; dental charting; periodontal assessment; non-surgical periodontal therapy including scaling and root planing, oral irrigation, and chemotherapeutic agents; oral prophylaxis; fluoride therapies; sealants; nutritional counseling; tobacco cessation program; radiographs; athletic mouth protectors.


Who to Contact
For more information about KCC's dental hygiene program, please feel free to contact the Director of Dental Hygiene Education, Paula Sullivan. She can be reached at 269-965-3931, ext. 2303 or e-mail at sullivanp@kellogg.edu.

For more information about dental hygiene and career opportunities, please visit the web page of dental hygiene's professional association, The American Dental Hygienists' Association, at http://www.adha.org.


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