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Career Pathway—Health Sciences
Dental hygienists are oral health care professionals who provide educational, preventive, and therapeutic services in a variety of health care settings: private practices, school systems, hospitals, long-term care facilities, HMOs, research centers, industry, dental supply companies, veterinarian dentistry, military bases, government agencies, and higher education. Dental hygienists are also in demand in other countries.
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 and 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:
- Prepare a competent, entry-level dental hygienist as defined by the KCC Dental Hygiene Competency statement.
- Maintain a contemporary dental hygiene program that reflects relevant and current dental hygiene theories, practices, and educational methods.
- Provide a student-centered curriculum that integrates general education, biomedical sciences, dental sciences, and dental hygiene sciences.
- Maintain an admission policy which provides for a diverse and qualified student body.
- Provide opportunities to the dental hygienist for professional growth and development through lifelong learning experiences.
- Respond to the oral health needs of the community by providing therapeutic, educational, and preventive dental hygiene services.
- Foster leadership and innovation in health promotion issues.
Dental hygienists provide the following oral health 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 prophylaxis; fluoride therapies; pit and fissure sealants; nutritional counseling; tobacco cessation program; radiographs; and athletic mouth protectors.
Our program is designed to prepare a competent dental hygienist within two years as a full-time student. Because of space limitations, enrollment is selective and restricted to 20 applicants each fall. Although personal interviews are not required, many
applicants like to arrange for a visit to see our facility. Please contact the Admissions office or the program director if you would like to arrange for a visit.
Students receive their clinical education in a well-equipped, modern facility located on the KCC campus. They are also given the opportunity to develop course projects which provide educational and preventive services for the community.
The Dental Hygiene Program at KCC is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Students are eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Examination and the North East Regional Board Examination in their second clinical year. At the completion of the program, students receive the Associate in Applied Science.
Prerequisites
Formal admission into the Dental Hygiene Program is required for registration. Recommended high school units of study are shown at the end of this catalog. There are no prerequisite courses required at this time. In order to register for Chemistry 100, which must be completed in the fall semester of the first year, the student must achieve one of the following:
- COMPASS algebra assessment with score of at least 40
OR
- Grade of “C” or better in Chemistry 10, Mathematics 101,
or other college-level mathematics course
Our program is designed so that a newly-graduated high school student may enter the program in the fall and successfully complete the program within two years. However, many students have previous college experiences that make the program easier to complete. Students with previous college courses of “C” or better may be able to transfer those credit hours into the program. Once admitted, students must maintain a minimal college grade point average of 2.00 in order to remain in the program and may not fail any dental hygiene designated courses.
The admissions selection criteria include the following:
- High school or GED grade point average
- ACT/SAT score
- Previous college grade point average, if applicable
- Submit application by March 1
Completing the following KCC courses with a “C” or better makes the Dental Hygiene Program easier to complete, especially completion of anatomy, physiology, or chemistry. For transfer equivalents from other colleges or universities, contact the Registrar’s office. Please note, these are suggestions only and are not required for admission into the program.
- Biology 201, Human Anatomy
- Biology 202, Human Physiology
- Biology 205, Microbiology
- Chemistry 100, Fundamentals of Chemistry I
- Communication 101, Foundations of Interpersonal Communication
- Creativity Elective°
- English 151, Freshman Composition
- Psychology 201, Introduction to Psychology
- Sociology 201, Introduction to Sociology
° For options to fulfill the Creativity Elective, see page 33.