Dental Hygiene - Orange County Community College

Dental Hygiene from Orange County Community College is a Campus Associate Dentistry degree that prepares you for a Healthcare career. Program Description The Associate in Applied Science degree program in Dental Hygiene prepares students for licensing by the State Board for Dentistry of New York to practice dental hygiene. Dental hygienists work under the supervision of a licensed dentist. They provide preventive, therapeutic and educational services within the parameters of the state law governing the practice of dental hygiene . In addition to traditional skills, these responsibilities include the administration of local infiltration anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation. The curriculum is focused on the three professional Standards of Care: professionalism, health promotion and disease prevention, and patient care. Coursework includes requirements in English, social sciences, the sciences, and program-specific courses and laboratory experiences. In order to develop necessary skills, students first practice on peers. Then they actively participate in clinical dental hygiene experiences in the College dental hygiene clinic, as well as at off-campus sites including hospitals. Dental hygiene courses are offered once each year. Courses must be taken in the sequence in which they are offered without interruption. Dental hygiene courses cannot be taken on a part-time basis. A minimum grade of C (75%) is required in all dental hygiene courses. Program requirements for graduation also include the presentation of table clinics at off-campus locations, portfolio development and casebased clinical case presentations. Membership in the Student American Dental Hygienists? Association is mandatory. Students who are considering this program must understand that they are required to provide their own transportation to these off-campus facilities and are required to purchase their own instruments and related supplies. They must also have a yearly physical examination and TB test. Upon initial entrance into the program, a negative 10-panel drug test will be required. The Hepatitis B vaccine is strongly recommended. Students with disabilities should meet with the Coordinator of Special Services upon entering the program. Foreign students must have permanent residence status to obtain a dental hygiene license in New York State. An individual who has charges pending or has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor and/or has been found guilty of professional misconduct or negligence may not be eligible for licensure. Contact the Office of Professional Discipline, New York State Education Department prior to applying to this program. Finally, pregnant or potentially pregnant students should note that there is a risk associated with exposure to nitrous oxide gas. Students who are unwilling or unable to sit as patients should not apply to this program. View more details on Orange County Community College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Dentistry courses.