Services

• Academic
• Admissions
• Bookstore
• Cont Ed
• Financial Aid
• Library
• Registration
• Administrative
• Welcome
• Administration
• Directory
• Foundation
• Human Resources
• Inst Effectiveness
• Technology
• Building
• Bookstore
• Building Hours
• Childcare
• Cafeteria
• Campus Maps
• Dental Clinic
• Facilities
• Health Services
• Security
• Wellness Center
• Student
• Advising
• Campus Life
• Career Center
• Counseling
• Disability
• MultiCultural
• Placement
• Support
• Upward Bound

Programs

Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene - 79 Credits
Associate in Applied Science Degree Program
Background Study for all students in clinical placements or indirect contact with patients/residents: Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a background study conducted by the state. An individual who is disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of the background study, and whose disqualification is not set aside by the Commissioner of Health, will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota licensed health care facility. Failure to participate in a clinical placement required by the academic program could result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in that program. Students attending clinicals at a Wisconsin facility will be required to have a Wisconsin background study at a cost of $7.50.

The dental hygiene program provides academic and clinical educational opportunities for capable individuals to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitude for the professional practice of dental hygiene. The curriculum focuses on basic sciences, as well as essential technical and clinical skills in preparation for providing preventive dental hygiene services to the public. Students have the opportunity to prepare for a variety of career opportunities in private dental offices, schools, hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, and the private business sector.

Due to the nature of the clinical experiences in the dental hygiene program, students will be participating in a work environment that has the potential of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. All students accepted into the dental hygiene program are provided with written policy and instruction on infection control protocol to reduce the risk of disease transmission.  Policies and procedures on the dental hygiene program's infection control protocol are available to all applicants upon request. Other work related disorders associated with the practice of dental hygiene could result from repetitive activities and exposure to high decibel sounds. Advancements in design and technology in the profession are continually evolving to minimize these effects.

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements"). The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Unites States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation may be contacted at (312) 4404653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.

Pre Technical Course Requirements:
BIOL1140 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL1141 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL1170 Microbiology
CHEM1110 Aspects of Chemistry I
ENGL1106 College Composition I
PSYC1120 General Psychology
OR
PSYC1135 Developmental Psychology

Note: Prior to taking any DENH courses, all courses listed above must be completed with a grade of C or better, and an overall G.P.A. of 2.4 or better. Students must complete 20 hours of a shadowing experience in a dental office setting prior to taking any DENH courses. Effective for Fall 2006, all entering students will need to have a 2.6 cumulative G.P.A. or better in the six dental hygiene pre-requisite courses. If there are more than 18 qualified applicants, priority is given to those who had the pre-requisites completed the earliest with the earliest file completion/program change date for the dental hygiene program. Qualified applicants should be aware that program class sizes are limited, which may delay acceptance into the program.

 
*Students who have applied and were working on dental hygiene pre-requisites prior to 2004 should see the Director of Admissions for advisement.

Program Outcomes
The program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and ability to:

• Provide current comprehensive dental hygiene services.



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



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



• Exhibit ethical behavior consistent with professional conduct.



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



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