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Admission Information
What is a Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist is a licensed preventative
oral care professional that provides educational, clinical, and
therapeutic services to the public. In order to become prepared
to perform these services, the dental hygienist requires an
extensive educational background. Most people first meet the
dental hygienist in a private dental office where the hygienist
performs many critical services that detect, prevent, and treat
diseases of the mouth. Career paths for the dental hygienist
include positions in clinical dentistry, administration,
education, research, consumer advocacy, hospital dentistry, and
public health.
What are the Responsibilities of a Licensed Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygiene graduates from our program
will be able to:
-
Perform infection control procedures.
-
Perform general and oral health
assessments.
-
Provide nutritional counseling and
self-care programs to prevent disease.
-
Examine head, neck, and oral regions for
disease.
-
Take and process radiographs and perform
other diagnostic tests.
-
Complete oral prophylaxis and other
preventative services.
-
Administer medications prescribed by a
licensed dentist.
-
Provide oral hygiene care instruction.
-
Place and remove temporary fillings and
periodontal dressings.
-
Remove sutures.
What are the Program Goals for the Dental Hygiene Program at
Halifax Community College?
The mission/goals of the Dental Hygiene
Program are to facilitate the development of professional,
ethical, and competent dental hygienists that exhibit the
following:
-
An awareness of their present and future
roles and responsibilities within the profession and the
community served.
-
The knowledge and clinical skills
necessary to provide comprehensive care to patients/clients.
-
A commitment to lifelong learning and
professional development.
The dental hygiene curriculum provides the
dental hygiene student with the knowledge and skills to assess,
plan, implement, and evaluate dental hygiene care for the
individual and the community. The curriculum also trains the
dental hygiene student to collaborate with the dentist, the
patient, and other health professionals to provide comprehensive
patient care. Graduates will receive an Associate of Applied
Science Degree and will be eligible to take National and
State/Regional Dental Hygiene Board Examinations.
North Carolina State Board Examination
Applicants to the Dental Hygiene Program
should be aware the following questions must be answered when
completing the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners
Application for Licensure to Practice Dental Hygiene. The North
Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners may refuse to grant a
license to an individual in accordance with Section 90-30 of the
Dental Practice Act of North Carolina.
“Have you ever been summoned, arrested, taken into custody,
indicted, convicted or tried for, or charged with, or pleaded
guilty to the violation of any law or ordinance or the
commission of any felony or misdemeanor (excluding traffic
violations), or have you been requested to appear before any
prosecuting attorney or investigative agency in any matter?”
(Include all such incidents no matter how minor the
infraction or whether guilty or not.)
Although a conviction may have been expunged from the
records by order of the court, it nevertheless must be disclosed
in your answer to this question.
________Yes
_______No
Within the last ten (10) years, have you been
addicted to or received treatment for drugs, alcoholism, or
afflicted with a contagious or infectious disease?
_______Yes
_______No
If yes, give full details of your treatment.
Please contact the Board office if you have any questions.
Mailing Address:
15100 Weston Parkway, Suite 101
Cary,
NC 27813
E-Mail Address:
info@ncdentalboard.org
Web Address:
www.ncdentalboard.org
Phone Number:
(919) 678-8223
Fax Number:
(919) 678-8472
All applicants for the North Carolina State Board
Examination are subject to criminal background checks.
Also, employers may require drug
testing.
This program in dental hygiene has been
granted the status of Accreditation without reporting
requirements by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The
Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the
United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental
Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East
Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
Competencies for the Dental Hygiene Graduate
Halifax Community College
Dental Hygiene Program
Introduction:
Competencies for the Dental Hygiene Graduate
define and organize the skills, understanding, and professional
values of an individual ready for beginning dental hygiene
practice in a variety of settings. Graduates are prepared not
only for the traditional dental hygiene duties as clinician and
health educator, but also for roles as consumer advocate, change
agent, researcher, and health care manager/administrator.
By defining the competencies of the new
graduate, the HCC Dental Hygiene Program will have a basis with
which to (1) review, redefine, and restructure the dental
hygiene curriculum, (2) review and improve student evaluation
processes and promotion criteria, and (3) establish and apply
measures to assess the effectiveness of the dental hygiene
program.
What are Competencies?
Competencies describe the skills,
understanding, and professional values of an individual ready
for beginning dental hygiene practice. They are stated in terms
of what a student must be able to do to be considered competent
by the profession after the completion of the dental hygiene
curriculum. As used in the HCC Dental Hygiene Program, the term
competency does not imply marginal performance; it implies
performance at a clinically acceptable level.
How Are the Competencies Organized?
The competencies are
organized into four domains reflecting the overall emphasis in
the dental hygiene curriculum. These domains include (1) Ethics,
(2) Comprehensive Dental Hygiene Care,
(3) Community Involvement, and (4)
Professional Growth and Commitment. With each domain are cited
additional core competencies which include the foundation
knowledge, skills, and attitudes found in the dental hygiene
curriculum.
Competencies for the Dental Hygiene Graduate
Halifax Community College
Dental Hygiene Program
1.
Ethics: The dental hygiene graduate will incorporate ethical
behavior and professionalism into dental hygiene practice.
1.1
The
graduate will be able to apply a professional code of ethics in
all endeavors using the highest professional knowledge and
ethical principles.
1.2
The
graduate will practice as a member of a team in a professional
manner.
1.3
The
graduate will practice within the context of the appropriate
state Dental Practice Act.
2.
Comprehensive Dental Hygiene Care: The dental hygiene graduate
will apply the principles of dental hygiene care from the
biomedical, clinical, and social sciences.
2.1
The
graduate will collect, analyze, and record data on the general,
oral, and psycho-social health status of clients using methods
consistent with medical, legal, and ethical principles.
2.2
The
graduate will use critical decision-making skills to determine
the client’s needs related to his/her oral health and overall
health based on all available data.
2.3
The
graduate will consult and collaborate with clients and other
health professionals to formulate a comprehensive dental hygiene
care plan that identifies evidence-based dental hygiene
interventions.
2.4
The
graduate will provide individualized care that includes
educational, preventive, and therapeutic services designed to
assist the client in achieving and maintaining optimal oral
health.
2.5
The
graduate will evaluate the effectiveness of educational,
preventive, and therapeutic services and modify those services
if necessary to assist the client in
achieving and maintaining optimal health.
3.
Community Involvement: The dental hygiene graduate will develop
and assume responsibility for health promotion and disease
prevention to the public and community partners within and
outside the profession.
3.1
The
graduate will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate
community-based oral health programs including health promotion
and disease prevention activities.
3.2
The
graduate will provide dental hygiene services as a member of an
interdisciplinary health care team to a diverse population in a
variety of community-based settings.
4.
Professional Growth and Commitment: The dental hygiene graduate
will not only continue to develop and improve his/her own
knowledge, skills, and values in the practice of dental hygiene
but those of the profession as well.
4.1
The
graduate will use self-assessment skills to prepare for and
engage in life-long learning.
4.2
The
graduate will acquire and analyze scientific literature and use
an evidence-based approach to patient care.
4.3
The
graduate will advance the profession of dental hygiene through
participation and affiliation with professional and community
organizations.
How
Do I Apply to the Dental Hygiene Program?
All applicants must:
1.
Attend an Information Session.
This meeting is required. A
schedule of upcoming Information Sessions is included in this
packet. If an applicant currently resides outside of North
Carolina and cannot attend one of the scheduled information
sessions, he/she must contact the Dental Hygiene Department
Head, at (252) 538-4305 to make other arrangements.
2.
Submit a completed Halifax Community
College Application (on Website) with transcripts from high
schools and/or other colleges or universities that you have
attended. On the application,
indicate your chosen Program of Study by putting a check in the
box beside Dental Hygiene A45260.
To be official, transcripts
must be received by HCC
in a sealed envelope
or they will not be accepted. Transcripts for courses taken at
HCC do not have to be requested and will be accessed by the
Registrar at HCC. If you are enrolled at HCC in another program,
you must complete an Application
for Readmission/Change of Major/Allied Health Program
form available from the Admissions Office. Students enrolled in
Pre-dental (A10300D) must also complete the Application for
Readmission/Change of Major/Allied Health Program form.
3.
Take the ASSET placement test or
equivalent exam (COMPASS, ACCUPLACER).
Students without credit for college
courses should call the Testing Coordinator at (252)536-7254 to
schedule an appointment for testing.
For each of these
courses, you must make either make the following placement test
scores, successfully complete the developmental courses, or
receive credit for regular college courses.
Placement scores are valid for 2
years from date of testing (if continuously enrolled) and must
be valid at point of entry (first day of class).
Minimum ASSET scores
required for the Dental Hygiene Program are:
1.
Writing and Reading:
ASSET score 41 or take ENG095/A
2.
Numerical skills:
ASSET score 41 or take MAT060
3.
Elementary Algebra:
ASSET score 41 or take MAT070
If placement tests have been taken at another
community college, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure
their scores are submitted to Halifax Community College by the
February 1 deadline.
4.
Have coursework evaluated for transfer
into the HCC Dental Hygiene Program. While courses identified by
the DEN prefix may not be taken prior to official admission into
the Dental Hygiene Program, it is advantageous to take General
Education courses that are part of the Dental Hygiene Course
Sequence prior to enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program.
Within the General Education courses listed below there are four
Technical Core Courses (marked with *). These courses must have
been taken no earlier than 5 years prior to enrollment in the
Dental Hygiene Program.
General Education Courses:
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BIO 168*
Anatomy and Physiology I
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BIO 169*
Anatomy and Physiology II
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BIO 175*
Microbiology
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CHM 130*
General, Organic, &
Biochemistry
-
ENG 111
Expository Writing
-
ENG 114
Professional Research/Reporting
-
SOC 240
Social Psychology
-
HUM
See catalog for Humanities/Fine
Arts electives
-
CIS 113
Computer
Basics
-
ACA 118
College Study Skills
The possible transfer or substitution of
General Education Courses must be evaluated by the Registrar’s
Office. Call (252) 536-7221 for information regarding transcript
evaluation and credit transfer.
5.
Submit scores for the TEAS test. This test
is given only to those who meet all entry requirements and
qualify by February 1, 2010. Applicants will be notified of
testing date following deadline. Applicants must meet the
minimum overall 70% score requirement on the TEAS. There is a
TEAS study guide in the campus bookstore.
It is highly recommended you review
the material prior to taking the test.
The test takes approximately four
hours to complete and consists of Reading, Math, Science, and
English.
All students are charged a $25.00
fee to take the exam.
Test scores are valid for two years
and must be valid at point of entry (first day of class).
If a point-tie occurs during the selection
process, the applicant with the highest test score will be
ranked higher. Those who have taken the TEAS in previous years
should be aware that only those scores from the tests taken
within the past two (2) years will be considered in the point
criteria selection process.
6.
Evidence of an overall GPA of 2.5 at time
of entry.
7.
Submit one
of the following documents:
·
The Dental Assisting Experience Documentation Form included in
this packet, if you have dental assisting experience.
·
The Dental Office Observation Form included in this packet, if
you have not been employed in a dental office or attended an ADA
accredited dental assisting or hygiene program. Applicants
without dental office experience must observe four-six hours in
a dental office. A letter stating the purpose and goals of this
visit is included in this packet. Please give this to the
dentist whose office you visit.
·
The Certificate of Current Enrollment in an ADA Accredited
Dental Assisting Program form, if you are enrolled at this time
in a dental assisting program. This form is available upon
request from the Dental Hygiene Department Head or at the
Information Session.
·
Documentation of prior enrollment in an ADA Accredited Dental
Hygiene Program, if you were previously enrolled in a dental
hygiene program. Call the Dental Hygiene Department Head at
(252) 538-4305 for information regarding the policies and
procedures for admission transfer students from another dental
hygiene program.
When Do I Apply?
Admission to the dental
hygiene program is limited to eighteen (18) students each
August. Applications will be accepted through February 1st
preceding the desired fall entry date.
By February 1st you must have
submitted all required documents to the Allied Health Admissions
Office, including all test scores. It is the applicant’s
responsibility to ensure that all requirements are met by the
established deadline. Deadlines, guidelines, and policies apply
equally to all students. HCC retains the right to extend the
application deadline in order to enroll 18 qualified applicants.
Halifax Community
College does not maintain a waiting list. Applicants to the
Dental Hygiene Program must reapply each year.
How Are Students Selected for the Dental Hygiene Program?
The Dental Hygiene Program will use a point
system for admission. See the enclosed Selection Criteria Point
System form.
The Dental Hygiene Program at Halifax
Community College (HCC) is being offered with collaborative
agreements with Edgecombe Community College (ECC) and Nash
Community College (NCC). Two students from ECC and NCC with the
highest points and meeting minimum admission requirements will
be accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program at HCC. The
remaining fourteen positions (14) will be filled with HCC
students or other qualified applicants. Should NCC or ECC not
have applicants meeting minimum admission requirements, HCC
reserves the right to fill these vacant positions with other
qualified applicants.
Preference will be given to students with the
highest point scores based on the selection criteria enclosed in
this packet. In the case of a point tie, preference is given to
the student with higher percentile scores on the TEAS exam.
Please do not call the Allied Health
Admissions Office to inquire about acceptance into the program.
Information about admission status will not be given over the
phone. If you have not received a letter by May 15th, then call
to inquire about when the letter might be coming.
In addition to the eighteen (18) students
accepted into the program, an alternate’s list will be
maintained to fill vacancies in the event that selected students
do not choose to enter the program.
Once Accepted into the Program, What is Required?
All accepted applicants must:
-
Attend two (2)
mandatory orientation meetings prior
to enrollment. These meetings
will be held in July and August prior to the start of
classes. Accepted applicants will be notified of the date,
time, and place of the meetings in their acceptance letter.
Absence from these orientation sessions and failure to
submit the following completed documents at the first
orientation meeting will result in forfeiture of your space
in the Dental Hygiene Program.
In case of emergency you may
contact the HCC Dental Hygiene Department Head at (252)
538-4305.
1.
A copy of
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification
by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
Certification must be maintained during the student’s entire
course of study in the Dental Hygiene Program. Documentation
must be on file for anyone who is medically or physically unable
to perform such services. Failure to remain certification will
result in dismissal from the Dental Hygiene Program.
2.
Documentation of the receipt of at least the first dose of the
Hepatitis B Vaccine
or a declination form available from the Dental Hygiene
Department Head.
3.
The
original HCC Medical History Form.
Applicants are encouraged to keep a copy for their own records.
4.
Documentation of the results of a TB test
within the past 12 months.
-
Purchase equipment and supplies
through the HCC bookstore prior to the first day of class.
Methods of payment include check, cash, money order,
scholarship, financial aid, VISA, or Master Card. This
amount is based on the estimates given in this packet but
may change at the date of acceptance. Accepted applicants
will be notified of the amount due in their acceptance
letter.
NOTE:
Health
Care Providers Who Test Positive for Hepatitis or HIV Must
Notify:
Chief, Communicable Disease Control
Section
P. O. Box 27687
Raleigh, NC 26711-7687
What Are the Risks Involved in the Program?
Because students in the dental field are at a
higher risk than the general population for Hepatitis B, it is
recommended that students start the vaccination process for
Hepatitis B as soon as they are accepted into the program. A
comprehensive medical history, physical examination, dental
exam, and immunizations are requirements for entrance into the
program. Any applicant who is aware that he/she is a carrier of
Hepatitis B or C or is HIV positive is required to advise the
State Department of Human Resources regarding ability to have
patient contact.
Although there are no
documented cases of occupational spread of HIV to dental
workers, students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program are at
a slight risk of exposure to blood and bodily fluids. Therefore,
the potential does exist for transmission of bloodborne and
other infectious diseases during patient care services.
The risk of HIV disease
transmission from dental patients to members of the dental team
is extremely low. Nevertheless, there is some potential for this
to occur. The Americans with Disabilities Act forbids
discrimination against patients with HIV; therefore, students
are required to treat all patients assigned, regardless of the
health status of the patient. Refusal to treat any patient may
affect the student’s academic status.
What are the Costs of the Program?
College tuition is set by the North Carolina
State Legislature and is subject to change. The approximate
costs for the Dental Hygiene Program are included on a separate
sheet in this packet.
Are Scholarships and/or Financial Aid Available?
All applicants are encouraged to apply for
financial aid. Please refer to the HCC College Catalog for
scholarship and financial aid information and assistance.
What is the Grading Policy in the Dental Hygiene Program?
Students in the Dental Hygiene Program must
maintain a grade of “C” or better in all dental hygiene program
coursework to remain in the program. The grading scale for DEN
prefix courses (dental sciences) will be as follows:
A = 93-100
B = 85-92
C = 77-84
D = 70-76
F = below 70
Credits in the Dental Hygiene Program are
determined as follows:
Class
1 hour credit for each hour class
Lab
1 hour credit for each two-three
hours lab
Clinical
1 hour credit for each three hours
clinic
Dental Hygiene Admissions Contacts
Tami Argo
Halifax Community College
100
College Drive
P.O. Drawer 809
Weldon, NC 27890
(252) 536-7270
argot@halifaxcc.edu
Dorothy Gardner
Nash Community College
P.O. Box 7488
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 443-4011, ext. 300
dgardner@nashcc.edu
Ginny McLendon
Edgecombe Community College
Tarboro Campus
2009 West Wilson Street
Tarboro, N. C. 27886
(252) 823-5166, ext. 257
mclendong@edgecombe.edu
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