Dental Hygiene (AAS)

The Dental Hygiene program consists of a combination of subject matter, experiences, and general liberalarts courses designed to prepare a person to provide dental hygiene services to patients. The dental hygienist’s primary functions include oral prophylaxis, dental imaging, and oral-health education.

The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association; a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education which can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 or at the Commission on Dental Accreditation Website (http://www.ada.org/en/coda). The program is also approved by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Board Examination and a regional clinical board exam for licensure.

Students entering the Dental Hygiene program should have a strong science background; therefore, consideration for acceptance may be given for grades in BIOL 2401 , BIOL 2402 , and BIOL 2420 .

The program is only offered at the Wharton campus.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

The Dental Hygiene program has a limited enrollment. Prerequisites for acceptance into the freshman Dental Hygiene class are:

1. Eligibility for admission to WCJC including TSI requirements.
2. Evidence of high school chemistry (2 semesters) or equivalent (4 hours college CHEM 1405  or CHEM 1411 ) with a minimum grade of “C”.
3. ACT: Minimum reading score of 18, minimum composite score of 19 on the national American College Test (ACT); taken within five (5) years of admission to the program, or pre-approved equivalent.
4. Evidence of college credit in Anatomy & Physiology I and II (8 hours; BIOL 2401  and BIOL 2402 ), Microbiology (4 hours; BIOL 2420 ) with a minimum grade of “C”.
5. Minimum 2.5 GPA in all required college courses.

Application Submission Process

Applicants must submit the following no later than May 31^st for final selection:

1. High school and college transcripts to the Office of Admission and Registration and to the Director of Dental Hygiene
2. ACT scores to the Office of the Admissions and Registration and to the Director of Dental Hygiene (national test preferred)
3. Dental Hygiene Application form to the Director of Dental Hygiene
4. Documentation of Hepatitis B immunization, completion, or in progress
5. Submit evidence of college credit in 8 hours; BIOL 2401 , BIOL 2402 , and BIOL 2420  with a minimum grade of “C” to the Director of Dental Hygiene
6. Submit proof of dental work experience, if applicable, to the Director of Dental Hygiene

Detailed application instructions are included in the Dental Hygiene Application Packet that is available online or by contacting the Dental Hygiene Department.

Acceptance Into Program

Upon selection to the program, full acceptance is contingent upon the following:

1. Remittance of a non-refundable deposit of $125 to secure final admission
2. Proof of current American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR certification
3. Proof of required immunizations: Hepatitis B series, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella
4. Documentation of annual tuberculosis screening; positive results require follow-up
5. Completion of technical standards and health information form
6. Completion of satisfactory criminal background check and/or an acceptable CHE from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners

Criminal Background Checks

Most clinical facilities require that criminal background checks be completed prior to allowing students to participate in clinical training at their facilities. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners may deny application for licensure because of a person’s conviction under state or federal law of a felony or misdemeanor that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the profession for which the person seeks licensure.

Therefore, applicants conditionally accepted into the WCJC Dental Hygiene program will be required to complete a criminal background check.

Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon a satisfactory background check which will be completed by an approved agency. An applicant with an unsatisfactory criminal background check must confer with the Director of Dental Hygiene prior to being eligible to receive full acceptance and enroll in the program. The cost of the criminal background check will be at the applicant’s expense and is approximately $55 (detailed information is available in the application packet).

In order to receive full acceptance for enrollment in the Dental Hygiene program, an applicant with an unsatisfactory criminal background check must obtain a Criminal History Evaluation (CHE) (http://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/criminal-history-evaluation/) from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Website (http://www.tsbde.texas.gov) to ensure licensure eligibility upon graduation.

If you have been charged and/or convicted of any misdemeanor or felony (other than a traffic violation) you must submit the CHE to the TSBDE 90 days prior to the application deadline. The CHE will then be complete if you are selected into the class or if you have alternate status; and will not prevent final acceptance into the program.

Expenses

Each Dental Hygiene student must purchase instruments, supplies, pin, and insurance costing approximately $3,500. Please see breakdown of expenses by semester in the application packet. Scholarships are available and students may contact the Financial Aid office for information.

CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE: During the last semester of the program, the capstone experience consists of a Mock National Board Dental Hygiene Examination that tests comprehensive cognitive abilities. The mock examination assesses the ability to understand important information from basic biomedical, dental, and dental hygiene sciences and also the ability to apply such information in a problem-solving context.