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Dental Hygiene

Link to website maintained by the School of Health

The Dental Hygiene program educates men and women to become vital members of the dental health profession. The two-year basic core curriculum leading to an Associate in Science degree follows the guidelines adopted by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. The graduate is eligible for licensing examination in each of the fifty states. She/he may transfer credits toward a Baccalaureate degree. The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

The curriculum is designed to provide the student a broad educational experience. The student is thus prepared to render preventive oral health services and dental health education. Students receive clinical experience, at the STCC Dental Hygiene Clinic. Students are responsible to complete clinical services on a minimum number of patients. Patient recruitment is the responsibility of the student. Assistance will be provided by the College. The purchase of an instrument kit is mandatory for each dental hygiene student.

All courses listed in the program curricula are required for graduation. The dental hygiene courses are restricted to the semester in which they appear in the curricula. The curriculum customarily is completed within two regular academic years. However, advanced placement will be given to those students qualifying through challenge exams and transfer credits.

Applicants for admission to the Dental Hygiene program must be high school graduates or the equivalent. The candidate must have completed high school level courses in algebra 1, algebra 2 or geometry, biology, and chemistry with grades of "C" or better. The SAT is suggested but not required for admission.  Applicants who have completed college-level courses including anatomy & physiology 1 and 2, biochemistry, microbiology, English, psychology, sociology, and speech will be given priority in the admission process. All accepted students must undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information or other check. Depending on the findings, the student may not be allowed to continue in the program of study. For further information, please contact the Office of the Dean, School of Health.

Students must achieve a minimum grade of “C” (73%) or better in each Dental Hygiene course. In addition, students must attain a minimum grade of “C” (73%) or better in related science or general studies courses. The student who is unable to meet this minimum requirement will be withdrawn from the program. Application for re-entry will be based on the recommendations of the faculty and program coordinator.

Dental Hygiene Program Goals

1. Maintain admission policies to ensure qualified students with appropriate emphasis on under-represented groups.
2. Ensure that students will achieve knowledge, skills and values consistent with national dental hygiene standards.
3. Prepare dental hygiene graduates to assume responsibility for ethical dental hygiene care within the legal scope of practice in the Commonwealth of MA or other governing jurisdictions.
4. Facilitate interactive educational experiences designed to foster critical thinking, promote appreciation for evidenced based clinical practice and the need for lifelong learning.
5. Graduate students who will advance the profession through affiliation with professional organizations, and who will serve society through expertise, leadership, health education and health promotion.
6. Provide continuing education programs for community dental professionals.
7. Maintain a state of the art teaching environment.
8. Provide the highest quality of student dental hygiene care to our patients.
9. Maintain a knowledgeable, productive and diverse faculty to engage in multiple dimensions of scholarship which includes discovery, integration, application and teaching expertise to improve dental hygiene and health care.

Programmatic Technical Standard (PDF)

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Upon completion of the requirements for this program, the degree of Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene will be awarded.

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