Dental Hygienist
Program Code: 10-508-1
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Associate Degree: 3 Years (Part-Time) 69 Credits
Appleton Campus
Career Opportunities
As a dental hygienist, you are a member of the dental team and help individuals maintain oral health and prevent oral diseases. Under the supervision of a dentist, you inspect the mouth, remove stains and deposits from teeth, apply preventative agents, prepare clinical and diagnostic tests, complete dental x-rays, and perform many other services related to oral care. You counsel patients about preventative measures such as nutrition, oral hygiene and dental care. Graduates might work in private dental offices, group practices, public health or dental sales.
Program Description
At Fox Valley Technical College, the Dental Hygienist program is a three-year, part-time, year-round, day/evening schedule designed for nontraditional students. It is the only three-year, part-time program in the State of Wisconsin and the program is structured with lectures, labs, and clinical instruction. Clinical courses are offered in the FVTC Dental Clinic and area dental offices.
This program prepares students for employment as well as credentialing exams. It gives the graduate a chance to play an important role in society by providing oral health services that contribute to the health and well-being of individuals.
The skills the student will have acquired upon graduation are: reviewing medical history, administering head and neck exam including cancer screening, assessing periodontal health, exposing x-rays, applying preventative agents and administering local anesthesia.
Program/Plan Admission Requirements
- Admissions assessment
- ACCUPLACER Arithmetic score of 66 or greater or completion of equivalent GOAL course
- ACCUPLACER Reading score of 85 or greater or completion of equivalent GOAL course
- ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills score of 92 percentile or greater or completion of equivalent GOAL course.
- High school graduation or equivalent
Notes:
- Two semesters of high school chemistry or General Chemistry (10-806-174 or 10-806-134) with grade of C or better is a prerequisite for General Anatomy and Physiology (10-806-177).
- Preclinical Exam, immunizations and current CPR Healthcare Providers certification is required.
- Students purchase instrument kit fall of second year.
- Hepatitis B vaccination is strongly recommended.
Program Outcomes
- Incorporate into dental hygiene practice professional laws, regulations and policies established by the licensing state and regulatory agencies
- Model dental hygiene professional code of ethics in a rapidly changing environment
- Pursue lifelong professional growth and development through self-directed learning, participation in professional organizations, and continuing education
- Counsel clients/patients to reduce health risks
- Provide community oral health services in a variety of settings
- Infection Control - Manage infection and hazard control
- Assessment - Assess data on all aspects of patient/client health using methods consistent with dental hygienist scope of practice and legal principles
- Planning - Formulate a comprehensive dental hygiene care plan in collaboration with the client and other health professionals
- Implementation - Provide preventative and therapeutic services that promote oral health according to the needs of the patient/client
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented client/patient dental hygiene care plan and modify as needed
- Evaluation - Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented clinical and educational services and modify as needed
Helpful High School Courses
Two semesters of chemistry, biology, algebra, Spanish and writing skills.
Program Offered at This Location
- Appleton—1825 N. Bluemound Drive
Contact Us
For additional program/admission information, call Joan D. Rohrer @ (920) 735-2452 or Enrollment Services at (920) 735-5645 or e-mail us at www.fvtc.edu/dentalhygiene.
View Program Plan