Dental Hygiene Associate Degree

The Dental Hygiene program at Columbus State Community College is designed to prepare graduates for successful entry into the oral health profession. The dental hygienist is a member of the dental health team and provides a variety of quality oral hygiene services including health education, prevention, and treatment of oral disease to a wide variety of patients. The Columbus State dental hygiene program emphasizes the didactic and clinical skills required to meet ever-changing oral health care needs. Admission to the program is both limited and selective. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the state, regional, and national examinations for licensure. The Ohio State Dental Board requires a full FBI background check for initial application for licensure.

This program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association’s 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.

Upon completion of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene, the graduate will:

• possess the skills and knowledge to manage the ethical and professional issues of dental hygiene practice.

• be able to acquire and analyze information in a scientific and effective manner using critical thinking skills.

• be able to demonstrate written comprehension, critical thinking, and skills for the application of assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation related to the provision of optimal preventive, therapeutic, and educational dental hygiene services to individuals of diverse populations.

• be able to demonstrate knowledge of safe and effective patient care by adherence to proper infection control, HIPAA requirements, and emergency protocol during the provision of client care.

• be able to initiate and assume responsibility for general health promotion and oral disease prevention through participation in community activities using appropriate interpersonal communication and educational strategies.

• be able to apply self-assessment skills in preparation for life-long learning.

Specific Program Admissions Information

Listed below are additional requirements for admission to the Dental Hygiene program. The application deadline is March 30, yearly. The last mandatory information session is held before February 15 of each year. Students are advised to attend an information session before February 15. Applications to the Dental Hygiene program are provided at the information session.

Admissions Requirements

Students may obtain an information packet by calling the Allied Health Office at (614) 287-5215 or by sending an e-mail with name and complete mailing address to: afrank01@cscc.edu.

• Attend one mandatory Dental Hygiene Information Session within 12 months before applying to the program to obtain current admission information and application.

• Achievement of a minimum overall GPA of 2.95 on a 4-point scale based upon the completion of courses at the college most recently attended or Columbus State Community College.

• Students must complete all General Education (G) and Basic-related (B) courses with a grade of “C” or better.

• Placement into MATH 148 or completion of MATH 104

• Placement into ENGL 101 or completion of ENGL 100 or ESL 100

• Placement into “No Reading Required” or completion of DEV 044

• BIO 261 Human Anatomy with grade "C" or better

• BIO 262 Human Physiology with grade “C” or better

• Mandatory observation (20 hours) of a dental hygienist working in a dental office, clinic, or other dental hygiene setting. Further specific information is given during the information sessions.

• Students applying to the Dental Hygiene program must submit official high school and college transcripts to Columbus State Community College, Records and Registration Office, by January 20 of the year of application so that transcripts may be evaluated and posted.

• International students or students who have international transcripts must submit official transcripts to an official transcript evaluation agency by November 30. Further information is given during the information session. Records and Registration may have further requirements for international students, thus international students should contact them before November 30.

• Completion of the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) is required for admission to dental hygiene. Further specific information is given during the information session.

• ALL admission criteria MUST be met by March 30 of the application year.

Visit or contact the Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator, Cindy Evans, Office, UN 407, (614) 287- 2435, to obtain a dental hygiene information packet.

Statement Regarding Infectious Diseases

Students in any of the Allied Health programs, including Dental Hygiene, perform their clinical work on real people. Columbus State does not discriminate against students, faculty, or patients in any way, or based on color, creed, national origin, gender, disability or sexual preference. The patient populations with whom we work come from all walks of life, and students may therefore be exposed to many types of communicable diseases. These are not limited to but may include Hepatitis (A, B, C or D), HIV/AIDS, herpes, tuberculosis, measles, mumps, rubella, etc.

All students are required to have appropriate immunizations after being admitted to the program (information is given to all admitted students). Additionally, although all precautions are taken to minimize exposure and risk, there is always a slight possibility that precautions may fail or that a student may accidentally expose him/herself. All students entering the Dental Hygiene program must be aware of this slight, but real, potential. Students are required to maintain personal health insurance.