Associate of Applied Science | 89 credits minimum, including prerequisites

Allied Health Division
Jordan Campus
Program Office & Phone, HTC 110, (801) 957-6074
www.slcc.edu/dentalhygiene
Academic and Career Advising
Academic Advising, Jordan Campus, JHS 047, (801) 957- 6215
Health Science Admissions, JHS 065, (801) 957-6363

Program Faculty
Assistant Professors - Renee Mendenhall, RDH, MBA, and Jeanie Allen, RDH, BS

Program Description
The Dental Hygiene Program offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree which prepares graduates to practice entry level dental hygiene. Dental hygienists provide preventive and therapeutic health care services including oral health assessment & education, pit & fissure sealants, fluoride treatments, oral prophylaxis and advanced periodontal therapy; in addition to public dental health services.

Upon administrative approval, second-year SLCC dental hygiene students are eligible to take examinations required for licensure in all fifty states, including the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and state or regional clinical examinations, such as the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB).

Career Opportunities
Dental hygienists may secure employment in a variety of settings, including private dental offices and clinics, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, public health facilities and other government agencies. Due to the unique nature of the profession, dental hygienists enjoy a flexible work schedule ideal for balancing career and lifestyle needs.

Transfer & Articulation Information
Courses transfer as electives.  For articulation information, please see the Dental Hygiene program advisor.

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ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

NOTE: See the dental hygiene webpage for essential information regarding completion of admission criteria at http://www.slcc.edu/dentalhygiene/index.aspx

Admission Process

1. Be admitted to SLCC as a matriculated student.  See http://www.slcc.edu/students-future/admissions/index.aspx
2. High School Graduate or equivalent
3. For transfer credit, please see Transfer & Articulation Information
4. Complete Accuplacer exam, or submit current SAT/ACT test score, if MATH and ENGL course work have not been transferred to SLCC.    See: http://www.slcc.edu/testing/
5. We will accept an AP score of 3 or higher for a prerequisite for admission into the program. However, this does not guarantee acceptance into the program.  Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.
6. Prerequisite courses can be in progress when submitting an application.  Final grades will be checked at the end of the Spring semester with the noted grade requirements/conditions:

*All BIOL and CHEM courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C+ or better
*All other prerequisite courses listed below must be completed with a minimum grade of C or better
*All science (BIOL/CHEM) prerequisites must have been completed within the last five years

PREREQUISITES

 

Note: It is the student’s responsibility to examine each course description for details of other prerequisite classes. Those prerequisites must be satisfied before the designated program prerequisite course may be taken.

Application Requirements

1. Health Sciences Online Admissions Application
   • To access and complete application requirements, follow these steps:
   1. MyPage [https://mypage.slcc.edu]
   2. Student tab
   3. Health Sciences portal
   4. Program Admissions
   5. DH AAS (pay non-refundable $25 fee.  Application will only appear in menu during open application periods)
2. Pre-Admissions (HESI) test:  - A minimum score of 75% is required for consideration for admission to the program. However, this does not guarantee admission into the program. Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.
3. Observation Hours:  Required to be completed with a licensed Clinical Dental Hygienist (RDH) in a dental setting for a minimum of 40 hours.  Please see the Dental Hygiene academic\
4. Hepatitis B vaccination series:  Applicants must provide proof of a 3 traditional Hep B dose series.  Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.

Re-Admittance Policy
Students are required to maintain a C in each didactic course. If a student does not meet the minimum grade requirements, they are dismissed from the program. If the student wishes to return, they will need to reapply to the Dental Hygiene program and start over. Attendance is mandatory. Students are allowed one excused absence per semester.  For further information, see the Dental Hygiene Program Student Policies and Procedures Manual on the dental hygiene website.  

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The clinical placement agencies make the final determination about accepting students for placement in their facility, and may decline to have students placed at their facility, based on the criminal background record of the student. The latter may cause the student not to be able to complete all of the program requirements.

In addition, it will be the responsibility of the student to contact the licensing agency and seek advice regarding eligibility for licensure and requirements needed to progress in this profession, if the criminal background check discloses issues of concern.

LICENSURE
Admission to or graduation from the SLCC Dental Hygiene Program does NOT guarantee the ability to obtain a license to practice dental hygiene. Licensure is the exclusive right and responsibility of the board of dentistry in each state. In order to practice dental hygiene, students must satisfy the requirements of individual state dental practice acts independently of any college or program requirements. Many states, including Utah, require background information prior to licensing candidates to practice dental hygiene; therefore, it is highly recommended that applicants consult in advance with the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), or similar agencies in other states, regarding eligibility for licensure.  DOPL can be reached at 801-530-6628 or http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/dentistry.html.

CLINICAL PLACEMENT
Students accepted into the dental hygiene program must meet the same health and safety requirements that its clinical rotation facility providers require of their own employees. These facilities make the final determination regarding student acceptance for placement and may decline it based on the criminal background record, which may then preclude completion of program requirements. It is the responsibility of the applicant to seek advice regarding the status of their eligibility for clinical placement if their criminal background check discloses any areas of concern.

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Total Program/Course Fees
Estimated $20,000; not including pre-requisite courses.

Estimated Time to Completion
Core Program requires two academic years, Summers are not included. Additional time is required to complete prerequisites and AAS Gen Ed requirements. Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.

Specialized Accreditation
The Dental Hygiene program at Salt Lake Community College is accredited by The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association, www.ada.org/en/coda, with “Approval without Reporting Requirements”.

Program Student Learning Outcomes	Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
	1 - Substantive Knowledge 2 - Communicate Effectively 3 - Develop Quantitative Literacy 4 - Think Critically 5 - Civic Engagement and/or Working Professionally 6 - Work Professionally and Constructively 7 - Develop Computer and Information Literacy
Initiate and participate in community oral health programs.	2, 4, 5, 6
Successfully complete the National Board Dental Examinations and regional/state dental hygiene licensure board examinations.	1, 2, 3,4, 5
Utilize the Dental Hygiene Process of Care (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation) to positively affect the oral health status and behavior of individuals and groups.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Communicate effectively with patients, peers & faculty in both verbal and written forms.	1, 2, 3, 6, 7
Utilize critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision-making.	1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7