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Graduates
of the Dental Hygiene Program at Shawnee State University earn an
Associate of Applied Sciences degree. The program is completed in
5 academic semesters that combine classroom, laboratory and
clinical experience. All instruction is provided at Shawnee State
University. Graduates are eligible to take
the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination as well as state and
regional clinical examinations.
Admission Requirements
The minimum requirements for admission into the dental hygiene
program include High School or College Algebra, Biology, Chemistry,
(C or above), and an ACT score of 18 in the science reasoning
section. Admission into the dental hygiene program is selective and
competitive.
The deadline for receipt of all application materials for admission
is March 1.
Students who have completed application materials may be considered
for acceptance on the basis of space available in the program and
the academic qualifications.
Dental
Hygiene
Dental
hygiene is a vital health service component
of dentistry and emphasizes oral health and the prevention of
oral disease.
Most
dental hygienists are employed in private
dental offices. The
hygienist’s main function is to provide dental health education,
home care instruction, and diet/nutritional counseling. Dental
hygiene services include performing
oral prophylaxis, scaling and polishing
of the patient’s teeth to remove soft and hard deposits; dental
charting and oral examinations; exposing and processing radiographs;
applying fluoride treatments and sealants; and making preliminary
impressions for study models. A dental hygienist should possess
fine-motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Dental
hygienists should be able to effectively communicate with
individuals, both one-on-one and during small group interactions.
Many states, including the State of Ohio, permit hygienists to
administer local anesthesia and monitor nitrous oxide sedation.
Accreditation
The
Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental
Association—Commission on Dental Accreditation.
For all
potential students of the Dental Hygiene Program and patients of
the Dental Hygiene Clinic interested in policies for
Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Disease, these policies are
available upon request in the dental hygiene clinic or can be
viewed at the following links.
Infection
Disease Guidelines (PDF)
SSU Bloodborne
Pathogen Policy 5.21 (PDF)
Job
Opportunities
Hygienists
are employed in the following areas:
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Private
Practice
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Public
Health Dental hygienists may be involved in school-based
oral screening of sealant programs, planning, implementing, and
evaluating oral health education programs for dental
professionals, medical professionals and the public.
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Dental
Marketing Employment opportunities may be available with
companies that marked dental-related materials and equipment.
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Hospitals
and Clinics Concerned primarily with the special oral health
problems of the bedridden and chronically ill.
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Teaching
and Research Hygienists with advanced degrees may be
employed in research or may teach in dental hygiene educational
programs that help students to prepare for the profession.
Competencies for entry into the
profession of dental hygiene (PDF)
Licensure
Application for licensure as a dental hygienist in the state of
Ohio requires a criminal background check which includes
fingerprinting. Any student who has been convicted of a felony
or misdemeanor related to substance abuse, or crime involving
moral turpitude, may be denied licensure by the Ohio State
Dental Board. For further clarification, please contact the Ohio
State Dental Board at (614) 466-2580.
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