Through quality, comprehensive, evidence-based education, patient-centered clinical care, and community outreach experiences, the mission of the South College Dental Hygiene program is to equip future dental hygienists with the skills necessary to reach their potential as a dental healthcare provider. The program faculty seek to instill in graduates the desire to continue education, become life-long learners, and contribute to the enhancement of the dental professional.

The goal of the Dental Hygiene program is to prepare competent dental hygiene graduates who utilize and integrate knowledge and apply critical thinking skills related to biomedical science, dental science, and dental hygiene science.

Upon completion of the Dental Hygiene program:

A Dental Hygienist is a licensed oral healthcare provider, educator, and clinician who provides educational, preventative, and therapeutic services promoting oral health and total health for the control of oral diseases.

While the scope of practice for Dental Hygienists varies from state to state, the routinely performed functions of a licensed Dental Hygienist include:

Licensure is granted by each individual state. Dental Hygienists practice in accordance with requirements of individual state dental practice acts.

In virtually every state, several steps are required before a license can be granted:

As licensing requirements vary from state to state, it is necessary to contact each licensing authority in a given state for its specific application requirements and procedures.

Typically, state boards have the authority to deny a license to an applicant who has committed an act for which the board could revoke a license. Persons convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor may be refused licensure, as well as those disciplined on the license application about prior convictions, discipline, etc. Most states conduct background checks on a case-by-case basis and may take into consideration the seriousness of the offense and other factors in making the decision to grant or withhold licensure.

The eleven-quarter Dental Hygiene program curriculum provides a strong foundation in the Biomedical Sciences, Dental Sciences, Dental Hygiene Science, and Basic Clinical Education providing the biological basis of the health of the teeth and oral cavity, decay prevention, and dental health maintenance. Upon the completion of the Dental Hygiene program, the graduate will be a member of the healthcare team who provides patient education, clinical and therapeutic services that support and facilitate the maintenance of oral health.

The course of study in the Dental Hygiene program provides a broad-based education in psychology, sociology, biomedical sciences, dental sciences, and dental hygiene sciences with a special emphasis on teaching, community/public health, and research.

The program in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” 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 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

Applicants interested in this program are required to visit the college and meet individually with an admissions representative and program faculty. Admission is dependent upon class size. Applicants will be reviewed based on minimum requirements for cumulative GPA of required pre-requisite general education courses, cumulative GPA of required pre-requisite science courses, and interview score. The Admissions, Progression and Retention (APR) Committee will make admission recommendations to the Chair of Dental Education for final approval. The Chair may accept or reject the recommendation of the Committee. 

Applicants seeking admissions must:

Students who have been unsuccessful in the South College Dental Hygiene program, or other Dental Hygiene programs, will be reviewed on an individual basis. Students who present transcripts indicating failure from two Dental Hygiene programs will not be considered for admission or readmission to the South College Dental Hygiene program.

In addition to course work, each student must provide proof of ability to perform the skills needed to practice dental hygiene effectively. Health care facilities must meet federal guidelines, and students must also meet these requirements in order to be allowed to gain clinical experience. All Dental Hygiene students must comply with communicable diseases/blood-borne pathogen requirements that the clinical agencies require. Therefore, proof of the following are requirements for the dental hygiene program applicant:

Students admitted to the Dental Hygiene program must demonstrate the functional capacities as communicated via the Department of Dental Education. Students who believe they will not be able to meet one or more of these requirements without accommodation or modification must notify the Program Director of Dental Education and the Student Affairs Coordinator, and a determination will be made on a case-by-case basis whether reasonable accommodation may be made. In no instance will an accommodation be made which will compromise dental hygiene care, or that will put patients or other students at risk. Accommodation granted when a student is generally admitted to South College does no guarantee that this modification will apply to admission to the dental hygiene program.

Acceptance into a South College program does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain licensure, certification, or employment. Several South College programs require field experiences during the curriculum (e.g., clinicals, internships, practicums, student teaching) and/or lead to a field that requires a license or certification. Background checks are required prior to matriculation into these programs and may further be required prior to the field experiences and/or licensure/certification. Students should be aware that a prior misdemeanor or felony arrest or conviction (or an event of this nature occurring during the program) may restrict the individual’s ability to gain admission into the program, progress into field experiential training, and/or obtain professional licensure or certification. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the program of any issues that may have occurred in the past or that arise during the program. The events may require voluntary withdrawal or administrative dismissal from the program. All students are responsible for learning the requirements for licensure within their home state or any state in which he/she wishes to practice ensuring ability to meet these requirements.

A candidate for the Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program must have abilities and skills in five categories: sensory, motor, cognitive, communication, and behavioral/social. Students must demonstrate the following functional capacities. Students who believe that they will not be able to meet one or more of these requirements without accommodation or modification must notify the Dental Hygiene Program Director and Director of Student Services, and a determination will be made on a case-by-case basis whether a reasonable accommodation may be made. In no instance will an accommodation be made which will put patients or other students at risk. An accommodation granted when a student is generally admitted to South College does not guarantee that this modification will apply to admission to the Dental Hygiene program.

Students admitted the Dental Hygiene program are required to earn a minimum grade of “C” in all major courses. Students earning less than a “C” in any major course will not be allowed to continue in the current rotation of courses, must reapply for admission to the program in a later rotation, and must repeat the course earning a grade of “C” or higher. No guarantee of readmission is made.

***If a student achieves a test average below 75%, other course grading categories will not be considered in the final grade.***

Mandatory Exam Remediation

Tutoring can be arranged for any student who demonstrates academic need or requests additional help. If an exam score is below 75%, mandatory remediation must be completed within the following week.

The student must demonstrate knowledge of the material and competence in its application through classroom, laboratory, clinic performance, tests, and competency examinations. The mandatory final examination is comprehensive. Grades are assigned using the South College published grade scale.

Grade Scale

Students accepted into the Dental Hygiene program in the Department of Dental Education are expected to demonstrate professional behavior and demeanor. Professional behavior encompasses a broad range of expectations, including the expectation of trustworthiness and at all times keeping the welfare of the individual receiving care a priority. To this end, any instance of student intent to misrepresent facts will be cause for immediate program dismissal.

Misrepresentation of facts, verbal or written, including but not limited to the following situations, is prohibited.

Grounds for immediate termination from the Dental Hygiene programs include:

Any student wishing to reapply to any program must contact the Chair of Dental Education and follow the Program Readmission policy outlined in the Dental Hygiene Department Policy and Program Manual.

Students withdrawing from a program due may reapply for program readmission as delineated by the policy in the Dental Hygiene Program and Policy Manual.

Students will be considered for readmission to the Dental Hygiene program only one time on a space available basis. Students who have voluntarily withdrawn from the Dental Hygiene program in good academic standing or who are unsuccessful in the South College Dental Hygiene program may apply for readmission based on the following criteria:

1.    Eligibility requirements that allow application for readmission are as follows:

a.    Students who have withdrawn from the Dental Hygiene program voluntarily by the drop/add date are eligible to apply for readmission.

b.    Students who are academically unsuccessful in one Dental Hygiene course are eligible to apply for readmission.

i.   Academically unsuccessful is defined as:

1.     Voluntary or involuntary withdrawal from the Dental Hygiene program, which results in a withdrawal grade (W) or a failing grade in the course.

2.    Earning a failing grade in a Dental Hygiene course.

2.    Ineligibility requirements that do not allow application for readmission are as follows:

a.    Students who are unsuccessful in two Dental Hygiene courses cumulatively are ineligible for readmission.

b.    Students who are academically unsuccessful in any repeated Dental Hygiene course are ineligible for readmission (students may only repeat a Dental Hygiene course one time).

c.    Students who have been unsuccessful due to clinical failure or cumulative occurrences because of behaving in a manner showing lack of professional or clinical judgment may not be eligible for readmission.

The Department of Dental Education reserves the right to consider mitigating circumstances affecting any of the above situations.

Students desiring readmission to the first quarter of the Dental Hygiene program must reapply and will be evaluated with new program applicants. Program readmission consideration to second or any subsequent quarters requires a formal Letter of Intent from the student submitted to the Department Chair one quarter prior to the desired readmission date. The letter should detail the reasons that are believed to have led to the lack of success, as well as changes that have been put in place to ensure success if readmission is granted.

Students who have been unsuccessful in the South College Dental Hygiene program, or other Dental Hygiene programs, will be reviewed on an individual basis. Students who present transcripts indicating failure from two Dental Hygiene programs will not be considered for admission or readmission to the South College Dental Hygiene program.

Factors such as grade point average, faculty evaluation, and space availability are considered in readmission decisions. Requests for readmission will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Students must apply for readmission at such time that granting of readmission will occur to allow for classes to be resumed within one calendar year. The faculty reserves the right to require any student offered readmission to repeat courses or portions of courses in cases where a significant time has elapsed, and skills/knowledge must be refreshed.

A denial of readmission may be appealed to the Dean of Academic and Student Services within three business days of the notification by following the Appeals Process listed in the South College Academic Catalog (https://catalog.south.edu).

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