collageStudents interested in working as a dental hygienist should enroll in a dental hygiene program. They can start by volunteering or working as an assistant, then continue their education to become a licensed dental hygienist. Although it might be difficult to get credible information on medical lab science on websites that aren’t always trustworthy, this article contains all of the information you need to know about OCC’s dental hygienist program.
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The Dental Hygiene Program provides you the academic and clinical instruction to achieve eligibility for the National Board of Dental Hygiene Examiners written examination, the California State Board, Western Regional Examining Board, and Central Regional Dental Testing Service clinical examinations for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist.
Oakland Community College
Oakland Community College (Oakland College) is a community college located in Oakland County, Michigan, accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges. It serves Oakland County and five other counties in the Downriver region of southwest Wayne County: Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingston, Genesee and Monroe.
The Oakland Community College is leading institution for higher education. OCC was founded in 1966 with the mission to be the college of choice for Oakland County’s diverse population. Today, OCC is one of the largest community colleges in Michigan, serving over 36,000 credit students annually and offering more than 200 degree and certificate programs through eight colleges. Each year, almost 1,500 full-time employees work to provide access to quality, affordable education within a supportive environment that promotes student success.
Oakland Community College is a public, comprehensive college of choice committed to student success and economic development. Located in Oakland County, Michigan (just north of Detroit), OCC serves over 39,000 students and employs more than 2,200 individuals through its five campuses and online programs. OCC provides high-quality educational opportunities and services to meet the diverse needs of a rapidly changing student population. Its faculty and staff’s ongoing commitment to OCC’s primary mission allows the College to fulfill its purpose to educate and change lives.
Dental Hygiene courses involving the clinical and classroom experiences are offered only at the Highland Lakes Campus. Students must first be admitted to the college and designate dental hygiene (DHY) as their curriculum and Highland Lakes (HL) as their home campus.
Associate’s degrees provide you with the necessary level of education that’s required for licensing. These degrees are typically earned at community colleges or technical schools and take about two years to complete.
Upon completion of the Dental Hygiene program and the general education requirements, the graduate will be eligible for an associate of science degree from Cypress College. Our Dental Hygiene program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment as dental hygienists.
OCCC Dental Hygienist Program
Oakland Community College is known for its award-winning CTE programs, but it has many other educational options to explore. It’s with that idea in mind that the program directors decided to come together and create a PR with three goals: Boost enrollment, educate prospective students on the various programs offered at the colleges, and attract students who are already interested in entering one of these programs.
What You’ll Study
- Dental Hygiene
- Dental Anatomy and Morphology
- Oral Health Assessment
- Radiology Technician – Hygienists
- Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene
- Clinical Dental Hygiene
- General and Oral Pathology
- Dental Materials – Hygienists
- Perio Pathology and Therapy
- Oral Embryology and Histology
- Head and Neck Anatomy
- Dental Specialties
- Community Oral Health
- Dental Jurisprudence
- Medical/Dental Emergencies
- Pharmacology
- Dental Anesthesiology
- Dental Care for Special Needs
- Independent Study
occ dental hygiene prerequisites
Dental Hygiene (DHY.APP)
Extended Degree – Associate in Applied Science
Health Sciences
Highland Lakes Campus
Successful completion of this accredited program leads to an associate in applied science degree and is designated as an extended degree program in which the student must complete a minimum of 73 credit hours. The program prepares selected individuals through theory, clinical and community experiences to assume the responsibility of providing safe, competent care for the dental patient in the prevention of oral disease. In order to complete the program, a “C” or better is required for all program courses. Through program completion, students are eligible for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), American Board of Dental Examiners – The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (ADEX-CDCA), CDCA Local Anesthesia Examination, and CDCA Nitrous Oxide Examination.
Dental Hygiene courses involving the clinical and classroom experiences are offered only at the Highland Lakes Campus. An external rotation is required at an external site during the second year of the program. Registration for the dental hygiene courses is possible only after the student is admitted to the dental hygiene program through a selection process. All requirements must be completed by December 15th of the year preceding intended enrollment into the dental hygiene program.
Students must first be admitted to the college and designate dental hygiene (DHY) as their curriculum and Highland Lakes (HL) as their home campus. Admission into the program follows a selection process that is based on the student’s grade point average (GPA) in the eight Required Supportive Courses listed under the Basic Admission Requirements below in conjunction with the respective completion date. The prospective student applying to the dental hygiene program must pass a criminal background check.
Basic Admission requirements include:
- High school graduation or GED
- Attendance at a Dental Hygiene Information Session
- 10 hours of job shadowing with a Registered Dental Hygienist and 5 hours of observation in the OCC Dental Hygiene Clinic.
- Records review with the Program Co-Coordinator
- Completion of each Required Supportive Course with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better: BIO 1570 or BIO 2710, BIO 2630, BIO 2640, CHE 1320, COM 1600, ENG 1510, PSY 2510, SOC 2510
- Successful completion of HESI-A2 admission testing with a minimum score of 75th percentile for each section, Reading Comprehension, Math, Anatomy and Physiology, and Learning Styles. One retake is permitted.
- Completion of a dental hygiene final checklist with a counselor at Highland Lakes
- Refer to the Student Brochure for additional admission requirements
For a complete listing of the admission requirements (including HESI-A2 admission testing) and selection procedures, refer to the “Student Brochure: Prospective Dental Hygiene Candidates,” available during the dental hygiene information sessions, and at the dental hygiene website at www.oaklandcc.edu/health/dental-hygiene. The policies regarding admission, progression and retention in the dental hygiene program as well as certification, licensure qualifications are outlined in the Student Brochure which is provided to each student enrolled in the dental hygiene program. All of these provisions are also explained in the information sessions prior to admission to the program. In addition to the tuition, dental hygiene students incur extra costs such as pre-admission health examinations, uniforms, supplies, pinning ceremony/graduation costs, membership into the student organization of the American Dental Hygienist Association, and licensure application fees.
A licensed dental hygienist, who works under the supervision of a dentist, may find employment in private or specialty offices, in schools, hospitals, clinics, or in the public health arena.
The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA). Issues pertaining to compliance with the standards of the Commission of the ADA can be addressed to the Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, phone: 800.621.8099. A copy of the standards may be downloaded at www.ada.org.
The Michigan Board of Dentistry may deny dental hygiene licensure to an applicant who has been convicted of a crime or is addicted to drugs or alcohol. A mandatory criminal history check including fingerprints will be conducted on all students selected to the Dental Hygiene program prior to the start of the program, at the student’s cost. 1) Conviction of a felony or any attempt to commit a felony within the 15 years immediately preceding the date of the criminal history check; or 2) conviction of a misdemeanor within the 10 years immediately preceding the criminal history check, will preclude eligibility for admission. In addition, all selected students must have a drug screening test prior to the start of the program. A student’s full record will be reviewed. For details, contact the Dental Hygiene Department at 248.942.3147.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| DHY 1140 | Dental Office Procedures | 3 |
| DHY 1230 | Oral, Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| DHY 1240 | Dental Embryology and Histology | 3 |
| DHY 1250 | Clinical Techniques | 5 |
| DHY 1260 | Dental Radiography | 3.5 |
| DHY 1281 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DHY 1282 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 2.5 |
| DHY 1283 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| DHY 1284 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 5 |
| DHY 1310 | Periodontics | 2 |
| DHY 1330 | Therapeutics | 2 |
| DHY 1350 | Local Anesthesia | 1.5 |
| DHY 2210 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DHY 2220 | Dental Public Health | 1 |
| DHY 2240 | Dental Specialties | 2 |
| DHY 2250 | Dental Materials | 3 |
| DHY 2280 | Dental Health Education | 2 |
| DHY 2320 | Dental Law | 1 |
| Required Supportive Courses | ||
| BIO 15701 | Microbiology of Health and Disease | 3 |
| or BIO 2710 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 2630 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 2640 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| CHE 13201 | Survey of Organic and Biochemistry | 4 |
| COM 16001 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3 |
| ENG 15101 | Composition I | 3-4 |
| or ENG 1510E | Composition I Enhanced | 4 |
| HEA 15102 | Nutrition | 3 |
| PSY 25101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 25101 | Sociology | 3 |
| Recommended Elective | ||
| POL 15101 | American Government | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours for Program-Related Courses | 81.5-82.5 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Communication / English (3-credits) | ||
| Satisfied | ||
| Fine Arts / Humanities (3-credits) | 3 | |
| Complete 3 credits from Fine Arts/Humanities courses listed in the General Education Distribution List | ||
| Mathematics / Science (3-credits) | ||
| Satisfied | ||
| Social Science (3-credits) | ||
| Satisfied | ||
| Written Communication (3-credits) | ||
| Satisfied | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 84.5-86.5 |
| 1 | Course may be used to meet General Education requirements. |
| 2 | HEA 1510 can be taken within the program before the third semester of the program but is not used for selection purposes. |
A minimum cumulative 2.00 grade point average (GPA) overall is required for graduation.
macomb community college dental hygiene program
Macomb Community College’s new Dental Science program will prepare residents for great careers with great futures and provide low-cost oral health care services
Macomb Community College offered a first look at its new Dental Science program and state-of-the-art dental clinic to a small group of community leaders on Sept. 17. Macomb President James O. Sawyer IV, Ed.D., was joined by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Warren Mayor James Fouts and Dr. Christopher Gorecki, executive director, Macomb Dental Society, to talk about the opportunity the new programs and facility offer to community residents, including education and training for high-demand careers and low-cost preventative dental services.
“Macomb Community College is about creating transformative opportunity for our residents and community” said Sawyer. “Macomb’s new Dental Science program will equip residents with the education and training for a rewarding high-demand, high-growth field, while supporting our community with quality, low-cost dental health services.”
Locally, there is current significant demand for both dental assistants and dental hygienists. An October 2019 search of Detroit-area job openings covering the previous 12 months resulted in 550 job postings for dental assistants and 250 for dental hygienists. A 10-year growth rate of 7% is being projected for both types of positions.*
The first cohort of Macomb’s Dental Assisting program started classes on Aug. 23. The noncredit program prepares individuals over the course of 16 weeks for an entry-level position as a chairside assistant in a dental office. On-the-job responsibilities include preparing patients for dental work; sterilizing equipment; preparing instrument trays; collecting and recording patient medical and dental histories, and patient vital signs; developing dental X-rays for dental diagnosis; providing patients with information on dental hygiene, oral health care and plaque control; and assisting dental hygienists. Median salary for a dental assistant is $35,360*.
Through the two-year Dental Hygienist program, graduates earn an associate of science degree and prepare for the exams for licensure. Beyond the duties that can be conducted by a dental assistant, a dental hygienist also can perform procedures such as scaling and root debridement, delivery of local anesthesia, nitrous oxide sedation, topical fluoride, applying antibiotic and antimicrobial medications, taking impressions, developing diagnostic models, taking dental X-rays, providing dental education and nutritional counseling, and various laboratory procedures. Median salary for a licensed dental hygienist is $65,060*.
Macomb’s dental hygienist program has entered the Commission of Dental Accreditation’s process. The college’s application is under review. The program’s first cohort is expected to begin Fall 2022, pending accreditation approval.
“A lack of appropriate staffing in dental offices has been a serious issue even prior to the COVID pandemic,” said Christopher Gorecki DDS, executive director, Macomb District Dental Society. “With this new program for assistants and dental hygienists, dentists throughout southeast Michigan will be better staffed and able to better serve our communities.”
Macomb renovated a college facility, adjacent to Macomb Community College’s South Campus in Warren, to support the unique educational, training and community service needs of its new Dental Science program. The college invested $5.6 million in creating the 12,000-square-foot educational and community clinic facility, which is designed to optimize the latest in technology and real-world experience so that graduates are fully prepared for their roles in dental offices. The facility will also function as a community dental clinic, providing quality, low-cost preventative care services to residents, helping address the displacement of more than 3,000 patients of a Macomb County preventative care clinic that is closing.
The facility features a student education center, including a student laboratory with 13 dental simulators, classrooms that can project 360-degree images from the lab and a teaching patient station in the clinic, and a computer lab with 36 stations. There are 20 patient stations (operatories) and multiple X-ray rooms, including a panoramic machine that captures the entire mouth in a single two-dimensional image of the teeth, upper and lower jaws, surrounding structures and tissues.
“Supporting Macomb’s new Dental Science program is not only about expanding educational and career opportunities for our students, but is also a tangible step forward in supporting the health and well-being of Macomb County residents,” said Katherine Lorenzo, chair, Macomb Community College Board of Trustees.
Macomb plans to provide a wide range of low-cost preventative services for residents, including cleanings and X-rays, sealants for young patients, fluoride treatments, sports and night guards, bleaching and bleaching trays, and impressions for study models. The costs for services have not yet been determined. It is expected that the clinic will open to patients January 2023, pending accreditation approval. A supervising dentist will oversee students working with patients in the dental hygienist program and will be available to consult with patients, referring them for further services if their needs exceed the services available at the clinic.
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