TRUCKEE MEADOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM

What is a Dental Hygienist?

 A professional, licensed dental health care provider specializing in periodontal therapy and oral health education.

Career Options

       Clinical (private or public health) Administrative Education Consumer Advocate Research Legislative Advocate Corporate Sales

Clinical Services

 Evaluation of medical and dental health history  Identify oral or systemic health problems  Remove calculus, stain and plaque above and below the gum-line  Apply caries-preventive agents such as fluorides or pit & fissure sealants

Clinical Services

   Educate individuals or groups on oral health and health promotion  Expose, develop and interpret oral radiographs Polish and contour amalgam restorations  Provide nutritional counseling Design and implement community or school oral health programs  Administer local anesthesia or nitrous oxide sedation

What skills are necessary to be a dental hygienist?

 Manual dexterity and coordination  Communication Skills  Team Oriented  Sensitive to diverse cultural backgrounds

How is the job market?

   High demand for RDHs Excellent Compensation Work settings:  private offices    clinics public health settings hospitals and nursing homes

Why TMCC Dental Hygiene?

 Cost    Community College Two-year program Decreased student cost  Reputation    Program with high standards for admission and graduation State-of-the-art dental hygiene clinic Program

ranks in top 3

Examination Scoring in US on National Dental Hygiene Board   100% pass rate (first attempt) on Nevada State Boards & Western Regional Board 100% pass rate on California State Board

Why TMCC Dental Hygiene?

 University Transfer  General education courses required help facilitate baccalaureate completion  Dental Hygiene curriculum transferable to DH BS completion programs  Smaller Classes   12-14 students admitted each Fall Excellent student-faculty ratios

Why TMCC Dental Hygiene?

 Diverse patient population  Financial Aid  Scholarships from community and Nevada/Northern Nevada and National Dental Hygiene Associations  Professional Socialization Students are strongly supported and mentored association members and faculty

Preparation for Dental Hygiene School

 Contact several DH programs for admissions criteria (recommended)  High school: strong in chemistry, biology, algebra  College: strong in biological science, & humanities foundation  Visit college academic advisors  Talk to your dental hygienist

General Education Requirements AS Degree

 Diversity 3 credits  Refer to the ‘Diversity’ section of the general education description of this course catalog for a list of approved courses. (See page B-6) Designated diversity courses can be used to fulfill other general education or major requirements.

FINE ARTS: Recommended – ART 270 (also meets diversity category)   English/Communications 6 credits Required: ENG 101 and 102 or SPCM 113   Quantitative Reasoning 6 credits Required: MATH 126 and 127 or MATH 152 in place of 127  Science (included in prerequisites) (12 credits)   Humanities Required Phil 135 3 credits   Social Sciences Required PSY 101 & SOC 101 6 credits  U.S. and Nevada Constitutions 3 credits

Dental Hygiene Program Prerequisites

SCIENCES ( 12 credits):

 w/in last 5 years currency required  (2.75 min science GPA) Biology 223 (A&P I) Biology 224 (A&P II) Chemistry 220 Biology 251 ( General Microbiology) The sciences are

part

of the GE courses versus in “addition to”

NOTE:

Add COM 113 Fundamentals of Speech I required in the general ed coursework BIOL 190 is a prerequisite for BIOL 223 CHEM 121 is a prerequisite for CHEM 220

DH Curriculum Sequence

First Semester DH 102 Dental Anatomy DH 103 Oral Biology DH 104 Dental Hygiene I DH 105 Introduction to Clinical Practice DH 110 Concepts of Oral Health DH 112 Oral Radiology Credits per Semester Second Semester DH 113 General and Oral Pathology DH 115 Clinical Practice I DH 118 Adv Clinical Topics in DH DH 120 Fund of Nutrition in Dentistry DH 202 Pharmacology DH 209 Pain and Anxiety Control Credits Per Semester DH 299B (1 Credit) is additional to each semester NOTE: DH 110 and 118 are given as EARLY FALL courses (Jul-Aug) 2 4 3 2 2 3 16 3 3 2 3 2 3 16

Curriculum Sequence

Third Semester Fourth Semester DH 203 Special Patients DH 205 Clinical Practice II DH 211 DH 207 DH 208 2 5 Dental Materials for DH Periodontics I 2 2 Community Dental Health I 2 Credits Per Semester 13 DH 215 DH 216 DH 214 DH 218 DH 107 Clinical Practice III Principles of Dental Practice Periodontics II Community Dental Health II 5 1 1 2 Legal and Ethical Implications 1 Credits Per Semester 10 Total Credits in DH Emphasis (55) DH 299B (1 Credit) is additional to each semester

Minimum Admission Requirements



Meet TMCC general college entrance requirements. Apply to College



Submit a completed TMCC Dental Hygiene Program Application

 

Complete Dental Hygiene Program Prerequisite College Work (See list) Must have taken the DH Accuplacer test within the last 2 years



Minimum GPA of 2.75 in courses for DH AS degree



Minimum GPA of 2.75 in Prerequisite Science Courses

 Minimum of 8 hours of dental office observation, which must include observing roles of dentist, hygienist, assistant, and receptionist within the last year (beginning in Fall 2009).

(Subject to annual review and changes)

Criteria for Selection

 Overall GPA in general ed courses for AS degree and prerequisite sciences    English Accuplacer Scores Related licenses, previous college degrees Experience in dental field   Number of general education courses completed toward AS DH degree Nevada Residency  Subject to review and changes, annually

Need More Information?

Contact: TMCC Dental Hygiene Program 7000 Dandini Blvd RDMT 415-A Reno NV, 89512 775-673-8247 www.tmcc.edu/dental/hygiene **Attend an Information Session**