Dental Hygiene - Northampton County Area Community College

Dental Hygiene from Northampton County Area Community College is a Campus Associate Dentistry degree that prepares you for a Healthcare career. Program Narrative Dental Hygiene is a rewarding field that offers flexible work schedules and attractive salaries. If you are interested in working directly with clients to help them achieve and maintain optimal oral health, a career in Dental Hygiene could be a great option. Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who play an essential role in the field of dentistry. Dental hygienists provide a variety of services that prevent, or limit the extent of, cavities and/or gum disease. They also provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services for people of all ages and in every situation. As a licensed hygienist you could have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of a range of populations, including the medically compromised, mentally or physically challenged, and socially or culturally disadvantaged. While most dental hygienists practice in private dental offices, others provide services in hospitals, private businesses, correctional institutions and a variety of private and public centers. Northampton\\\'s Dental Hygiene program is among the most respected in Pennsylvania. During the two-year program, all pre-clinical and clinical practice occurs in the dental clinic located at the Main campus. Professional hygienists working in the field enhance the hands-on aspects of the clinical portion of the program. The dental hygiene program is competency-based and assesses all clinical and laboratory courses using pass/fail criteria. Students must earn grades of C (75%) or better in all DENH courses to qualify for semester promotion. If you\\\'re interested in a higher level of education, Northampton has developed articulation agreements with dental hygiene baccalaureate degree programs to facilitate admissions and the transfer of credits. Program Mission While upholding the mission and vision of Northampton Community College, the Dental Hygiene Program provides excellent, comprehensive learning experiences to prepare students with the knowledge and clinical skills to competently practice as dental hygienists. Statement of Values The Dental Hygiene Program values: Excellence - Quality in the educational experiences that we provide Innovation - Curricular responsiveness to adapt quickly to changes in the profession Accountability - Individual responsibility for his/her actions, growth and development Integrity - Academic, personal and professional honesty, fairness, ethical conduct and respect for others Engagement - Involvement in and collaboration with the communities we serve Program Outcomes 1. Students will be competent as defined by the department document, \\\"Competencies for Entry into the Profession of Dental Hygiene.\\\" Students must demonstrate competency in the following: Core Competencies Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations and regulations in the provision of dental hygiene care. Model professional behavior. Gather, evaluate and use information effectively. Reflect on personal performance through self-assessment. Communicate effectively with individuals and groups from diverse populations both verbally and in writing. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Identify risk factors, and develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to promote health and prevent disease. Utilize methods to ensure the health and safety of the client and the dental hygienist in the delivery of dental hygiene services. Community Involvement Assess the oral health needs of the community, and plan, implement, and evaluate programs to address those needs. Provide community oral health promotion and disease prevention activities in a variety of settings. Client Care Systematically collect, analyze and record data on the general, oral and social health status of a variety of clients to identify client needs and oral health problems. (Assess) Use critical decision making skills to reach conclusions about the client\\\'s dental hygiene needs based on all available assessment data. (Diagnose) Collaborate with the client, and/or other health professionals, to formulate a comprehensive dental hygiene care plan that is client-centered and based on current evidence-based practices. (Plan) Provide specialized treatment as identified in the assessment, diagnosis, and planning phases that includes preventive and therapeutic services designed to achieve and maintain oral health. (Implement) Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented clinical, preventive, and educational services and modify them as needed. (Evaluate) 2. Students will be prepared to successfully complete the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and the Northeast Regional Board Examination. 3. Students will be satisfied with their dental hygiene education. 4. Clients will be satisfied with dental hygiene services. View more details on Northampton County Area Community College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Dentistry courses.