Dental Hygiene (A.S.)

Dental Hygiene is placed significantly among the health professions. As a member of the dental health team, the dental hygienist is concerned primarily with the prevention of oral diseases.

The dental hygienist serves as a preventive oral health professional who provides patient care and is required by law to obtain a license to practice. To obtain this license the dental hygienist must graduate from an accredited school of dental hygiene and pass board examinations. The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, which is recognized by all U.S. licensing jurisdictions, is taken by qualifying second-year students. A clinical examination is also required prior to licensure by the various states. WLU is a testing site for the CDCA exams annually during the spring semester.

Career opportunities for dental hygienists have increased in response to society’s demands for comprehensive dental healthcare. Increasing numbers of dental hygienists are working in expanded career alternative settings including dental hygiene education, school systems, public health, hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities, clinical research, military services, sales in private industry, research organizations, health promotion specialties, federal, state, and local health departments, and foreign employment.

The selection of a career is one of the most important decisions a person makes; therefore, it is important that potential students be fully informed about the profession and educational requirements. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association website (www.adha.org) publishes important facts about dental hygiene education, professional roles, employment, licensure, national and international careers.

West Liberty University’s Associate Degree Dental Hygiene Program is committed to creating an educational environment that fosters competence in oral health professionals who are capable of thinking critically and solving problems while being responsible decision-makers when delivering dental hygiene care. The West Liberty University Dental Hygiene Program is a comprehensive and rigorous training program that prepares students to enter the workforce as dental hygienists in the clinical setting. Our associate degree dental hygiene program guidelines will allow graduates of this associate degree level institution to be competent entry-level practitioners with solid skill sets necessary for providing quality care. The AS Degree in Dental Hygiene requires eighty-three credit hours. Twenty-nine credits are prerequisite courses. The remaining fifty-four hours are clinical dental hygiene courses.

Retention, Suspension, and Reinstatement

Minimum Academic Standards

Dental Hygiene courses are sequenced and are taught only one semester per year, therefore, successful completion of all dental hygiene professional courses is a prerequisite to entering the following semester.

A student must maintain a “C” or higher in all dental hygiene and prerequisite courses included in the Dental Hygiene Program curriculum.

Failure to meet Academic Standards

Failure in a Dental Hygiene Professional Course: A grade of D, F, WF, FI in any of the Dental Hygiene courses will result in immediate suspension from the program. In order for a student to be considered for reinstatement, the course must be repeated with a grade of “C” or higher during the next regular semester the course is offered. If a course grade of “D” or lower is subsequently repeated, the original grade will remain and be counted as an unsatisfactory grade. Upon earning a second unsatisfactory grade (D, F, WF, FI) in any Dental Hygiene course, the student is immediately and permanently dismissed from the Dental Hygiene Program. A student has the right to formally appeal decisions involving such matters to the Dental Hygiene Appeals Committee.

Readmission Policy Following Suspension

Following suspension, a student must repeat the course deficiency that resulted in the suspension during the next semester in which the course is offered. The student will also be required to complete the respective Review of Clinical Dental Hygiene Skills course below. Students who are unsuccessful in any first-semester first-year course will also be required to complete DH 239 in addition to DH 187.

 

DH 187 Review of Clinical Dental Hygiene I Skills

Two three-hour laboratory sessions weekly. Laboratory exercises designed to review and enhance the continued development of clinical skills required for advancement to Clinical Dental Hygiene II. Cr. Hr. 2

 

DH 287 Review of Clinical Dental Hygiene II Skills 

Two four-hour clinic sessions weekly. Laboratory and clinical exercises designed to review and enhance the continued development of student competencies in the delivery of dental hygiene treatment procedures required for the advancement to Clinic Dental Hygiene III. Cr. Hr. 2

 

DH 382 Review Clinical III Dental Hygiene Skills

Two four-hour clinical sessions weekly. Clinical exercises designed to review and

enhance the continued development of student competencies in the delivery of

dental hygiene treatment procedures required for the advancement to Clinical

Dental Hygiene IV. Cr. Hr. 2

 

DH 387 Review of Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Skills

Two four-hour clinic sessions weekly. Clinical exercises designed to review and

enhance the continued development of student competencies in the delivery of

advanced dental hygiene treatment required to meet the examination standards for licensure. Cr. Hr. 2

 

DH 239 – Review of Radiography

One three-hour laboratory session weekly. Radiography exercises are designed to

review and enhance the continued development of student competency in the placement, techniques, guidelines and exposure of dental radiographs.

Co-requisite DH 187.

 

When the deficiency is corrected, the student must submit an application for re-admission to the Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee before the start of the next semester in which the student desires admission. The Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee will inform the student of their decision before the start of the next semester. Readmission to the program is on a space available basis through the Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee. 

Professional Ethics Policy

If a student is found in violation of the university policy on academic dishonesty and receives an “F” for any such course, the student will be dismissed for violation of professional ethics and will not be reinstated into the program. The policies, rules, and regulations regarding academic student rights are contained in the Student Information and Policies Handbook. If a student wishes to appeal any faculty committee decision about dismissal, the appeal must be submitted in accordance with the student appeals procedure.

Admission Process

Application for admission to the A.S. and B.S. Degree programs in Dental Hygiene must be submitted on or before January 15 of each year. Completed applications are reviewed and evaluated by the Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee beginning in February. All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision regarding their application.

A.S. Degree Application Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Meet the admission requirements for the University. Applicants who meet these requirements will be formally notified by the Admissions Office.
  • Complete the Dental Hygiene Application by January 15.
  • Have completed or be currently enrolled in the following prerequisites:
    • English 101 and 102
    • Psychology 101
    • Sociology 150
    • Oral Communication 101
    • Biology 204 and 205 - Anatomy & Physiology and Lab
    • Chemistry 100 and 101- Foundations of Chemistry and Lab
    • Biology 216 - Microbiology and Lab
    • Biology 330 - Nutrition
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. average of 3.0.
  • Earn a minimum grade of “C” in all prerequisite courses

* If a grade of D or F is earned in any of the prerequisite courses, the student is given the opportunity to repeat that class to replace the unsatisfactory grade.

Requirements

Required Courses

DH 155Head & Neck Anatomy

2

DH 156Tooth Morphology

2

DH 185Clinical Dental Hygiene I

3

DH 186Clinical Dental Hygiene I Lab

2

DH 225Periodontology I

1

DH 237Radiography

2

DH 238Radiography Lab

2

DH 267Dental Materials

1

DH 268Dental Materials Lab

2

DH 285Clinical Dental Hygiene II

3

DH 286Clinical Dental Hygiene II Lab

2

DH 325Periodontology II

2

DH 331General & Oral Pathology

3

DH 350Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist

2

DH 360Community Dental Health

3

DH 365Ethics, Jurisprudence & Dentistry

1

DH 380Clinical Dental Hygiene III

2

DH 381Clinical Dental Hygiene III Lab

3

DH 385Clinical Dental Hygiene IV

3

DH 386Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Lab

3

DH 440Evidence-Based Dentistry

2

DH 460Pain Management

3

DH 462Patients with Special Needs

2

DH 390Applied Concepts in Clinical Dental Hygiene

1