Cathy Patterson
RDH, M.S.Ed. Program Director at Lakeland Community College

Phone .440.525.7190
FAX 440.525.7433
cpatterson@lakelandcc.edu

INFORMATION:

Dental Hygiene Degree (PDF)

Admission Requirements:
Option I - Option II - Option III

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Prospective Dental Hygiene Students (PDF)

Board Examinations

Curriculum

Dental Hygiene Clinic

Description of Profession

Essential Performance Standards

Faculty

Program Description

Program Mission

Recommended Courses

Lakeland Student American Dental Hygienists' Association

See a Dental Hygiene Movie!

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Admission Requirements

Applicants must have the following requirements completed before they can be considered for admission into the Dental Hygiene Program. Applicants are encouraged to meet with the Director of Admissions or a college counselor regarding admission criteria.

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Selection Process for Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program

Students who wish to enter the Dental Hygiene Program must meet the criteria of ONE of the following two options. Applicants who have completed all the requirements for admission will be accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program on a space-available basis. If completion of the criteria occurs after the incoming class is filled, students will be admitted into the next available class.

Once an admission option is met, applicants are required to submit a Health Technology Admissions Form to the Admissions Office. Failure to do so may delay acceptance into the program.

Option I - High School Option

This option is for current high school seniors or high school graduates who apply to the program within two years of high school graduation. Current high school students should submit a Health Technology Admissions Form during their senior year.

Upon successful completion of the above criteria, the applicant will be guaranteed admission to the program when a seat is available. Students must complete HLTH 1210 (Medical Terminology) with a "C" grade or better prior to enrolling in their first dental course.

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Option II - College Option

Students pursing this option should submit their application AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE HOBET/NET and COMPLETION OF MANDATORY PREREQUISITE COURSES. Incomplete applications will be returned. The following courses, or equivalent courses at other regionally accredited colleges, must be completed with specific GPA requirements.

Mandatory Pre-Reqs:
*BIOL 2210 Anatomy & Physiology I
HLTH 1210 Medical Terminology I
Math Requirement: Place into MATH 1550 or pass MATH 950
Pass HOBET/NET

*Note: Student must meet one of these requirements to take BIOL 2210:

Students are required to take the Math Placement Test and be placed into Math 1550 or complete Math 950 with a 'C' or higher grade. Once the above course work is successfully completed, the applicant will be guaranteed admission to the program when a seat is available. Since completion of the above courses determines when the applicant will be admitted, these courses should be completed as promptly as possible.

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Option III - Advanced Education Option

Students pursuing this option must have an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing or Allied Health, Bachelor of Science Degree in the natural sciences or an Associate of Science Degree.

Mandatory Pre-Reqs: Same course requirements as Option 2, College Option above
HOBET/NET: requirement waived

Once the above course work is successfully completed, the applicant will be guaranteed admission to the program when a seat is available. Since completion of the above courses determines when the applicant will be admitted, these courses should be completed as promptly as possible. All applicants are required to submit a Nursing and Allied Health Technologies Admissions Application to the Admissions Office upon completion of the pre-requisite requirements. Failure to do so may delay acceptance into the program.

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All applicants are required to submit an Allied Health Technologies Admissions Application to the Admission s Office. Failure to do so may delay acceptance into the program. The application can be submitted upon completion of Option 1, Option 2 or Options 3 admission requirements.

Please be aware that students interested in a Health Technology program must first register for a mandatory Health Technology Information Session (440) 525-7200, otherwise you will be blocked from making an appointment with a counselor. Once an information session and meeting with a counselor, arranged by calling (440) 525-7000, have been completed, it will then be necessary to meet with Cathy Patterson, Director of Dental Hygiene (440) 525-7190 for appropriate individual advisement with reference to program preparation and selection.

Board Examinations

Students completing the dental hygiene program in Ohio take a National Board Examination, and a Northeast Regional Board examination. Once these examinations have been successfully achieved, application can be made for licensure with the State Dental Board. Since the inception of the dental hygiene program, all students choosing to practice dental hygiene have passed these exams.

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Curriculum

Students must be admitted to the Dental Hygiene program to enroll in dental hygiene courses unless specific permission is granted by the program director.  

Dental Hygiene Degree Program [PDF]

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Recommended Courses

Description of Profession

With increased emphasis being placed on the preventive aspect of oral health care, the employment opportunities for dental hygienists is expected to remain very favorable through future years.

Factors such as an increase in the number of dental insurance plans, a greater awareness of the importance of oral hygiene, and an expansion of the role and function of the dental hygienist point to an increased employment growth rate.

Registered dental hygienists work in a variety of professional settings. The public is most familiar with dental hygienists in the private dental office where they perform numerous critical services designed to detect and prevent diseases of the mouth. These include cleaning teeth; examining the head, neck, and oral areas for signs of disease; educating patients regarding oral hygiene, taking or developing X-rays and applying fluoride or sealants. In this setting, registered dental hygienists play a vital role in protecting the oral health of the American public.

In the public health field, dental hygienists conduct research studies and epidemiological surveys to evaluate the oral health needs of people in various population groups, such as the elderly, the disabled, and children. The findings are used to develop oral healthcare programs aimed at solving problems specific to each group - ranging from recommending such public health measures as water fluoridation to producing specially tailored educational materials.

Beyond the private dental office, dental hygienists can be found in numerous other settings; nursing homes and long-term care facilities, hospitals, corporate health facilities, school systems, and public health clinics.

Dental hygienists also work as educators - teaching in dental hygiene and dental school programs, providing continuing education seminars, and research - conducting clinical research and/or collecting and analyzing scientific data.

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A Licensed Profession

Dental hygiene is a licensed profession. Following graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program, the applicant is required to demonstrate proficiency by successful completion of board examinations that may include both written and clinical sections. The license to practice dental hygiene is issued by the state board of dentistry in the state where employment is pursued.

For one to practice as a dental hygienist in Ohio, the board examinations that must be successfully completed in order to apply for licensure are as follows:

Dental Hygiene National Board Exam
- one full day written exam

Northeast Regional Board Dental Hygiene Exam
- half day clinical exam
- two hour Sylvan Learning Center computer exam

Ohio State Dental Board Ethics/Law Exam

Each indicated agency will mail the exam scores to each individual student.

A criminal background check which includes fingerprinting is a component of the application for licensure. Any student who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor related to substance abuse, or crime involving moral turpitude, may be denied licensure by the Ohio State Dental Board. Students requiring further clarification are encouraged to contact the Ohio State Dental Board at (614) 466-2580.

Once the specified exams are completed at competency level and upon filing the designated license application, a license for dental hygiene practice in the State of Ohio will be issued by the Ohio State Dental Board. Annually the dental hygiene program director will inform students of dates and fees for the stated exams.

The dental hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

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Essential Performance Standards

All students admitted to the Dental Hygiene program must be able to meet the following requirements:

1. Students must be able to reason, analyze, synthesize and use problem solving skills in planning dental hygiene care.

2. Students must be able to execute fine motor skills required in providing patient care.

3. Students must hear and communicate effectively, and be empathetic when delivering patient care.

4. Students must be able to write legibly with proper spelling of medical/dental terms.

5. Students must be able to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, and time constraints, adapt to changing environment, display flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical problems of many patients.

6. Students' eyesight must be 20/40, either naturally or through correction. Students must be able to read the printed words in dental hygiene textbooks, observe various dental instruments angulations and calibrations and apply concepts appropriately. The student must be able to operate x-ray apparatus and evaluate various radiographic images.

7. Students must be able to reach and adjust the x-ray tube which is at a height of 52-60 inches from the floor.

8. Students must assist or move patients from wheelchairs, when necessary, into the dental chair. This requires the use of strong backs and muscles to support and move patients.

9. Students must be physically free of use of non-prescription drugs, illegal drugs, and alcohol.

10. Students must show that their physician completed information and services required on a Health Form which is provided by Health Services before program entry. All stated immunizations must be completed prior to providing patient care, most notably the Hepatitis B series which takes a period of 6 months for completion.

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Faculty

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Goals of the Dental Hygiene Program

1. To prepare a qualified dental hygienist who will be successful with respect to 'Competencies for the Dental Hygienist.'

2. To provide competent dental hygiene faculty and staff with relevant work experience to ensure a quality and current educational program.

3. To maintain admissions policies to ensure qualified students.

4. To provide educational support services to enhance the student’s ability to successfully complete the program and pass board exams for licensure.

5. To provide a curriculum that is current and relevant.

6. To provide a curriculum that is compliant with safety and quality assurance for the student.

7. To satisfy patients with the quality of student dental hygiene care.

8. To maintain an active committee of dental hygienists /dentists from the community to act in an advisory board capacity lending support for the program.

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