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 promotionExpose, develop and

interpret oral radiographs

Polish and contour amalgam restorationsProvide nutritional

counseling Design and

implement community or school oral health programsAdminister 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 officesclinicspublic health settingshospitals 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 in US on National Dental

Hygiene Board Examination Scoring

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 Classes12-14 students admitted each

FallExcellent 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 HygieneSchool

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 3 credits Required Phil 135

Social Sciences 6 credits Required PSY 101 & SOC 101

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 223CHEM 121 is a prerequisite for CHEM 220

DH Curriculum Sequence

DH 102 Dental Anatomy 2DH 103 Oral Biology 4DH 104 Dental Hygiene I 3DH 105 Introduction to Clinical Practice 2

First DH 110 Concepts of Oral Health 2Semester DH 112 Oral Radiology 3

Credits per Semester 16

DH 113 General and Oral Pathology 3DH 115 Clinical Practice I 3

Second DH 118 Adv Clinical Topics in DH 2Semester DH 120 Fund of Nutrition in Dentistry 3

DH 202 Pharmacology 2 DH 209 Pain and Anxiety Control 3

Credits Per Semester 16

DH 299B (1 Credit) is additional to each semesterNOTE: DH 110 and 118 are given as EARLY FALL courses (Jul-Aug)

Curriculum Sequence

DH 203 Special Patients 2DH 205 Clinical Practice II 5

Third DH 211 Dental Materials for DH 2Semester DH 207 Periodontics I 2

DH 208 Community Dental Health I 2 Credits Per Semester 13

DH 215 Clinical Practice III 5DH 216 Principles of Dental Practice 1

Fourth DH 214 Periodontics II 1 Semester DH 218 Community Dental Health II 2

DH 107 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 Program7000 Dandini Blvd RDMT 415-AReno NV, 89512775-673-8247 www.tmcc.edu/dental/hygiene

**Attend an Information Session**