Dental Hygiene

Program Goals:

The QCC Dental Hygiene associate degree program includes the following program goals:

• To graduate students who have the potential for achieving the stated program competencies.
• To provide a curriculum that will prepare students to meet the stated program competencies with the knowledge and skills required to provide comprehensive dental hygiene services based on current standards of care.
• To prepare each graduate to assume responsibility for ethical dental hygiene care in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• To graduate students who value the importance of being affiliated with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.
• To develop and provide ongoing continuing education programs for dental professionals.
• To provide quality comprehensive dental hygiene care within the parameters of the educational requirements of the program.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Be competent in providing the Dental Hygiene Process of Care to a diverse population, including the child, adolescent, adult, geriatric, medically compromised and special needs patients with all classifications of periodontal disease.
• Be competent in interprofessional and interpersonal communication skills to effectively interact with diverse population groups and other members of the healthcare team.
• Be competent in assessing, analyzing data, planning, implementing, and evaluating community-based oral health programs, including health promotion and disease prevention activities.
• Be competent in applying legal and regulatory concepts to the provision and/or support of oral healthcare services.
• Be competent in the application of the principles of ethical reasoning, ethical decision-making, and professional responsibility as they pertain to academic environment, research, patient care, and patient management.
• Be competent in the use of technology as a learning resource and for information management.
• Be competent in the utilization of current scientific literature and research by evaluating the research as a basis for life-long learning, evidence-based practice, and as a foundation for adapting to changes in healthcare.
• Be competent in the management of comprehensive patient care utilizing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and in applying self-assessment skills in preparation for life-long learning.
• Be competent in representing and supporting the profession through community service and affiliations with professional organizations.
• Be competent in providing appropriate support measures for medical emergencies that may be encountered in dental hygiene practice.

Admissions Process:

Admissions inquiries should be directed to admissions@qcc.mass.edu. Prospective students may apply to the program of their choice by following the enrollment steps at www.QCC.edu/enrollment-steps.

Program Admissions Requirements:

Students should note that some first semester courses carry minimum prerequisites. Refer to the program grid.

• High School Diploma or GED/HiSET.
• Attendance at a Health Information Session or complete FYE 102 with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Must show evidence of being compliant with the immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Additional immunization requirements will be required for clinical experiences.
• Four-hour dental office observation:
  • Observe/shadow in a dental office: Two hours must be spent observing dental hygiene procedures and two hours spent between observing the dental assistant/dental procedures and front desk operations in a dental office. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with a dental office to complete this portion of the application process.
  • Observe a QCC Dental Hygiene Simulation Lab: The student must attend a clinical simulation laboratory class for three hours.
  • Work experience in a dental office: The employer can sign, validating work experience in a dental office.
  • Graduate from the QCC Dental Assisting Program within the last two years.
• English: Placement into college level English.
• Mathematics: College level mathematics course or QMAT placement score > 21 or appropriate multiple measures placement.
• Biology: Minimum grade of “B” in high school biology or “B” or higher in college level biology course (BIO 101 recommended).
• Required TEAS V or TEAS composite score of 65% or higher (cannot be a combination of multiple tests) must be achieved within five years of applying to the program.
  • Applicant must obtain a composite score of 65% or higher in no more than three attempts within a three-year period.
  • A TEAS composite score between 61% and 64% meets the admission criteria with appropriate biology and college GPA (see table below).

Program Retention / Progression Requirements:
To be eligible to continue in the program, students must:

• Achieve a grade of “C” or higher in all program courses designated by DHY; students who have received a grade below a “C” in any DHY course are required to repeat the course and obtain a grade of “C” or higher by the end of the semester in which they are required or required as a prerequisite.
• Achieve a grade of “C” or higher in BIO 111, BIO 112, BIO 232, and CHM 101; students who have received a grade below a “C” in BIO 111, BIO 112, BIO 232, and CHM 101 are required to repeat the course and obtain a grade of “C” or higher by the end of the semester in which they are required or required as a prerequisite.
• Maintain documentation of current Healthcare Provider Level BLS/CPR Certification.
• Maintain documentation of immunization currency and satisfactory health status.
• Maintain documentation of annual TB testing.
• Maintain documentation of health insurance.
• Maintain an active membership in the professional organization (ADHA) throughout the duration of their program enrollment.
• Be aware that they may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne Pathogens means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). United States Department of Labor, OSHA, September 5, 2019 (www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1030).

Program Readmission Requirements:
There is a one-time readmission policy for the program.

• Readmission is not guaranteed and is always based upon space availability.
• All DHY courses must be retaken if re-entering the program after a period of one year.
• Students who did not earn a grade of “C” or higher in DHY 111, DHY 121, DHY 123, DHY 125, and/or DHY 131 need to re-apply to the program through the Admissions Office. Students need to meet the current admission requirements. Students should contact the Program Coordinator as soon as they receive the notification of being placed on the waitlist (by April 15) to discuss readmission.
• Students who did not earn a grade of “C” or higher in any other DHY course should contact the Program Coordinator by April 15 to discuss readmission.
• Students who have been dismissed or administratively withdrawn from a program within the School of Healthcare at Quinsigamond Community College for reasons of “clinically unsafe practice/behavior” or who violate the College’s Student Code of Conduct or Policy on Affirmative Action are not eligible for admission/readmission to any Healthcare program.

Program Graduation Requirements:
Students must satisfy all course and program requirements, including regulations related to attendance and conduct, in order to be eligible for graduation.

• In particular, all clinical and program requirements, including regulations for attendance and conduct, must be satisfied in order to continue in the program and to be eligible for program certification for participation in licensure examinations.

CORI, SORI, Finger Printing & Drug Testing:

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI), and National Background checks are required in the program, either annually or every semester. Fingerprinting and drug testing may be required. Fingerprinting and drug testing results must meet clinical requirements. An issue with CORI/SORI, National Background, fingerprinting and/or drug testing could prevent a student from participating in a clinical/field rotation, which could result in dismissal from the program.

• A positive CORI/SORI may impact qualifications to obtain a license to practice dental hygiene in certain states.

Additional Cost:

See the Program Fees page.

• Students should anticipate additional expenses for uniforms/clinical wear, textbooks, required academic or skills remediation, membership in the Dental Hygiene Professional Association, Regional and National Board exams.

Technical Performance Standards:

See the Technical Performance Standards page. (Note: Not all programs have technical performance standards).

• In addition to the technical standards outlined on the Technical Performance Standards page, all students must be able to reach the patient from a sitting or standing position in order to accomplish the skills necessary for this profession.

Credit for Prior Learning:

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students to use skills they already have towards a college degree or certificate. Work, life, volunteer and military experience may be translated into credit, allowing students to take fewer classes and earn their degree faster. CPL eliminates redundancies for students who have already earned credentials or mastered skills required for their program of study. Email experience@qcc.mass.edu for more information and eligibility.

• Dental Hygiene (DHY) courses are not eligible for credit for prior learning.

Career Outlook:

Please consult the Massachusetts Career Information System at https://masscis.intocareers.org/ or the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/ooh/ for specific occupational information. The CIP code for this program is 51.0602.

Transfer Articulations & Opportunities:

Prospective students may learn more about transfer articulation agreements at www.QCC.edu/agreements. More information regarding transfer opportunities is available at www.QCC.edu/transfer.

Additional Information:

• Accepted applicants must:
  • Have satisfactory physical examinations.
  • Provide documentation of immunization currency as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
  • Meet tuberculosis requirements before entering the program.
  • Maintain health insurance throughout the duration of their program enrollment.
• Students who do not have completed health files submitted to the Health Compliance Office and approved by June 30 of the respective year will be removed from their dental hygiene courses and will have to file for readmission to the next available year.
• Clinical rotations may be required during Summer sessions or Winter/Intersession. Clinical rotations may be required off-campus throughout the duration of the program. Students are responsible for their own transportation.
• Clinic rotations begin the first week of January for the Spring semester.
• Although every effort will be made to schedule patients for students, ultimately, students are responsible for supplying their own patients to meet their clinical requirements.
• All students, faculty, and staff involved directly in providing patient care must have current certification in Basic Life Support at the American Heart Association’s Health Care Provider Level. Incoming students will be required to complete this certification as part of their coursework during the first semester.
• Dental hygienists must be licensed by the state in which the student practices. Licensure in Massachusetts requires that applicants pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) Examination, and the Board of Registration in Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination. A Social Security Number is mandatory for dental hygiene licensure in the state of Massachusetts.

Dental Assisting “Bridge” to Dental Hygiene:
Graduates of the QCC Dental Assisting Certificate programs (Program Code: DA, DAWO) may transfer into the QCC Dental Hygiene - Associate in Science program (Program Code: DH) if they meet the current program admissions requirements for the Dental Hygiene program.

• Subject to space availability, up to two seats in the Dental Hygiene freshman class will be reserved for currently-enrolled QCC dental assistants scheduled to graduate in May who have met all the admission criteria for the Dental Hygiene program. Students must bridge directly from the Dental Assisting program to the Dental Hygiene program. “Bridge” selection applications may be obtained from the Dental Assisting Program Coordinator. Decisions will be made by April 15 each year and pending final grades at the end of the semester.
• Dental Assisting graduates may be eligible to by-pass the Dental Hygiene waitlist if the following criteria are met:
• Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.30 in QCC Dental Assisting program.
• Minimum grade of “B” in all QCC DHY courses and obtain a minimum grade of “73” on the final exams/exit exams for DHY bridge courses (DHY 125, DHY 131, DHY 241), in order to qualify for the “bridge” from the Dental Assisting to Dental Hygiene program.
• Minimum grade of “A-” in the DAS 151, DAS 153, and DAS 155 courses.
• Two recommendations from QCC DHY core course faculty, of which one is from a full-time faculty member.
• BIO 111, CHM 101, and ENG 101 must be completed before submitting the application. BIO 112 and ENG 102 must be taken in Summer I. BIO 232 and DHY 125 must be taken in Summer II.
• Attendance at a Health Information Session or complete FYE 102 with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Students will need to audit DHY 241. This will entail attending all DHY 241 lab sessions. Attending lectures is optional.
• All bridge students who have taken DHY 131, and passed with a “B” or higher within one year of entering the Dental Hygiene program, will be required to demonstrate competency the Summer before entering or re-entering the program. This will be scheduled for three hours in July/August. There will be a fee of $75.00 for this competency. If students fail the competency exam, they will be required to enroll in or audit DHY 131L.
• Students who have taken DHY 131 prior to one year will be required to retake the course.
• In addition, students will also be required to demonstrate competency the following December/January before treating patients. There is no fee for this competency evaluation. If students do not demonstrate competency, they will be required to participate in remediation prior to exposing radiographs on patients at the expense of $25.00 per hour. The competency will consist of:
  • Review of QCC Dental Hygiene program radiograph exposure protocols, forms, and documentation.
  • Review of exposing film-based intra-oral radiographs and darkroom procedures.
  • Review and exposure of various radiographic techniques and modalities on manikins.

Notice of Opportunity to File Complaints:
The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs; however, the Commission does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students. A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at: Commission on Dental Accreditation | 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 800.621.8099, ext. 2719. A copy of the accreditation standards are also on file with and may be obtained through the administrative assistant for the QCC Dental programs.