Dental Hygiene: A.A.S.

Associate in Applied Science

CIP CODE: 51.0602

HEGIS CODE: 5203.00

---

Program Overview

The Dental Hygiene curriculum is designed to prepare students for contemporary practice of dental hygiene. The curriculum emphasizes the fundamental knowledge necessary for practice in a private dental office or similar clinical setting under the supervision of a dentist.

A dental hygienist performs preventive and therapeutic services, such as dental prophylaxis, nonsurgical periodontal treatment, pain management, caries prevention, dental radiographs, biofilm control procedures. Students in this program will complete lab and clinical competencies on these services and learn documentation using computerized dental patient management systems.  

Successful completion of this curriculum is required for licensure examination eligibility. The licensing examinations are the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination Series (CDCA-Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination and CSCE OSCE-Computer Simulated Clinical Examination).

Mission

The mission of the Dental Hygiene program is designed to prepare graduates who meet the requirements for an A.A.S. degree and are prepared to take regional and national licensure examinations. The curriculum prepares students for practice in accordance with the New York State Dental Practice Act and to enter the profession as a competent entry-level dental hygienist.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Graduates must be competent in providing dental hygiene care for the child, adolescent, adult, geriatric, and medically compromised patient.
2. Graduates must be competent in providing the dental hygiene process of care which includes:
   a. Assessment: The systematic collection and analysis of the following data to identify patient needs and oral health problems.
   b. Planning: The establishment of realistic goals and treatment strategies to facilitate optimal oral health.
   c. Implementation: Provision of treatment as identified in the assessment and planning phase.
   d. Evaluation: Measurement of the extent to which goals identified in the treatment plan were achieved.
3. Graduates must be competent in providing dental hygiene care for all types of classifications of periodontal disease including patients who exhibit moderate to severe periodontal disease.
4. Graduates must be competent in interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with diverse population groups.
5. Graduates must be competent in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating community based oral health programs including, health promotion and disease prevention activities.
6. Graduates must be competent in providing appropriate life support measures for medical emergencies that may be encountered in dental hygiene practice.
7. Graduates must be competent in applying ethical, legal and regulatory concepts to the provision and/or support of oral health care services.
8. Graduates must be competent in the application of self-assessment skills to prepare them for life-long learning.
9. Graduates must be competent in the evaluation of current scientific literature.
10. Graduates must be competent in problem solving strategies (critical thinking and decision-making skills) related to comprehensive patient care and management of patients.

Accreditation

The SUNY Broome Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “Approval Without Reporting Requirements.”  Approval (without reporting requirements) is an accreditation classification granted to an educational program indicating that the program achieves or exceeds the basic requirements for accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at +1 (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

Program Contact

Dr. Meghan McGuinness, Program Director and Chairperson
Office: Decker Health Science Center, Room 317G
Telephone: +1 (607) 778-5055
E-mail: mcguinnessma@sunybroome.edu

---

Admission to this program is through the competitive admissions process. Information about the requirements for admission and the competitive admissions process may be found on the Admission for Competitive Health Sciences Programs webpage. Questions may be directed to the Admissions Office at 607-778-5001 or via email at admissions@sunybroome.edu.