Dental Hygiene Program Information

Associate of Applied Science Degree
A Dental Hygienist is a preventive oral health professional licensed to provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services to the dental consumer.

The Dental Hygiene Program provides a scientifically current, competency-based curriculum focusing on mental, psychomotor, and affective education, which is essential to become a competent Dental Hygienist.

While each state has its own specific regulations governing the dental hygienist’s responsibilities, typical services provided in Ohio include: scaling and polishing teeth, taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays), patient screening procedures, applying preventive materials such as sealants and fluorides, taking impressions for study models, nutritional counseling, and teaching oral hygiene techniques.

Board Exams
Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to sit for the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam (NBDHE), The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) Regional Board and/or other state and regional boards.

The Ohio State Dental Board (OSDB) has restrictions on granting licensure to individuals who have prior felony convictions or mental incompetence. Check the OSDB Website (www.dental.ohio.gov) for further information.

Mission

The Dental Hygiene Department prepares students to become competent dental professionals for diverse practice settings who provide knowledgeable, accountable and quality patient care to the community we serve.

Vision

The Dental Hygiene Department will develop and implement a premier educational program incorporating technology, scholarly activity, creativity and will be the preferred source of healthcare employees.

Department of Dental Hygiene

Accreditation

The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status July 2014 for 7-year period.  The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.  The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (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. 

Professional Organization

Students are required to maintain student membership in the professional organization for dental hygienists,  The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), 444  N Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois, 60611, phone number 312-440-8900, web address  www.adha.org, as part of the program requirements.

Selective Health Program Admission Process

Students may apply to a maximum of three selective admissions programs

Apply for Admission to Owens Community College.

Apply Online Now!

Request Evaluation for Admission to a Health Program.

Applicants must have a complete file in the Records Office by established deadline dates.   If you were previously evaluated and denied, and wish to be re-evaluated for the same program or any other health program, you must submit another Request for Health Evaluation.  To view file status, regularly check “My Required Documents” via Ozone.

- view FAQ’s for Selective Health Admission Process

- view Deadline Dates and Requirements for a Complete File

- Submit a Request for Health Program Evaluation by logging into your Ozone account. Select the Academic Info tab and navigate to the Selective Health portal and select Request a Health Evaluation.

Official transcripts are required from the applicant’s high school, college or university attended.  If you have a GED, high school, or college transcript(s), please request an official copy be sent to:

Owens Community College

Attn:  Records Office

P.O. Box 10,000

Toledo, OH 43699-1947

If you have an official, sealed copy of a transcript to drop off, visit Oserve on the Toledo or Findlay campus during regular hours, found at www.owens.edu/oserve, to submit.

Evaluation does not mean automatic admission to the program.  Results of the Health Evaluation will be sent to your Owens email account approximately 2-3 weeks after the evaluation deadline date.

For assistance with the selective health program admission process, requirements, procedures and final date for receipt of application contact the Pre-Health Advising Advisor.

Admission Requirements

The Dental Hygiene Program begins each summer semester.  Applicants will be reviewed on January 15 once the following is complete.  If the program is not filled after the January 15 review, an additional review will be held on May 15 to offer applicants an opportunity to begin the program.  

1. Graduation from high school or successful completion of the GED (General Education Development) test is required. High school students may apply, but continuation in the program may be contingent upon submission of an official high school transcript verifying graduation.
2. Official transcripts are required from any college or university attended.
3. A grade of “C” or better in one of the following: one full credit of high school level chemistry, CHM 095 , a higher level college chemistry course or PHY 115 .
4. A grade of “C” or better in one of the following: one full credit of high school level anatomy, biology, anatomy & physiology, BIO 101 , BIO 201 , BIO 202 , BIO 211 , or BIO 212 .
5. Completion of the ACT or SAT. 
6. The first attempt, from any institution, of the most recent version of all four components of TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills).
7. Some programs require observation hours.
8. Some programs require an Ohio Department of Health approved Nurse Assistant Training Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) completed within two years of the beginning of the first SNHP Program clinical course. 
9. Applicants should view “My Required Documents” in their student portal for a complete list of requirements.

Selective admissions points are earned as described below. A maximum of 50 points can be earned. A rank ordered list of applicants by point total will be developed. The applicants with the highest number of points will be offered a seat the program.  The applicants with the next highest number of points will be offered a seat as an alternate.

Points are calculated based on the following:

1.  Grade Point Average (GPA)  

A maximum of 20 points can be earned based on the applicants most recent GPA:

A. Applicants who have completed 11 or more college credit hours, as specified below, will be reviewed using their college GPA.  Three of the 11 college credit hours must include a math or science course. The only courses included in the calculation of college GPA are:

Math - the one, most recent, college level math course (MTH 101 or higher) which must be at least three credit hours.

Science - the most recent attempt at BIO 211  and / or BIO 212 .

Humanities or Social Science - the one, most recent, college level humanities or social science course which must be at least three credit hours.

Communication - the most recent attempt at ENG 111 . 

B. If a college GPA is not applicable, the high school GPA on file at Owens Community College will be used. 

2.  TEAS Entrance Assessment

A maximum of 16 points can be earned based on the applicant’s first attempt on the most recent version of TEAS in the areas of Reading, Science, English and Math.

Reading and Science - a maximum of five points can be earned in each area for a total of ten points.

English and Math - a maximum of three points can be earned in each area for a total of six points.

3. ACT or SAT Score

A maximum of eight points can be earned based on the most recent ACT or SAT score.

4. Course Completion

A maximum of eight points can be earned based on the first graded attempt of the following four courses. Points are not earned for grades of “C”.

A minimum of 15 points out of a total of 52 points must be achieved in order to be considered for Dental Hygiene Program Admission. 

Extenuating, documentable situations may prevent a student from beginning a program for which a seat has been accepted. Students may petition the program manager or chair to explore the possibility of securing a seat in a future semester. Contact the program chair for additional information.

Criteria for a tied score:

The following criteria will be used to break a tie in the event of two or more students receiving the same number of points on the selection criteria tally form at the time of selection in the following order:

1. Highest GPA points.
2. Highest TEAS Entrance Assessment points.
3. Most recent ACT Composite score points.
4. Course completion points.

If two students are still tied after the above determinations have been made, a lottery system will be used to determine the selected candidate.

Progression/Completion Requirements

All students entering or enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program must achieve a “C” or better in all program and general education courses within the plan of study to progress through the program.  A student who fails to achieve a grade of “C” or better in any course within the plan of study must see the program director. A student who earns a grade of “D” or “F” in two program courses or earns a grade of “D” or “F” in one program course twice, is permanently dismissed from the Dental Hygiene Program and is ineligible for readmission.  The Dental Hygiene Program must be completed within three years from the date of enrollment in the first program technical course.

All program courses listed for each semester must be taken in the semester listed. General education courses listed for each semester must be taken in the semester listed or prior to the semester listed.

Academic Readmission

A student requesting readmission due to academic reasons (“D” or “F” in any Dental Hygiene Course) must complete the following before being considered:

1. The student must complete an academic readmission form available in the Dental Hygiene Office.  Contact the Academic Advising Office for assistance in the development of a written academic plan (Form number ID-A#1, 1/84) to resolve the academic problems.
   1. The following requirements must be included in the academic plan before readmission:
      1. A 2.60 GPA must be achieved in the science component that includes BIO 211 , BIO 212  and BIO 231 .
      2. A 2.60 GPA must be achieved in the general education component that includes ENG 111 , ENG 112  and PSY 101 .
2. The plan then is submitted to the Department Chair and Dean for approval. This plan must be completed and approved to continue enrollment in the College.  Students are readmitted on a space available basis.  No second readmission will be considered.

Non-academic Readmission

Students who leave the program for other than academic reasons may request readmission and be readmitted provided there is course seat availability. The Department Chair must be notified in writing of the student’s intention to return to the program at least four months prior to the start of the semester.

Health Requirements

Students are required to have a physical exam, including an eye exam, before starting the Fall Semester.  Lab exams are required and include: CBC, Urinalysis, RPR/VDRL, Mumps Titer, 2-Step PPD, Diphtheria Toxoid & Tetanus Toxoid, MMR vaccination record or Rubella Titer, Hepatitis B (3part series).  Health Requirements must be completed before Fall Semester.

Background Check Requirements

Background checks by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI & I) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are required for clinical rotations and community project. The student assumes the cost of the background checks. For more information regarding background checks visit the following websites: 

The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI & I), www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), www.fbi.gov

Technical Standards

Review the following standards to examine your ability and compatibility with the physical activity and demands, professional and clinical condition requirements of dental hygienists. Sample tasks and skills are listed below with normal time frames.

- view Technical Standards Chart  

Work Environment

The dental health care worker provides services in an environment that includes blood and saliva. Diseases may be encountered in this type of environment. However, research shows that risks are negligible when appropriate infection control procedure/barrier techniques are used. Upon entering the program, there is in-depth training to meet the protocol for a hazard-free, safe learning environment. Students are required to complete Health Requirements and have CPR certification before entrance into the program.

Recruitment of Patients

Students learn and practice skills in the on-campus Dental Hygiene Clinic. Ongoing recruitment of patients for the clinic is necessary for each student to meet his/her program requirements. Students will be expected to recruit patients in addition to the patient that seeks routine care in the clinic.

Clinical Experiences

Owens Community College has a 21 chair Dental Hygiene Clinic. There is a clinical affiliation with the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio located on 2138 Madison Avenue, Toledo, Ohio and 1800 North Blanchard, Suite 122, Findlay, Ohio.

Transfer Information

Graduates may pursue a bachelor’s degree at area colleges or through on-line options. Meet with an Advisor or the Department Chair for more information.