Dental Hygiene Outcomes and Standards
Program Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective communication, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making by achieving competency benchmarks in written, oral, and clinical evaluations, while exhibiting respect in patient care and professional interactions.
- Apply comprehensive dental hygiene knowledge and clinical skills by successfully performing evidence-based patient care procedures and meeting or exceeding established clinical competency standards.
- Integrate professional roles within dental hygiene practice by demonstrating competence in clinical care, health promotion, patient advocacy, practice management, and evidence-based decision-making through course assessments, community projects, and clinical performance.
- Engage in lifelong learning and professional development by developing and implementing a continuing education or professional growth plan and demonstrating the ability to evaluate emerging research and best practices in dental hygiene.
Program Standards
In order to be admitted to or continue in either Dental Hygiene (BSDH) program, a student must have skills and abilities essential to perform as a dental hygienist. Reasonable accommodations will be made on an individual basis; however, the candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner.
| Standard | Examples of Activities |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking: Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment. | Identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations, develop treatment plans. |
| Communication: Communication abilities sufficient for effective interaction with patients and other members of the health care team in verbal and written form. | Able to obtain information, explain treatment procedures, initiate health education training, describe patient situations, perceive non-verbal communications. |
| Mobility: Physical abilities (including standing, walking, bending, range of motion of extremities) to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces. | Able to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, move around inpatient treatment area. |
| Motor: Gross and fine motor function sufficient to provide safe and effective dental hygiene care. | Able to use dental instruments, manipulate various dental materials. |
| Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. | Able to listen to breath and heart sounds. Able to hear equipment monitors, such as x-ray equipment and autoclave timers. |
| Visual: Visual ability sufficient to provide safe and effective dental hygiene care. | Able to observe patients and use instruments in the oral cavity. Adequate close vision to see small lesions and deposits on teeth. |
| Tactile: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and scaling skills. | Able to perform palpation of a pulse, extraoral and intraoral structures, and feel calculus deposits. |
Program Goals
Accreditation
Maintain full accreditation through the American Dental Association Commission on
Dental Accreditation (CODA) by ensuring continuous program quality, compliance, and
the preparation of competent, practice-ready dental hygiene professionals.
Resources
Strengthen and expand program resources by increasing internal and external funding
through grants and partnerships, while ensuring sufficient, qualified faculty and
staffing levels to meet CODA standards and support program growth.
Distance Learning
Enhance and expand high-quality distance learning opportunities within the BSDH program
to increase access, flexibility, and student success.
Experiential Learning
Broaden and enrich experiential learning opportunities by increasing community-based,
interprofessional, and statewide clinical and service-learning experiences.
Graduate Education
Collaborate with College of Health programs to develop and support accessible graduate
education pathways for BSDH graduates, fostering continued professional advancement
and leadership