Dental Hygiene, A.A.S.

Associate in Applied Science
HEGIS #5203
Chairperson: Tammy Conway
Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center, Room 157, (518) 629-7442

The Dental Hygiene program prepares the student to become a qualified licensed Dental Hygienist, whose primary responsibility is to promote optimal health through the provision of preventive and educational services.

Course material and time are functionally divided between theory and technique in dental sciences. Individualized instruction is optimized by modern, professional equipment in the clinical and laboratory areas. Instruction in functions permitted by the New York State Dental Practice Act is provided at the Dental Hygiene Clinic on campus; enrichment experiences occur at and various dental affiliations within the communities in the Capital Region. All clinical settings comply with state and federal health and safety regulations.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60611-2678. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board Exam for Dental Hygiene and the Clinical Board Exam. All Dental Hygiene students are required to be members of their professional organization: the Student component of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA). Professional activities are a requirement for each of the four terms as a Dental Hygiene student.

New York State Dental Hygiene licensure requires the applicant be of good moral character. An applicant for licensure who has been convicted of a crime, or has committed an act which raises a reasonable question as to their moral character, will be subject to review by the state prior to licensure.

Special required expenses for uniforms and supplies for the first year are approximately $2,500 and $1,500 for senior year. Please note that these are approximate fees and are subject to change. There will be additional expenses for national and state exams and application for licensure in the final semester of the senior year. Transportation for off-campus affiliation-enrichment assignments is the responsibility of the student. Part-time study is not available in this program once accepted into the Dental Hygiene program.

Once a student has been admitted to Preventive Dentistry I, courses must be completed in term sequence, without interruption. Any student who misses a term will not be permitted to continue in the program. Certification in Basic Life Support through the American Heart Association is required and must be maintained while in the program.

Admission Procedure

Admission to the Dental Hygiene program will require a complete application for admission to be on file at the Admissions Office no later than Feb. 1, if a student wishes to be considered a candidate for admission. Qualified applications received after Feb. 1 will be considered on a space available basis. Applications are accepted for admission into the fall term only and are determined through a qualified selective admission process.

Applicants should mail their applications to the Admissions Office well in advance of the Feb. 1 deadline to assure timely receipt of all materials. For more information, contact the Admissions office. Health insurance, hepatitis B series, varicella vaccinations, and a current medical physical exam in addition to college immunization / health records requirements are required for this program.

Please note additional policies regarding Heath Science programs: Unsatisfactory pre-clinical, clinical, practicum and academic performance will result in students being dismissed from a health science program. The respective health science program faculty will make all recommendations for readmission. All decisions will be based upon an individual student review process. Readmission will require students to successfully repeat previous clinical, practicum and/or academic courses that faculty require. In addition, if a student is dismissed from the program, the student may be required to provide evidence of growth in necessary areas as identified by the faculty at the time of dismissal. Dismissed students must reapply under the program’s current admission procedure.

Once a student has been readmitted to a program, core curricular courses must be completed in term sequence without interruption. Any student who misses a term may not be permitted to continue in the program.

Students who are dismissed from Health Science Programs at Hudson Valley or other institutions due to inappropriate or dangerous clinical behavior and/or personal misconduct during patient interactions will not be allowed admission to any Hudson Valley Health Science program or Health Science course with a clinical component. A notation will be placed on the student’s academic transcript indicating the student was dismissed from the Dental Hygiene program.

The Dental Hygiene Department at Hudson Valley Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthful work environment for our entire DHY staff. In pursuit of this goal, the following exposure control plan (ECP) is provided to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in accordance with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1030, “Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens.”

Students in this program may be subjected to drug testing and criminal background checks at their own expense. Results must be shared with the Department Chairperson and clinical education site and if the clinical site deems the student unfit to attend the site, the student may be unable to complete degree requirements.

Please note: Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor may affect an individual’s right to be licensed. Applicants should see the department chairperson.

Dental Hygiene core courses must be taken at Hudson Valley.

Program Entrance Requirements

Courses	Entry Term	Special Notes	H.S. Average
Algebra, biology and chemistry w/lab. College-level chemistry (4) credits with a “C” grade or higher (75 or above for Regents or 85 or above for non-Regents in each course)	Fall only (Application Deadline-Feb. 1st)	Additional science courses with “C” or better preferred. All college-level science courses will be counted toward the Dental Hygiene selective admission process. College chemistry course must have been taken within the past 5 years and must include organic, inorganic, and biochemistry with lab. All college level science courses must be taken within 5 years.	Regents Diploma: 75 or above or Non-Regents Diploma: 85 or above

To be licensed as a dental hygienist in New York State you must:

• be of good moral character
• be at least 17 years of age for licensure by examination: be at least 21 years of age for licensure by endorsement
• have satisfactorily practiced for at least two years for licensure by endorsement
• be a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S.

The estimated cost of books for the student enrolled in the first full-time term as outlined would be approximately $1,000. Freshman Instrument Kit Equipment is approximately $2,700. *Pricing may vary based on equipment chosen by department.