Dental Hygiene Program Information

Admission Requirements: All students will be required to demonstrate college readiness through transcript review or informed self-placement.  Based on this review students may request or be required to enroll in prerequisite or corequisite math and/or English courses.

General Admission Requirements: Applicant selection into the Dental Hygiene Program is selective and competitive, students are admitted annually. For more information on the application process, students should visit the department website or call the department office at (540) 423- 9823. To qualify to apply to the Dental Hygiene Program, all interested students must complete the following:

• An application to Germanna Community College
• Have on file with Admissions and Records a High School or Home School Diploma or GED
• Qualify for MTH 154  within the last 5 years
• Have a GPA of 2.5 or greater and demonstrated competency in Math (MDE 10) & ENG 111
• Have college transcripts or joint services on file with Admissions and Records if applicable.
• Have completed the TEAS with scores of 50% or better in all 4 content areas of the exam.
• If there are more qualified applicants than spaces available, student selection will be made in a blinded fashion using the TEAS test, the student’s GPA, essay score, residency in-service region, dental assisting formal education and experience, civic engagement or volunteer work, as well as the number of credits completed towards completion of the DH Associate of Applied Science degree. Students with the highest combined scores and number of credits toward graduation will be selected. 
• Applicants must answer essay questions.
• The essays are evaluated by the DH faculty, representatives from two other disciplines or service departments, and a member of the Diversity Council using a rubric. The Registrar attends but does not vote. Students receiving the top mean rubric score from these evaluations are admitted to the Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree program.  
• Applications for the Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene Program will be due by September 1. Applicants’ transcripts, answers to essay questions, work experience forms, civic engagement/volunteer documentation forms, and dental hygiene (TEAS) pre-admission test scores will be evaluated and ranked according to the requirements and priorities noted above. 
• Final decisions regarding admission are made by a Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee. Dental Hygiene Faculty, the Dean of Nursing and Health Technologies, 2 other non-healthcare faculty members, and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council comprise this committee. 
• Currently, five (5) students are admitted to the program annually. The number of qualified applicants admitted to the dental hygiene program is contingent upon the space available in the classrooms and dental laboratories, the program’s access to sufficient clinical spaces in the region’s healthcare settings in order to meet the program’s learning outcomes, and the number of qualified dental hygiene faculty to teach the students in classrooms, labs, and clinical settings. 

Additional Admission Requirements/Recommendations

1. It is recommended that students pass all General Education courses with a “C” or better prior to admission into the program. 
2. Students may be required to repeat courses or to complete evaluative testing for credits earned more than ten years ago. 
3. BIO 141, BIO 142, BIO 150 courses expire 5 years from completion.  Students whose courses expire after admission to the program has been offered are not required to retake the courses. 
4. TEAS test scores expire 3 years from completion.  Students who have expired TEAS test scores at application must retest.
5. Since the dental hygiene program has many applicants and the number of admissions is contingent upon available faculty and classroom and clinical spaces, the expected time it will take a student to earn the degree may exceed 6 semesters. Applicants are advised to complete the general education courses, especially BIO 141, PSY 200, ENG 111, and SDV 100/101 prior to entering the first dental hygiene major course. 
6. It is required that students attend an information session. 

Special Program Requirements

Applicants will be expected to have earned a “C” or better in all general education and dental hygiene courses in the program. The Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Dentistry reserves the right to deny licensure to any candidate who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or the use of drugs or alcohol to the extent that such use renders him/her unsafe to practice dental hygiene. Any applicant who has been found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony must consult with the Dental Hygiene Program Director prior to admission.

Germanna Community College complies with all recommendations and requirements issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Any prospective students interested in receiving a copy of the program’s policies on bloodborne pathogens should contact the Program Director at 540-423-9823 or  mmesimer@germanna.edu. 

Program Goals

1. Graduates will demonstrate competency in ethics, values, and knowledge of dental hygiene practice.
2. Graduates will improve the oral health of the population served through efficiency and efficacy of dental care in the private and public dental practice, associated industries, and through community service.
3. Graduates will contribute to the art and science of the dental hygiene profession through demonstrated commitment to professional development and life-long learning.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding and implementation of aseptic technique.
2. Students will understand the purpose of and effectively apply the use of hand, ultrasonic, and laser instruments during preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene procedures.
3. Students will be able to produce dental radiographs of diagnostic quality utilizing ALARA principles.
4. Students will critically evaluate the patient assessment data in the development of a dental hygiene diagnosis and treatment plan.
5. Students will understand the purpose of, apply the use of, and understand the implications of dental materials on dental hygiene therapy and dentistry.
6. Students will understand the purpose, delivery, and implications of pharmaceuticals on dental hygiene therapy and dentistry.
7. Students will demonstrate various roles of the dental hygienist in community health and intra- and interprofessional health teams to include effective communication with patients, groups, and peers.
8. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical values defined by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and comply with federal and state laws and regulations.

Purpose: The curriculum is designed to prepare selected students to serve in a dynamic and growing health profession as valuable members of the Dental Health team. The student will be eligible to take the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination and regional clinical examinations required for licensure by the Virginia Board of Dentistry.

Transfer Information: Although transfer is not the primary purpose of a certificate program, GCC credits may transfer to other associate degree programs and/or senior institutions. Students interested in transfer should contact a counselor or their faculty advisor early in their program.  The program expects to have an articulation agreement with Old Dominion University for bachelor’s and/or master’s degree completion.

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental 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 (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: https://coda.ada.org/. The next accreditation site visit is scheduled for fall 2027.

COMMISSION ON DENTAL ACCREDITATION
POSTING FORM FOR THIRD PARTY COMMENTS

The Commission currently publishes, in its accredited lists of programs, the year of the next site visit for each program it accredits. In addition, the Commission posts its spring and fall site visit announcements on the Site Visit Process and Schedule area of the Commission’s website for those programs being site visited in the current and next year. Special site visits and initial accreditation site visits for developing programs may be scheduled after the posting on the Commission’s website; thus, the specific dates of these site visits may not be available for publication. Parties interested in these specific dates (should they be established) are encouraged to contact the Commission office. The Commission will request written comments from interested parties on the CODA website.

The United States Department of Education (USDE) procedures require accrediting agencies to provide an opportunity for third-party comment, either in writing or at a public hearing (at the accrediting agencies’ discretion) with respect to institutions or programs scheduled for review. All comments must relate to accreditation standards for the discipline and required accreditation policies. In order to comply with the Department’s requirement on the use of third-party comment regarding program’s qualifications for accreditation or initial accreditation, the following procedures have been developed.

Those programs scheduled for regular review must solicit third-party comments through appropriate notification of communities of interest and the public such as faculty, students, program administrators, dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers at least ninety (90) days prior to their site visit. The notice should indicate the deadline of sixty (60) days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that signed or unsigned comments will be accepted, that names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to the program, and that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. The announcement may include language to indicate that a copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, or by calling 1/800-621-8099, extension 4653.

All comments submitted must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program being reviewed or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process. Comments will be screened by Commission staff for relevancy. Signed or unsigned comments will be considered. For comments not relevant to these issues, the individual will be notified that the comment is not related to accreditation and, where appropriate, referred to the appropriate agency. For those individuals who are interested in submitting comments, requests may be made to the Commission office.

All relevant comments will have names and/or signatures removed and will then be referred to the program at least fifty (50) days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the visiting committee fifteen (15) days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Negative comments received after the established deadline of sixty (60) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint. Any unresolved issues related to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the visiting committee while on-site.

Programs with the status of initial accreditation, and programs seeking initial accreditation must solicit comment through appropriate notification of communities of interest and the public such as faculty, students, program administrators, dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers utilizing the procedures noted above.

On occasion, programs may be scheduled for special focused or special comprehensive site visits and because of the urgency of the visit, solicitation of third-party comments within the ninety (90) day time-frame may not be possible. However, third party comments must be solicited at the time the program is notified of the Commission’s planned site visit, typically sixty (60) days in advance of the visit. In this case, the timeframe for solicitation of third-party comments will be shortened. The notice should indicate the deadline of thirty (30) days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that signed or unsigned comments will be accepted, that names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to the program, and that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. All relevant comments will have names and/or signatures removed and will then be referred to the program at least twenty (20) days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the visiting committee ten (10) days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Any unresolved issues related to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the visiting committee while onsite. Negative comments received after the established deadline of thirty (30) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint.

All relevant comments will have signatures removed and will then be referred to the program at least fifty (50) days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the visiting committee fifteen (15) days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Negative comments received after the established deadline of sixty (60) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint.

Revised: 8/19; 8/18; 2/18; 2/16; 2/15; 8/13; 8/12, 8/11, 7/09, 8/02, 1/97; Reaffirmed: 8/13; 8/10, 1/03; Adopted: 7/95

INSTITUTION: ___Germanna Community College________________________

PROGRAM(S) TO BE REVIEWED: __Dental Hygiene Initial Application_____________

SITE VISIT DATE: ____September 21 – 22, 2023_________________________________

60-DAY DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF COMMENTS IN THE COMMISSION OFFICE: July 21, 2023 (Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611)

To successfully complete the Program, the student must be able to perform all essential functions of a dental assistant:

1. Students must possess eye/hand coordination, sufficient motor function, strength, and endurance with both hands and arms, as well as utilize digital fine motor skills to deliver patient care for varying lengths of time throughout the day. 
2. Students must have the ability to tolerate frequent hand washing and/or use of disinfectants including hand-sanitizing agents.  Additionally, students must have the ability to wear protective gloves when indicated. 
3. Students must have the ability to perform single provider CPR in the management of a patient during an emergency. 
4. Students must possess the physical capacity to participate in required laboratory, preclinical, and clinical experiences, as well as lift and operate equipment with the necessary strength and dexterity. 
5. Students must possess the capacity to participate in administrative duties related to the dental hygiene profession.  
6. Students must have the ability to utilize auditory and sensory perception sufficient to monitor and assess patient needs. 
7. Students must possess normal or corrected visual ability in order to assess oral health conditions and perform clinical procedures on patients. 
8. Students must be able to communicate in person and via electronic devices by effective use of the English language. 
9. Students must comply with the Code of Ethics and bylaws as defined by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the statutes and regulations associated with the Commonwealth of Virginia Dental Practice Act. 
10. Students must be able to participate as full-time student and commit at least 42 hours a week to the program.  

Despite the foregoing, a qualified person with a disability who can perform these essential functions with reasonable accommodation will be considered for admission along with other qualified applicants. 

Occupational Objectives: This program is designed to provide essential technological and practical knowledge required for a Dental Hygienist to perform ethically and efficiently in a dental office. Training experiences in on-site and community dental clinics will be provided.

The following are responsibilities of students in the Dental Hygiene Program:

1. To prepare students for the high ethical standards of the health professions, the College expects absolute academic integrity both in the classroom and in clinical practice. Therefore, cheating, attempting to cheat, plagiarizing, lying, stealing academic work which includes secured tests or related materials, submitting papers purchased or written by others, or failing to report an occurrence of academic dishonesty or any violation of this honor code may subject the student to the College’s disciplinary procedures as defined in the GCC Student Handbook. 
2. Applicants must subscribe to a Division of Nursing and Health Technologies approved online credential and criminal history report. Evidence of a criminal history report and all applicable credentials to include vaccination status must be submitted for review with the dental hygiene application. Applicants are responsible for fees associated with this report. 
3. Students in dental hygiene program incur a variety of expenses in addition to college tuition and fees. These include, but are not limited to, the cost of uniforms, accessories, and travel to clinical assignments. Students are also responsible for testing fees.
4. A strict dress code is required in the clinical setting. Students may be dismissed if they fail to comply with this dress code. 
5. The College reserves the right to require students to obtain and maintain at their own expense liability/malpractice insurance with a carrier authorized to transact such business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Whether or not insurance appropriate to the program is required, students are encouraged to carry such insurance on their own. 
6. Students are required to complete learning experiences at local clinics and/or other community-based agencies. Students may be required to attend both day and/or evening clinical assignments. 
7. Students must provide their own transportation to clinical assignments. Strict attendance is required at clinical sites.
8. Students may utilize the resources of the assigned clinical affiliate, at the discretion of the assigned clinical affiliate, for emergency medical treatment for injuries or illness that may occur during the time period when students are assigned to the health care facility. The student is responsible for any expenses incurred for this treatment. 
9. Students must comply with all clinical contract protocols including immunization requirements, drug screening, and background checks. 
10. Students must keep their CPR certifications current.
11. While enrolled in clinical courses, students may not replace or take the responsibility of “qualified” staff in affiliated facilities. However, after demonstrating proficiency, students may be permitted to perform specified procedures under careful supervision. Students may be employed in clinical facilities outside regular education hours provided that such work does not interfere with academic responsibilities. The work must be non-compulsory and subject to employee regulations. Any exception must have the approval of the Dean of Nursing and Health Technologies. Unless formally employed by the clinical site or the College, students are not covered under OSHA regulations or worker’s compensation laws. 
12. Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior consistent with standards associated with health care practitioners.

The following continuation requirements govern students in the Dental Hygiene Program:

1. Each course in the program major must be completed with a grade of “C” or better before taking the next course in the sequence and to satisfy graduation requirements, unless waived by the Division Dean upon the recommendation of the Program Director. 
2. All courses in the major must be taken in the sequence prescribed in the GCC Catalog, unless otherwise approved by the Program Director.
3. To pass a course, students must successfully complete both the didactic (classroom) and the clinical/lab requirements.
4. Program faculty and clinical affiliates reserve the right to recommend, through appropriate channels, withdrawal of any student who exhibits unsafe performance or non-adherence to prescribed clinical affiliate policies and procedures. 
5. Satisfactory physical and mental health must be maintained for continuance in the program. Applicants must be free of any physical and/or mental condition that might adversely affect their acceptance or performance in the program. The College reserves the right to require medical examinations, vaccinations, and drug testing to verify continuing compliance. Students with pre-existing physical and/or mental conditions which might adversely affect performance in the program who do not self-disclose this information are subject to dismissal from the program. 
6. Students with criminal convictions who do not self-disclose this information are subject to dismissal from the program.

Any student who has voluntarily withdrawn or who has been withdrawn due to unsatisfactory academic or clinical performance may apply for re-admission the following academic year. Any student who has voluntarily withdrawn or who has been withdrawn due to ethical violations or criminal actions may not reapply to the program. Acceptance will be based upon space availability, successful fulfillment of any contingencies agreed to in writing at the time of withdrawal, and Program Director approval. An interview and medical examination may be required.