Program Competencies
The Dental Hygiene Program is competency base. Successful completion from the program indicates the graduate has acquired the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of a dental hygienist in an entry level position.
Upon completion of the Dental Hygiene Program, graduates should be able to utilize the following skill sets in each category:
Entry-level Competencies for Graduation
- Apply professional values and ethics in all endeavors.
- Adhere to accreditation standards and federal, state and local laws and regulations.
- Promote quality assurance practices based on accepted standards of care.
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with professionals and patients across socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
- Comply with local, state and federal regulations concerning infection control protocols for blood-borne and respiratory pathogens, other infectious diseases and hazardous materials.
- Follow manufacturers’ recommendations related to materials and equipment used in practice.
- Establish and enforce mechanisms to ensure the management of emergencies.
- Use security guidelines and compliance training to create and maintain a safe, ecofriendly and sustainable practice compatible with emerging trends.
- Ensure a humanistic approach to care.
- Uphold a respectful and emotionally safe environment for patients and practitioners.
- Demonstrate critical and analytical reasoning to identify and develop comprehensive oral health care solutions and protocols.
- Apply individual and population risk factors, social determinants of health, and scientific research to promote improved health and enhanced quality of life.
- Support research activities and develop research skills.
- Use evidence-based decision-making to evaluate and implement health care strategies aligned with emerging trends to achieve high-quality, cost-effective and humanistic care.
- Integrate accepted scientific theories and research into educational, preventive, and therapeutic oral health services.
- Select, obtain and interpret diagnostic information.
- Recognize predisposing and etiologic risk factors that require intervention.
- Obtain, review and update a complete medical, social, and dental history.
- Recognize relationships among health conditions and medications that impact client care and treatment outcomes.
- Perform a comprehensive examination using clinical, radiographic, periodontal, dental, and other appropriate data to assess the client’s needs.
- Use assessment findings, etiologic factors and clinical data in determining a dental hygiene diagnosis.
- Obtain consultations as indicated.
- Consider client needs and significant findings that impact the development of a dental hygiene care plan.
- Establish and prioritize a planned sequence of care based on the dental hygiene diagnosis.
- Establish a collaborative relationship with the client in the planning of care.
- Make referrals to other health care professionals.
- Obtain the client’s informed consent for the planned care based on a thorough case presentation.
- Assist in achieving oral health goals developed in collaboration with the client.
- Will perform dental hygiene interventions that eliminate and/or manage local etiologic factors to prevent and control caries, periodontal disease and other oral conditions.
- Control pain and anxiety during treatment through the use of accepted clinical and behavioral techniques.
- Develop and promote an individualized oral health care program.
- Determine the outcome of dental hygiene interventions using appropriate assessment tools.
- Evaluate the client’s satisfaction with the oral health care provided.
- Provide subsequent treatment or referrals based on evaluation findings and assessment of outcomes.
- Develop and promote an individualized oral health care program.
- Manage client care in a manner that prevents an emergency and provide support measures to manage medical emergencies.
- Utilize methods that ensure the health and safety of the patient and the oral health professional in the delivery of care.
Pass Rates
The information below represents pass rates for required board examinations: National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) clinical patient examination, and the CDCA local anesthesia examination.
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA/WREB/CITA Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Exam: 100%
CDCA/WREB/CITA CSCE OSCE: 100%
CDCA/WREB/CITA Local Anesthesia: 100%
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA/WREB Manikin Treatment Clinical Exam: 100%
CDCA/WREB CSCE OSCE: 100%
CDCA/WREB Local Anesthesia: 100%
NBDHE: 96%
CDCA Manikin Treatment Clinical Exam: 100%
CDCA CSCE OSCE: 100%
CDCA Local Anesthesia: 100%
NBDHE: 96%
CDCA Clinical: Waived due to COVID-19 pandemic
CDCA Local Anes.: 100%
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA Clinical: 100%
CDCA Local Anes.: 100%
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA Clinical: 100%
CDCA Local Anes.: 100%
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA Clinical: 100%
CDCA Local Anes.: 100%
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA Clinical: 100%
CDCA Local Anes.: 100%
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA Clinical: 96%
CDCA Local Anes.: 100%
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA Clinical: 96%
CDCA Local Anes.: 100%
NBDHE: 100%
CDCA Clinical: 100%
CDCA Local Anes.: 100%