Dental Hygiene

Program Overview

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The Dental Hygiene program at Ohio State University prepares students for licensure as registered dental hygienists. The program emphasizes providing quality dental hygiene care, developing case management and communication skills, and fostering ethical and professional principles. Students benefit from the program's affiliation with a college of dentistry, providing access to advanced facilities and interdisciplinary collaborations. Graduates are equipped for careers in various professional settings, including private dental offices, hospitals, and public health clinics.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

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Overview:

The Dental Hygiene program at Ohio State University prepares students for practice and licensure as a registered dental hygienist. The program focuses on providing quality dental hygiene care in a safe, efficient, and humanistic manner.

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Objectives:

• Prepare students for practice and licensure as a registered dental hygienist.
• Equip students to provide appropriate dental hygiene therapy for patients with different oral health needs utilizing assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation skills.
• Develop students' case management skills, interpersonal communication skills, and practice management principles.
• Cultivate students' understanding and practice of ethical and professional principles in accordance with the ADHA Code of Ethics.
• Foster students' comprehension and adherence to state and federal laws and guidelines pertaining to the practice of dental hygiene.
• Enhance students' understanding of research methods and their application in dental hygiene practice.
• Instill in students a sense of social responsibility through community service and outreach.

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Program Description:

• Students complete prerequisite courses in the first two years at Ohio State.
• Students apply for admission to the dental hygiene major during the autumn of the sophomore year and enter the major in the autumn of the junior year.
• The junior year includes dental sciences, dental hygiene sciences, and pre-clinic, with patient treatment beginning in the dental clinic's spring semester.
• The senior year includes advanced dental hygiene courses and continuing patient treatment each term.
• Students choose an area of specialization in restorative expanded functions, dental hygiene education, or an individualized program.
• All students complete a practicum during the spring semester of the senior year.
• Students treat over 100 patients prior to graduation.
• The program is the only dental hygiene program in Ohio affiliated with a college of dentistry.

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Outline:

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Program Content:

• Dental sciences
• Dental hygiene sciences
• Pre-clinic
• Advanced dental hygiene courses
• Restorative expanded functions
• Dental hygiene education
• Individualized program

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Course Schedule:

• The program is a four-year undergraduate program.
• Students complete prerequisite courses in the first two years.
• Students enter the dental hygiene major in the autumn of the junior year.
• The junior year includes dental sciences, dental hygiene sciences, and pre-clinic, with patient treatment beginning in the dental clinic's spring semester.
• The senior year includes advanced dental hygiene courses and continuing patient treatment each term.
• Students choose an area of specialization in restorative expanded functions, dental hygiene education, or an individualized program.
• All students complete a practicum during the spring semester of the senior year.

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Individual Modules:

• The program includes modules on dental sciences, dental hygiene sciences, pre-clinic, advanced dental hygiene courses, restorative expanded functions, dental hygiene education, and an individualized program.
• Each module covers a specific aspect of dental hygiene, such as assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, case management, interpersonal communication, practice management, ethics, research methods, and community service.

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Assessment:

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Assessment Methods:

• The program uses a variety of assessment methods to evaluate student learning, including:
• Exams
• Quizzes
• Projects
• Presentations
• Clinical evaluations
• Practicum evaluations

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Assessment Criteria:

• The program uses the following criteria to assess student learning:
• Knowledge and understanding of dental hygiene concepts
• Clinical skills
• Communication skills
• Professionalism
• Ethics

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Teaching:

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Teaching Methods:

• The program uses a variety of teaching methods to engage students and facilitate learning, including:
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Demonstrations
• Hands-on practice
• Clinical rotations
• Community service experiences

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Faculty:

• The program's faculty are experienced dental hygienists and educators who are dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education.
• The faculty are actively involved in research and practice, which allows them to bring the latest knowledge and techniques into the classroom.

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Unique Approaches:

• The program is the only dental hygiene program in Ohio affiliated with a college of dentistry.
• This affiliation provides students with access to a wide range of resources and opportunities, including:
• State-of-the-art clinical facilities
• Research opportunities
• Interdisciplinary collaborations
• Continuing education opportunities

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Careers:

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Potential Career Paths:

• Registered dental hygienists can work in a variety of professional settings, including:
• Private dental offices
• Nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Hospitals
• Corporate health facilities
• School systems
• Public health clinics

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Career Opportunities:

• Registered dental hygienists perform a variety of tasks, including:
• Examining patients' teeth and gums
• Cleaning teeth
• Taking X-rays
• Applying fluoride treatments
• Providing oral health education
• Performing other preventive dental services

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Career Outcomes:

• The annual median salary for a dental hygienist is $72,330.
• Salaries may vary according to the hygienist's experience and responsibilities, geographic location, and the type of practice or other setting in which the hygienist works.