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Academic Programs and Services

Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene program prepares graduates to be competent oral health clinicians and educators with the ability to develop effective oral health programs that can be utilized in private practice sites, schools and alternative practice settings in the community.

The clinical training is conducted on campus in a 16-chair, free dental hygiene clinic. Students have the opportunity to treat diverse patient populations, many with advanced periodontal disease.

The Dental Hygiene program is designed so that students, upon matriculation, can complete the program in 24 consecutive months. Graduating Dental Hygiene students are eligible to take the Northeast Regional Board Examination and the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.

Accreditation:
The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-2719 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611.

Program Entry Requirements:
Admission is selective and requires that potential students fulfill all admission requirements of the College. The requirements for admission to the Dental Hygiene program are:

  1. High school diploma or general education diploma (GED).
  2. A minimum of one year of high school biology and chemistry or a four-credit biology college level course and college preparatory math, all with “C” or better grades, within the past ten years.
  3. Applicants must demonstrate readiness for ENGL 101 and MATH 118 as determined by the College’s placement tests or by successfully completing identified developmental course work.
  4. Applicants with previous college experience must have a minimum of a 2.50 grade point average.

Students are admitted to the program on a competitive basis as space allows.

    Conditions for Acceptance:
  1. Results of complete physical and dental examinations, including laboratory test results of a complete blood count, serology, urinalysis, tuberculin PPD test and immuniza-tions must be on file in the program office before the start of any dental course (September of starting year).
  2. Verification of medical insurance is mandatory.
  3. Applicants must attend a scheduled program orientation prior to entry.
  4. The student must obtain Pennsylvania State Police and F.B.I. Criminal Record Checks and a Child Abuse Clearance prior to the entrance into the program. This Dental Hygiene requirement is mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania per 24 P.S. 1-111 of the Pennsylvania Public School Code and 23 Pennsylvania C.S.A. 6355 of the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law.

    The College, in its admission process, will consider information regarding criminal conviction and/or crimes of moral turpitude. Admission is conditional pending receipt and evaluation of Pennsylvania State Police and F.B.I. criminal background checks and child abuse clearance to determine whether there is any conviction which may bar the student from the Dental Hygiene program and/or State Licensure.

The following guidelines are used in making decisions about an applicant’s criminal and child abuse background.

    Child Abuse Clearance
  • Any record results in denial of admission into the DH program. Criminal Background Check
  • Any felony conviction within the past ten years results in denial of admission to the DH program.
  • Any felony conviction more than ten years old will be evaluated based on the nature of the offense, length of time since the offense and any explanatory letters/materials submitted by the applicant or student.
  • Any misdemeanor will be evaluated based on the nature of the offense, length of time since the offense, and explanatory letter/materials submitted by the applicant or students. (Any punishment over one year indicates a felony according to federal sentencing guidelines.)

    • Reconsideration
    An applicant who believes that an error of fact has been made in terms of the information provided to the decision making committee can request reconsideration by the committee. This request must be made in writing within ten days from the date of the letter notifying the applicant of the decision. The reconsideration should address what the applicant considers to be errors of fact.

    Following reconsideration by the decision making committee, the applicant can appeal the committee’s decision to the Vice President for Academic Affairs whose decision is final.

    Any official change or the initiation of any governmental proceeding affecting the information revealed by the required criminal or child abuse background check must be reported immediately to the DH curriculum supervisor.

    Involvement in any incident which resulted in a disciplinary action against a student at Community College of Philadelphia or any post-secondary institution is considered in the admissions process. The DH program reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant who has a history of violating College rules and regulations or who has been previously suspended or expelled from the College or any other post-secondary educational institution.

  • Uniform and Dental Hygiene supply kit purchase (August of starting year).
  • Attendance at fall and spring Study Skills Workshops.

    Readmission:
  1. One time readmission into the Dental Hygiene program is permitted.
  2. Students requesting a readmission must meet program entry requirements, conditions for acceptance and are selected on a competitive basis as space permits.
  3. Students may be required to retake dental or general education courses as determined by the program director.
  4. Students who were dropped for unprofessional conduct or safety issues may not be considered for readmission.
  5. The program must be completed within 5 years of initial enrollment.

    Program of Study Requirements:
  1. Students exhibiting unprofessional conduct or violation of safety policies may be dropped from the curriculum pending a review by the program faculty and advisory committee.
  2. To continue in the Dental Hygiene curriculum, students must maintain a 2.50 GPA overall.
  3. Students will not be permitted to continue in a clinical course without a yearly medical and dental exam and proof of medical insurance on file.
  4. Dental Hygiene students must follow the curriculum sequence according to courses listed in each semester, unless approval is granted by the program director.
  5. Dental Hygiene students must submit proof of two-year CPR certification prior to entering the first year’s spring semester.

Graduation Requirements:
To qualify for the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Dental Hygiene, students must complete 78 credit hours as prescribed and must maintain an overall 2.50 GPA and no grade below a “C” in any course.

Download a printable degree description (PDF File) that includes a recommended course sequence grid.