Performance Standards

Once a student is admitted to the clinical phase of the program, he or she must comply with all program policies and procedures.

Attend Classes: All Dental Hygiene classes (lectures/laboratories/clinics) are IN-PERSON ONLY. The dental hygiene program runs under a block schedule, students must take the courses in the order in which they are given. The program offers a day and evening section, students will be given opportunity for preference during the application process. Due to limited clinic space, and faculty to student ratio, students cannot switch between day and evening sections while in the program.

Day Students: Fall and Spring sessions are full-time. Students need to be flexible Monday to Friday between the hours of 7:30 am and 6 pm.

Evening Students: Fall, Spring, and Summer (June or July) sessions as a full-time student. Students need to be flexible Monday to Friday between the hours of 5 pm and 10 pm, as well as Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Vaccinations: Submit documented evidence of a complete physical examination demonstrating good health. The First and Second-Year Student Medical Examination Form is provided by the department. Students are responsible for satisfying NYS immunization and department immunization requirements to be permitted into the clinical portion of the courses to meet CDC guidelines for Health Care Providers. These include:

• T-dap
• Varicella
• MMR
• Hepatitis B*
• Influenza - annually
• Tuberculosis baseline screening - blood test (skin test not accepted)

*If in-progress of Hepatitis B series documentation must be provided.

*Any missing or incomplete immunizations will void the student from clinical participation and prevent them from entering the program.

Bloodborne Pathogens:

• As a healthcare provider, you will have the potential for exposure to respiratory and bloodborne pathogens.
• Dental Hygienists will encounter saliva and blood while working on patients. Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease.
• The most common bloodborne pathogens are Hepatitis B, C & HIV.
• How to manage bloodborne pathogens is taught to dental hygiene students to help protect everyone against occupational transmission of bloodborne disease.

Functional/Technical Standards

Motor/Physical/Health:

• Adequate motor/physical ability and health status to acquire specific technical skills that allow for the performance of oral hygiene procedures without creating actual or potential harm to, or compromise of the patient's, colleagues, faculty, or their own health and well-being.
• Dexterity skills that involve a refined use of the small muscles controlling and use during instrumentation.

Sensory:

• Exhibit functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensation. Adequate visual acuity to acquire information from printed or handwritten materials, films, slides, videos, and x- rays; to differentiate between variations in the depth of field, color, shade size and shape of clinical findings or their diagrammatic representation; and to observe and respond to non-verbal communication.
• Display sufficient auditory ability to facilitate proper communication with faculty, peers, and patients; as well as recognize the sounds of equipment that is functioning abnormally and adequate tactile sensitivity to differentiate between normal and abnormal structures both intra-oral and/or extra-oral.

Communication:

• Students must be proficient in the English language necessary to obtain information from lectures, texts, written materials, and conversations with dental personnel; and to be able to communicate and understand information on written examinations and patient charts and communicate with patients and members of the dental health community. It is essential to effectively partake in problem identification, problem solving and offering directions to patients during and after treatment.

Cognitive:

• To problem solve and administer timely and appropriate dental hygiene care, it is essential for students to be able to: analyze, integrate, synthesize, calculate, summarize, and interpret written, oral, and diagrammatic/pictorial information.
• In addition, documentation by recording accurate and complete patient information in a prescribed, legally acceptable format; and being able and willing to perform varied tasks in an appropriate sequence or several tasks simultaneously.

Behavioral:

• Be able to fully utilize his/her intellectual abilities in providing the patient with appropriate, efficient, and safe treatment. This is demonstrated by, but not limited to, the student's exercise of good judgment; prompt completion of patient related responsibilities; development of compassionate and effective relationships with patients, peers, and faculty; adaptation to changing environments; display of flexibility; compliance with departmental procedures and regulations; tactful and congenial management of apprehensive patients; acceptance of reasonable feedback and adherence to the College's and Department's standards of academic integrity.
• In addition, he/she needs to be prepared to function under stress and in the face of the uncertainties inherent in the clinical treatment of patients.

Progression in and Graduation from Dental Hygiene:

• A minimum grade of “C” in each course designated with the prefix DEN will be required for progression in and graduation from the dental hygiene program.
• DEN 1100 may not be repeated in the event of failure or a grade of “D” and the student will be required to choose another major.
• Students who withdraw will be considered for readmission on an individual basis and only if they withdraw in good standing (passing all courses at time of withdrawal).

*As per College policy, no dental hygiene course may be repeated more than once. In addition:

• No more than two dental hygiene courses may be repeated during the entire course of study.
• A student may not fail more than one course in any one semester.
• If a student fails to meet any of these provisions, he/she will be required to withdraw from the dental hygiene curriculum.

Approximate Additional Costs Other Than Tuition Associated with DH Degree

*These additional costs are not covered by Financial Aid

Item	Cost
Board Examinations: Clinical Exam National Board Dental Hygiene Exam (NBDHE)	$1625 (total fee for both) $1075 $550
Dental Hygiene License: N.Y. State Dental Hygiene License N.Y. State Dental Hygiene Anesthesia License	$153 (total fee for both) $128 $25
Professional Membership: Student American Dental Hygienists' Association (SADHA) *Required of all students in the dental hygiene program	$65 - One Year $120 - Two Years
Instruments and Supplies	~$3000
Textbooks	~$1000
Uniforms	~$200
Hygiene Pin	~$10

Student Resources

The following are links that contain useful consumer, professional and educational information related to dental hygiene and dentistry.

• American Dental Association
• American Dental Hygienists' Association
• Crest International Resources

Our affiliation with industry professionals nationally, regionally, and locally affords our students the significant privilege of connecting with organizations for additional advancement opportunities. The following are some of our affiliations:

• Second District Dental Society
• Long Island Academy of Odontology
• Johnson & Johnson Health Care Products
• Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals
• Crest/Oral B Products
• Phillips Sonicare
• Orapharma
• GlaxoSmithKline