SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY :: Health Sciences

Dental Hygiene

:: General Information

:: Degree Requirements

:: Program Goals and Objectives

:: DH Faculty

:: Apply for Program Admission

Graduates of the Dental Hygiene Program at Shawnee State University earn an Associate of Applied Sciences degree. The program is completed in 5 academic semesters that combine classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. All instruction is provided at Shawnee State University. Graduates are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination as well as state and regional clinical examinations.

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirements for admission into the dental hygiene program include High School or College Algebra, Biology, Chemistry, (C or above), and an ACT score of 18 in the science reasoning section. Admission into the dental hygiene program is selective and competitive.

The deadline for receipt of all application materials for admission is March 1.

Students who have completed application materials may be considered for acceptance on the basis of space available in the program and the academic qualifications.

Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene is a vital health service component of dentistry and emphasizes oral health and the prevention of oral disease.

Most dental hygienists are employed in private dental offices. The hygienist’s main function is to provide dental health education, home care instruction, and diet/nutritional counseling. Dental hygiene services include performing oral prophylaxis, scaling and polishing of the patient’s teeth to remove soft and hard deposits; dental charting and oral examinations; exposing and processing radiographs; applying fluoride treatments and sealants; and making preliminary impressions for study models. A dental hygienist should possess fine-motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Dental hygienists should be able to effectively communicate with individuals, both one-on-one and during small group interactions. Many states, including the State of Ohio, permit hygienists to administer local anesthesia and monitor nitrous oxide sedation.

Accreditation

The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association—Commission on Dental Accreditation.

For all potential students of the Dental Hygiene Program and patients of the Dental Hygiene Clinic interested in policies for Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Disease, these policies are available upon request in the dental hygiene clinic or can be viewed at the following links.

Infection Disease Guidelines (PDF)
SSU Bloodborne Pathogen Policy 5.21 (PDF)

Job Opportunities

Hygienists are employed in the following areas:

Private Practice
Public Health Dental hygienists may be involved in school-based oral screening of sealant programs, planning, implementing, and evaluating oral health education programs for dental professionals, medical professionals and the public.
Dental Marketing Employment opportunities may be available with companies that marked dental-related materials and equipment.
Hospitals and Clinics Concerned primarily with the special oral health problems of the bedridden and chronically ill.
Teaching and Research Hygienists with advanced degrees may be employed in research or may teach in dental hygiene educational programs that help students to prepare for the profession.

Competencies for entry into the profession of dental hygiene (PDF)

Licensure
Application for licensure as a dental hygienist in the state of Ohio requires a criminal background check which includes fingerprinting. Any student who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor related to substance abuse, or crime involving moral turpitude, may be denied licensure by the Ohio State Dental Board. For further clarification, please contact the Ohio State Dental Board at (614) 466-2580.

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