Contact Information
Stacy Owens, Program Coordinator
Stacy.Owens@ndscs.edu
701-671-2522
Mayme Green Allied Health Center 213N
Delivery Methods
Face to Face: Wahpeton
The Dental Hygiene program is designed to prepare students as professionals in the discipline of dental hygiene. The dental hygienist, a licensed member of the dental health team, provides dental health education, promotes and encourages the preventive aspects of dental care, removes stains and deposits from teeth, exposes and processes dental radiographs, administers local anesthesia, provides many other patient treatment procedures, and assumes other responsibilities in the dental office.
Career Opportunities
Dental hygienists are typically employed in general dental practices or specialty practices. Dental hygienists also can apply their skills and knowledge in other career activities including public health, corporate dental representative, dental office management, and dental hygiene education depending on the level of education and experience they have achieved.
Dental Hygiene Curriculum
The Dental Hygiene program consists of classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences emphasizing skill development, self-assessment, and professionalism offered over five continuous semesters. The majority of the clinical experience is in the NDSCS dental clinic. Students are also assigned to off-campus affiliation sites to enhance their dental hygiene education. Students must provide their own transportation to off-campus affiliation sites. Criminal background checks will be required. A felony charge and/or conviction may affect participation in clinical experience(s), and therefore, program completion. If this issue applies, the student must meet with the department chair.
The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The program adheres to the NDSCS Equal Opportunity Policy as stated in the NDSCS Catalog. Dental Hygiene Program Competencies, Program Goals, and Essential Functions are available on the website at www.NDSCS.edu.
This program requires access to a personal laptop and printer, capable of completing the assignments/testing required by the program, with a current operating system and webcam/microphone. Tablets and Chromebooks are not compatible with online classes/testing.
Admission/Selection Requirements*
Applicants will be admitted to the program following a selection process. The following requirements must be met by March 1 to be considered for selection. Applicants that apply after the March 1 deadline can complete the selection requirements and be placed on a waiting list. Late applicants may be selected based on points if openings become available until the first day of class fall semester.
- Complete the NDSCS Admission process and submit an official high school transcript and all official college transcripts to Enrollment Services.
- Complete the Supplemental Program Application for Dental Hygiene.
- Submit an official college transcript(s) with a minimum of twelve college semester credits and a GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Complete the selection assessment examination and meet the program benchmark score of 55. The exam can be retaken once. Check with program for current assessment(s) required.
- Complete pre-requisite courses by January 1: Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 115 and 115L), Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 220 and 220L) and College Composition I (ENGL 110). Complete pre-requisite course by May 15: Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOL 221 and 221L) with a “C” or higher.
- Additional admission points will also be awarded for completing classes at NDSCS.
- Review Essential Functions for Allied Dental Education Students and submit the signed Essential Functions Verification form.
Selection process details, contact information and forms are located in the Dental Hygiene Program Information and Selection Process Booklet available at www.NDSCS.edu/Dental (click on Program Selection Process) or contact the program at AlliedHealthCareers@ndscs.edu.
The program is a limited enrollment program. Applicants will be selected on a point system. Once program capacity is reached, an alternate list will be established based on points. It is recommended that applicants stay in close contact with the program as they complete their selection requirements.
Program Selection Requirements are subject to revision. Please check the department or program website under Program Admission Requirements for current information.
For accepted students, specific immunizations, criminal background checks, CPR certification (Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider by American Heart Association (AHA) OR Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers from American Red Cross (ARC) ONLY), and health insurance, are required by the program. Additional requirements could include but not limited to; drug screening/ finger printing, state background checks, and COVID-19 vaccinations dependent on clinical site-specific student prerequisites. *All requirements must remain current while in the program and will be at the students’ expense.
Licensure requirements for dental hygienists include successful completion of the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination and a regional clinical examination, i.e., CRDTS, WREB. Individual states have additional licensure requirements. A criminal background check will be required and a felony conviction may affect state licensure.
Award
Upon program completion of the required courses (“C” or higher), students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene.