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GENERAL INFORMATION
What is a Dental Hygienist?
The
Dental Hygiene program prepares the student to provide direct patient care
in the detection and prevention of oral diseases under the supervision
of a dentist as required by the State Board of
Dentistry. The Dental Hygienist’s major role is an educator and includes
designing individualized dental hygiene patient treatment and education. The
Dental Hygienist is qualified to evaluate patient medical histories, take
and record vital signs, chart oral conditions for diagnosis by the dentist,
conduct oral cancer screening examinations, educate the patient on the
latest techniques of oral home care, and perform a thorough cleaning of the
patient’s teeth. The Dental Hygienist is also
qualified to apply sealants and fluoride for the prevention of decay,
expose, develop, and evaluate dental radiographs, and provide nutritional
counseling for dental patients.
Career Opportunities
for Dental Hygienists:
Career
opportunities are readily available in the following:
The flexibility of working hours, be it full or part-time employment allows
the dental hygienist to maintain a balance between career and other personal
goals.
The Clinical Facility:
Students
receive their Dental Hygiene education in a modern, well-equipped on-campus
dental clinic that is open to the public for dental hygiene services.
This clinic consists of 12 dental chairs, 3 x-ray units, one
sterilization center, and a newly renovated dental laboratory.
All treatment is performed under the supervision of South Carolina
licensed dentists and dental hygienists.
Accreditation:
The
program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission
on Dental Accreditation.
“The Commission on Dental
Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance
with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the
sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related
education programs, but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act
as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admission, appointment,
promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.”
A copy of the
appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy and
procedures for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the
Commission at the following address:
Commission on Dental Accreditation
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
1-800-621-8099 Communicable
Disease Statement:
Although
there are no documented cases of the occupational spread of HIV to
dental workers, students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program are at a
slight risk of exposure to blood and body fluids and the potential does
exist for transmission of bloodborne and other infectious diseases, such as
Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS, during patient treatment.
The risk of HIV disease transmission from dental patients to members
of the dental team is very low. However,
there is some small potential for this to occur.
The Americans with Disabilities Act forbids discrimination against patients
with HIV; therefore, students are required to treat all patients assigned,
regardless of the disease state of the patient.
Students are also at risk for Hepatitis B and are required to have the
vaccine series prior to patient/student treatment or sign a declination form
for not taking the vaccine.
All students will receive
appropriate education on the Bloodborne Standards and Infection Control (per
OSHA guidelines) utilized in the treatment of dental patients. Students will
be tested on this material and must demonstrate laboratory and clinical
competency prior to patient treatment. Students will be expected to provide
services for patients with bloodborne/infectious diseases as part of the
routine clinical experiences.
CPR Certification:
All students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program must maintain
certification in
Healthcare Provider CPR
during the entire 5-semester curriculum. It is recommended that the student
obtain certification through the American Heart Association that provides a
two-year certification period. Documentation in the form of a copied card
must be given to the Program Director upon completion of the course. This
course MUST be completed prior to treating patients in the second
semester of the curriculum. Documentation must be on file for anyone who is
medically or physically unable to perform such services.
Legal Limitations of
Licensure:
Students
entering the Dental Hygiene Program should be aware that the South Carolina
State Board of Dentistry Rules and Regulation #40-15-190 states that “any
person convicted of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or
controlled substance may not be granted a license to practice dental hygiene
in the Sate of South Carolina even if the dental hygiene curriculum is
successfully completed”. Questions regarding this regulation can be
directed to the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry, Koger Office Park,
Kingstree Building, 110 Centerview Drive, Suite 306, Columbia, SC 29211 or
telephone 803-896-4599. |
