Dental Hygiene

Program Overview:

The Dental Hygiene program educates students to provide patient dental care to the public. Didactic, clinical and laboratory instruction is designed to develop students into valuable members of the Dental Health Team.

Program graduates may become licensed Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH). RDH use educational theory and methodology to analyze oral health needs. Educational services learned develop promotional strategies and delivery of oral health for individuals and groups. As clinicians, RDH assess, plan, and implement treatments for prevention, intervention and control of oral diseases while practicing in collaboration with other professionals. RHD provide routine patient care and treatment for beginning to advanced stages of periodontal disease.

Prerequisite course work is listed on the CSI website. The program takes students two years to complete and requires admission application. Ten students are selected each year for admission into the Dental Hygiene Program. The College of Southern Idaho’s Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Program prepares students for the successful completion of the National Dental Hygiene Exam and the Western Regional Board Exam (WREB) which are administered by the Joint Commission of the American Dental Association.

Visit Program Website:

http://hshs.csi.edu/dental_hygiene

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Dental Hygiene program, a student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Dental Hygiene practice. 
2. Demonstrate clinical proficiency by developing patient treatment plans to provide comprehensive oral hygiene care. 
3. Learn and develop leadership and organizational skills to facilitate community based service. 
4. Study research journals and analyze scientific methods to aid in the selection of appropriate therapies and educational methods, manage practice problems and apply advances in patient care. 
5. Foster team building, communication and Integrity necessary to contribute to clinical employment settings. 
6. Prepare for successful completion of the National Dental Hygiene Exam and the Western Regional Clinic Board Exam (WREB). 

Course Performance Requirements:

To promote success on the certification/licensure examination(s), all Required Courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Program Requirements for Admission:

Program Application Required

You must be a high school graduate or have completed the GED/HSE before applying to this program.

http://hshs.csi.edu/dental_hygiene

Career Information:

Dental Hygienists