Program Coordinator Roberta (Bobbie) Brown
The L&C Dental Hygiene Program provides the education necessary to fulfill the roles of a dental hygienist in the second phase of a unique curriculum known as “career laddering”. Students are accepted into the program with advanced standing admission status by successfully completing an ADA accredited dental assisting program prior to admission. Nineteen and a half (19.5) credit hours are credited from specific ADA accredited dental assisting courses. These additional 19.5 credited dental assisting courses are considered pre-requisites for the dental hygiene program. Students must maintain a “C” or higher in all courses. After completion of “phase one” of dental assisting, the student may choose to seek employment as a dental assistant or apply into the Dental Hygiene phase of the program. Acceptance into the L&C Dental Assisting Program does not guarantee acceptance into the Dental Hygiene program.
The Paul B. Hanks Dental Clinic Building includes a dental materials laboratory, a dental programs resource room, and a state-of-the-art dental assisting/hygiene clinical learning center. Students receive patient care instruction from experts who are oral health care professionals. Students work with the latest equipment and techniques, electronic record keeping, digital radiography, and have the opportunity to participate in other rotations at a variety of sites: Beverly Farm, the Veterans’ Administration Medical Center, and numerous public health and community-oriented settings.
You’ll gain confidence through quality education in the L&C Dental Hygiene Program. Since the first class of graduates in 1996, the program boasts a 99 percent success rate on the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, a test necessary in order to complete the licensure process in all states. The average score of the L&C graduates is usually well above that of the national average. In addition, our one-year follow-up surveys indicate that graduates are 100 percent prepared for their professional job opportunities based upon their educational experiences at L&C.
Dental Hygiene Program Mission Statement: The mission of the Lewis and Clark Community College Dental Hygiene Program is consistent with the L&C Dental Assisting Program. Our primary purpose is to meet the oral health care needs of the Metropolitan St. Louis area. To fulfill this purpose, we are committed to providing quality education to all students without discrimination, recognizing and respecting the dignity of each individual; fulfilling the oral health care needs of the community by providing high quality patient care; and encouraging participation in professional and service organizations. In order to accomplish the overall mission, the Dental Hygiene Program recognizes and supports the need for the personal and professional growth of each student and faculty member.
Program Learning Objectives
Reflect the core competencies of ethics, values, skills, and knowledge which are integral to all foundational aspects of the dental hygiene profession
Recognize that health promotion and disease prevention are key components of comprehensive health care
Appreciate the ability to influence members of the community to facilitate access to care and services
Follow a defined process of care for the provision of patient care services and treatment modalities. This requires completion of the accredited dental hygiene program and successful professional credentialing according to the Illinois Dental Practice Act
Seek opportunities for professional growth and development that may influence the profession and recognize the needs of the changing health care environment
Nature of Work: The Dental Hygiene program prepares students to be important members of the dental health team. Although each state has its own regulations regarding the scope of dental hygiene practice, some of the responsibilities of the dental hygienist are: assessment, treatment and prevention of oral diseases, planning community-based oral health programs, providing staff development training, promoting the need for innovation and change in oral health care, advising patients on commercial products, working with public health agencies, and researching for the improvement of patient care.
Graduates are qualified to pursue additional education at the baccalaureate level and/or find job placement in a multitude of areas such as: general dentistry offices, periodontal offices, retail sales companies, public health agencies and educational institutions.
Skills and Abilities: All applicants and students must be able to fulfill certain “technical standards.” These standards are the essential requirements of the Dental Hygiene program that students must master to successfully participate in the program and become employable in the dental hygiene field.
Technical standards for students in the Dental Hygiene Program
All applicants and students must possess the manual dexterity and visual capacity to perform all required technical procedures and properly manipulate dental instruments.
Students must be able to communicate in an effectual manner. Students will be required to read and comprehend technical material, as well as write technical reports in a clear and concise manner. In addition, all students must be able to verbally communicate effectively with patients, co-workers, and other dental personnel.
Each applicant needs to assess his/her own ability to meet the above technical standards.
Accreditation: The L&C Dental Hygiene Program received full “approved without reporting” status from the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA-CODA) in April, 2017.
Graduation Requirements: To be eligible for graduation with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene, a student must:
Complete 60 credit hours as prescribed in the curriculum.
Nineteen and a half (19.5) additional credit hours are credited from specific accredited dental assisting courses. These additional 19.5 credited dental assisting courses are considered pre-requisites for the dental hygiene program and are in addition to the 60 credit hours prescribed in the dental hygiene curriculum. Student must maintain a grade of “C” or higher in all courses.
Attain a minimum GPA of 2.0 with a grade of “C” or better in dental hygiene courses (defined as a course with a DENT prefix) and BIOL 141, BIOL 142, BIOL 241, CHEM 130, ENGL 131, MATH 114 or MATH 124, SOCI 131, and a Humanities/Fine Arts elective (If the student completes the biology and chemistry courses prior to admission in the program, the courses must have been completed no more than five years prior to the fall semester the student is accepted into the dental hygiene program).
Satisfy requirements for an Associate in Applied Science degree as outlined in this catalog.
Complete the Dental Hygiene Program goals and competencies. Completion of the program goals includes competency in:
The dental hygiene program and its graduates should reflect the core competencies of ethics, values, skills, and knowledge which are integral to all foundational aspects of the dental hygiene profession.
The dental hygiene program and its graduates should recognize that health promotion and disease prevention are key components of comprehensive health care.
The dental hygiene program and its graduates must appreciate their ability to influence members of their community to facilitate access to care and services.
The dental hygiene program and its graduates must use their skills to follow a defined process of care for the provision of patient care services and treatment modalities. This requires completion of the accredited dental hygiene program and successful professional credentialing according to the Illinois Dental Practice Act.
The dental hygiene program and its graduates must seek opportunities for professional growth and development that may influence the profession and recognize the needs of the changing health care environment.
Abide by specific policies for the program. These policies are available for review in the Dental Assisting/ Hygiene Office in the Paul B. Hanks Dental Clinic Building or with the program coordinator.
Application and Admission: To be considered for admission, an applicant MUST meet these criteria and submit the following information:
Evidence of residence in one of the following public community college districts: Lewis and Clark District No. 536, John A. Logan District No. 530, Southwestern Illinois College District No. 522, East St. Louis Community College Center, John Wood Community College District No. 539, Kaskaskia College District No. 501, Illinois Eastern Community College No. 529, or Lincoln Land Community College No. 526. Proven residency in the Lewis and Clark Community College District No. 536 must be met within 30 days prior to the beginning of classes. Out-of-region residents will be eligible if space is available after the dental hygiene class has been selected from in-region residents. Acceptable proof of residency ONLY INCLUDES:
Illinois driver’s license showing in-region residency,
Voter’s registration card showing in-region residency,
Utility bill showing in-region residency, or
Rent receipt showing in-region residency. Proven residency in the Lewis and Clark Community College District No. 536 must be met within 30 days prior to the beginning of classes.
Online L&C application for the Dental Hygiene Program (instructions found on the dental hygiene web page).
Official high school transcript and/or official Illinois High School Diploma report showing successful completion (must be received by the L&C Enrollment Center).
Successful completion of an ADA-CODA-accredited dental assisting program prior to admission. Nineteen and a half (19.5) credit hours are credited from specific accredited dental assisting courses. These additional 19.5 credited dental assisting courses are considered pre-requisites for the dental hygiene program. If you have not graduated from a dental assisting program accredited by ADA-CODA you must apply to the L&C Dental Assisting Program first.
Evidence of completion with a grade of “C” or better in the following courses:
Qualify for MATH 116 by appropriate L&C placement test score or a qualifying score on the mathematics portion of the ACT examination or one college semester of algebra, MATH 112. If necessary, appropriate prerequisite courses must be taken prior to program enrollment.
Complete MATH 114 or MATH 124 or successfully pass the MATH 114 proficiency/waiver examination.
Qualify for and complete ENGL 131. Qualifying for ENGL 131 may include L&C placement test scores in English and reading. If necessary, appropriate prerequisite courses must be taken prior to program enrollment.
One year of high school general biology, or one college semester of general biology with a grade of “C” or better: BIOL 130, BIOL 131, 0r BIOL 132. (BIOL 132 is preferred if this requirement has not previously been met.)
SPCH 145.
PSYC 131.
CHEM 130.
Computer Literacy Requirement:
Complete any high school or college computer concepts course with a grade of “C” or better, or
Complete DENT 143 Dental Office Management with a grade of “C” or better, or
Complete an acceptable substitution from another ADA-CODA Dental Assisting Program. (This computer requirement CAN be met if your Dental Assisting curriculum includes computer use in office management. You are not REQUIRED to enroll in a separate computer course as a prerequisite.)
Transcripts from any previously attended college or university (must be received by the L&C Enrollment Center). Applicants with foreign transcripts will need to contact the L&C Enrollment Center).
Current transcript, if presently a college student, showing courses in which you are now enrolled (sent to the L&C Enrollment Center).
Score earned on the Dental Hygiene Pre-admission Aptitude Test. If you find it necessary to repeat this test in an attempt to attain a higher score, you are eligible to retake the test the following year. You must have taken the test in order to be considered for admission. The test is only administered each January. Candidate ranking for acceptance to the class is based on the pre-admission test score. To register for this Aptitude Test, please call the L&C Assessment Center and follow the instructions found in the Admissions Guide in the Resources section of the dental hygiene web page.
Identify the year you wish to be admitted to the program and begin dental hygiene courses on the program application form.
Grade point average of 2.0 or better for courses completed at L&C and course equivalents from other regionally accredited institutions.
Proof of taking and passing the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) within 2 years prior to admission date. Those applicants that will graduate from an ADA accredited dental assisting program in May-August of the year they apply for admission must provide a copy of their DANB application for a summer testing date. Admission to the program for these students will be provisional, contingent upon the applicant showing a passing DANB score by July 1. For information about taking the DANB, call 1-800-FOR-DANB. Students must keep their DANB certificate current while enrolled in the program, up to graduation.
Proof of ranking in the upper half of their high school graduating class, OR completion of a minimum of six semester hours with a grade of “C” or better from among the following: SPCH 145, PSYC 131, BIOL 130, BIOL 131, BIOL 132, or ENGL 131.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the above credentials are in the L&C Enrollment Center by February 1 of the year they intend to begin the program. Provisional acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program is possible if the above required course work can be fulfilled prior to the start of classes in the Fall.
Final acceptance will be given to qualified applicants when they have met the following additional requirements:
Successful completion of a Dental Hygiene Challenge Examination testing proficiency of current knowledge in dental materials, tooth morphology, head and neck anatomy, dental radiology, medical and dental emergencies, preventive dentistry, and oral histology and embryology. If proficiency is not attained, the applicant will have the opportunity to remediate and retake the exam in four weeks. If an applicant fails to pass the repeated exam, he/she will be required to take more formal remediation before reapplying to the program the next year. Those applicants who are not graduates of the L&C Dental Assisting Program must take the Challenge Exam. Those applicants who are graduates of the L&C Dental Assisting Program must take the Challenge Exam if more than one year has passed since graduation.
Must be recognized in Basic Life Support, including CPR, through the American Heart Association (Health Care Provider course only – classes must include use of AED, so cannot be an online course unless the clinical portion is also included) before classes commence. Card must be valid all semesters enrolled in the program in order to attend clinical and lab sessions and be submitted along with required medical and dental forms.
Satisfactory completion of the medical and dental health packet prior to admission to the program. This includes proof of medical insurance.
Applicants must have immunizations for tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and an annual TB skin test. The annual TB skin test must be kept current in order to attend clinical and lab sessions. A hepatitis C vaccine is strongly recommended.
Proof of completed certified background check, and drug screening (instructions and additional information given at new student orientation).
Completion of all program prerequisites.
Maintenance of the DANB certification until graduation from the Dental Hygiene Program.
Lewis and Clark Community College adheres to the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, which requires college campuses to be drug and alcohol free. In accordance with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the use, possession, maintenance, distribution and/or sale of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, controlled substances or unauthorized prescription drugs while on College property, in College-owned vehicles or while participating in any College activity is strictly prohibited.
In addition, the L&C Dental Program partners with external agencies to provide clinical experiences for Dental students. These agencies require that all clinical participants undergo a drug test as a condition upon placement in a clinical program. A negative result is required for a dental program student to be placed in a clinical program. Some clinical agencies may require random drug testing throughout a student’s clinical experience and require a negative result for the student to continue his/her participation in the clinical experience.
Substances prohibited by the clinical agencies include, but are not limited to: amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, opiates, heroin, PCP, and alcohol. A student who tests positive for any of these substances, or who refuses to undergo the required drug test, is subject to disqualification from lab and clinical participation, which will result in the student not completing the dental programs due to a failure to meet the lab and clinical component of the L&C Dental Programs.
To obtain a Dental Hygiene admissions guidelines packet, please go to the Resources section of the dental hygiene web page at www.lc.edu and download the document.
To make an appointment with an academic advisor to review your records and determine which prerequisites are met and what you need to do to meet any deficiencies, call 618-468-2222.
Course Transferability In and Out of the Lewis and Clark Dental Programs
Program-specific dental courses are not designed to transfer in or out of the L&C dental programs.
The L&C 1+1 curriculum design between dental assisting and dental hygiene requires full completion of an ADA-CODA accredited dental assisting program to qualify for dental hygiene admission. Courses in the completed dental assisting program must be formally evaluated by L&C dental program coordinators to ensure that all required dental assisting course content was included to meet this dental hygiene guideline.
Some required dental program courses are considered general education and/or science courses. Lewis and Clark Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and general education and science courses are designed to transfer out to other regionally accredited institutions. However, course equivalency is determined by the reciprocal institution. L&C only accepts general education and science courses from regionally accredited institutions, and each course is formally evaluated to determine L&C course equivalency. We encourage students to work with L&C academic advisors regarding transferability of specific general education and science courses.
Dental Hygiene - DENT/HYGNE.AAS
Associate in Applied Science Degree
Note: Students considering the B.S. in Dental Hygiene at SIU-C after graduation from L&C should contact the program coordinator regarding course selection prior to enrollment.
Summer Semester
ENGL 131 - First-Year English I 3 credit hours
Total: 3 Credit Hours
First Year - Fall Semester
BIOL 141 - Anatomy-Physiology I 4 credit hours *
BIOL 241 - Microbiology 4 credit hours *
DENT 232 - Pathology II 2 credit hours
DENT 234 - Preclinical Dental Hygiene I 5 credit hours
*If the student completes BIOL 141, BIOL 142, and/or BIOL 241 prior to admission to the Dental Hygiene Program, then the student must have completed the course no more than five years prior to the fall semester when the student is admitted to the program.
Total: 15 Credit Hours
First Year - Spring Semester
BIOL 142 - Anatomy-Physiology II 4 credit hours *
DENT 231 - Pharmacology 2 credit hours
DENT 248 - Periodontology 2 credit hours
DENT 250 - Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar I 3.5 credit hours
DENT 252 - Community Oral Health 2.5 credit hours
DENT 254 - Dental Hygiene Practice II 4 credit hours
Total: 18 Credit Hours
Summer Semester
DENT 251 - Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar II 2 credit hours
DENT 255 - Dental Hygiene Practice III 6 credit hours
Total: 8 Credit Hours
Second Year - Fall Semester
DENT 233 - Nutrition And Oral Health 2 credit hours
DENT 253 - Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar III 2 credit hours
DENT 256 - Dental Hygiene Practice IV 6 credit hours
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective 3 credit hours
SOCI 131 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
Total: 16 Credit Hours
Optional Electives:
DENT 257 - Local Anesthesia In Dentistry 2 credit hours
DENT 295 - National Board Exam Review 3 credit hours
Total credit hours required for the A.A.S in Dental Hygiene: 60
Local Anesthesia - DENT/LOCAN.CC
Certificate of Completion
This short-term certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete DENT 257, Local Anesthesia in Dentistry. Current dental hygiene students and graduates from any dental hygiene program may seek admission into this course and program. The program provides instruction on head and neck anatomy; the characteristics and physiology of pain; an evaluation of the dental patient including allergies, overdose, and contraindications; the materials and equipment used in administering local anesthesia; pharmacological issues including potency, toxicity, metabolism, and vasoconstrictors; innervation and maxillary and mandibular injection techniques; medical emergencies; documentation; and alternative clinical techniques.
Requirement:
DENT 257 - Local Anesthesia In Dentistry 2 credit hours
Total: 2 Credit Hours