DENTAL
HYGIENE
PROGRAM
Information Brochure
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College School of Health Sciences,
Room W204 1570 E. Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91106 Visit us on the web at:
www.pasadena.edu/divisions/
health-sciences/dental-hygiene
The PCC Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.
Pasadena City College Dental Hygiene Program Goals are:
• Demonstrate ethical behavior in dental hygiene care through patient management in all aspects of Dental Hygiene Program Care.
• Through example and instruction provide an environment that encourages the graduate to participate in career enhancing education.
• Encourage students to participate in professional endeavors and dental hygiene organizations
• Educate dental hygienists who will be clinically proficient dental health professionals dedicated to fostering oral health.
• Develop dental hygienist with the ability to communicate and interact with diverse populations.
• Educate dental hygienists who have knowledge and experience in community oral health.
• Develop methods and motivational procedures for promoting overall oral health.
Infection Control Guidelines:
The prevention of cross contamination and transmission of infection to all persons, including: patients, Dental Health Care Professionals (DHCP), faculty, students, and non- clinical staff is the professional responsibility of all dental personnel. PCC Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs have adopted policies and procedures that represent a comprehensive and practical infection control program, based upon federal guidelines (Center for Disease Control). A fundamental principle of an effective infection control program is to exercise care, precautions and effective control techniques that can keep infectious microbes within manageable limits of the body’s normal resistance to disease.
Individuals at high risk of infectious diseases (HBV, HCV and HIV) among DHCP are those who perform tasks that might involve contact with blood, blood-contaminated body substances, other body fluids, or sharps should be vaccinated. Vaccination can protect both DHCP and patients from infectious diseases and whenever possible should be completed when DHCP are in training and before they have contact with blood. Compliance with these policies and procedures are an ethical obligation and responsibility of all participants in the delivery of care at PCC.
Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health Care Setting – 2003, 12/19/03 52(RR17);
1-61. www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5217a.htm.
Application Procedures
In order to be considered for acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program, applicant must submit a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET to the School of Health Sciences Office at W204 on the PCC main campus in a sealed envelope and must include:
A. A Dental Hygiene application signed, dated and filled out completely.
B. One official transcript of ALL U. S. colleges and universities attended including Pasadena City College.
C. Verification of: work experience, observation of dental hygienist, currently held licenses and/or certificates, or enrollment in dental assisting program
Mailing Address: Pasadena City College
School of Health Sciences W204 1570 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, California 91106
UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND PHOTOCOPIES OF DIPLOMAS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
NOTE: Please note that upon acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program the PCC Records Office will also require an official copy of all transcripts. Incomplete applications will not be considered in the selection process. A completed application packet must be received by the Health Sciences Division Office at CEC room B6 between
February 1st - June 1st.
Some prerequisite courses including upper-division courses completed in other institutions may require a “Prerequisite Equivalency Petition”. If you have taken courses and you are unsure if they are transferable or equivalent to prerequisite requirements it is the applicants responsibility to determine course equivalency prior to applying to the program. Please submit a “Student Petition” or a “Student Request for Course Substitution and Waivers”. Approval must be submitted with the application to the School of Health Sciences.
Applications can be downloaded from the following website:
www.pasadena.edu/divisions/health-sciences/dental-hygiene or from the School Office CEC B6 or W204 on the PCC main campus.
*If the last day of the application period falls on a weekend or holiday, then the deadline is the following business day. All materials must be received in the School Office CEC B6 or W204 on the PCC main campus on the last day of the application period by 3:00 pm.
Prerequisites
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Prerequisites to the Dental Hygiene Program:
• Anatomy 25 & Physiology 1 Human Anatomy & Physiology
• Chemistry 1A/1B General Chem & Chem Analysis or
• Chemistry 2A/2B Organic & Biochemistry
• Microbiology 2 Microbiology
• Nutrition 11 Human Nutrition
• English 1A Reading & Composition
• Psychology 1 Introductory Psychology
• Sociology 1 Introductory Sociology
• Speech 1 or 10 Fundamentals of Speech
• Humanities (one course) See catalog or counselor for list of options (Choose one class)
• Intermediate Algebra Math 131 equivalent or higher
• Physical Education ( 2 units) Two P.E. Classes
• American Institutions 125 or
• US History (one course) And
• Political Science (one course) Introduction to U.S. Government
Contact a PCC counselor in Building L Room 104 for further information on prerequisite requirements.
Students with Foreign Transcripts
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Students with foreign transcripts must have their transcripts evaluated by one of the following three agencies:
ACEI Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute P.O. Box 6908, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Telephone: (310) 275-3530 Fax: (310) 275-3528 www.acei1.com
AERC American Education Research Center, P.O. Box 996, West Covina, CA 91793
Telephone: (626) 339-4404 Fax: (626) 339-9081 www.aerc-eval.com
IERF International Education Research Foundation Credential Evaluation Service P.O. Box 3665, Culver City, CA 90231
Telephone: (310) 258-9451 Fax: (310) 342-7086 www.ierf.org
FALL Anat 115 DH 101A DH 109 DH 117 DH 122
SPRING DH 101B DH 105 DH 116 DH 141
SUMMER DH 104A DH 107 DH200A
During the Program
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Required Dental Hygiene Curriculum for the Certificate:
Program Content, Completion, and Employment Opportunities
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• All Dental Hygiene students who graduate from the two year program are required to receive an Associate in Science Degree from Pasadena City College. Completion of the Associate in Science degree is required in order to take the DHCC licensing examination. Please meet with a counselor in L104 to make sure you meet the Associate in Science degree requirements. Applicants with degrees from other colleges must also petition for and receive an Associate in Science degree from P.C.C. upon graduation from the Dental Hygiene Program.
• Successful completion of clinical courses requires multiple types of patient experiences. Although the Dental Hygiene Clinic has a pool of patients, the Dental Hygiene Program does not guarantee that patients will meet all specific course requirements. Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility to fulfill those requirements.
• Progression in the program requires a minimum grade of 75% in each Dental Hygiene program course.
• The curriculum prepares a student to provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services supporting oral health. Studies include the biological basis of the health of the teeth and oral cavity, as well as procedures used to prevent decay and to maintain dental health. Employment opportunities include working as a licensed dental hygienist in dental offices, public clinics, schools, industry, and research and community health. Students must provide their own transportation to some off- campus clinical sites.
• The program is accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and approved by the Dental Hygiene Committee of California (DHCC)
FALL DH 104B
DH 108 DH 113A
DH 119 DH 121 DH200B
SPRING DH 104C
DH 111 DH 113B
DH 121 (DH 119B Elective)
SUMMER (DH 200C Elective)
• The National Board Dental Hygiene written examination is taken during the Spring semester in the second year of the program.
• Upon successful completion of the National Board exam and the dental hygiene AS degree curriculum, a student is eligible to apply for the DHCC dental hygiene licensing examination. Applicants for Dental Hygiene licensure are required to submit official fingerprints. The law provides for denial of licensure for crimes or acts which are related to dental hygiene qualifications and/or duties. A Social Security number is required to be eligible to take the Dental Hygiene licensing exam.
• Dental hygiene licenses accepted for practice in California are the DHCC licensing examination and the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB). Completion of the DH program does not guarantee employment or licensure status.
Additional Information
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
General Admission Requirements for the Dental Hygiene Programs:
1. Upon acceptance to the Dental Hygiene program students are required to:
• Complete the application for admission to Pasadena City College
• Complete a health clearance. Clinical/laboratory instruction begins the first week of the semester (forms will be provided)
• Submit a copy of a current American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR card
• You will be required to purchase student malpractice insurance during the first semester in the dental hygiene program. Additional information about the insurance will be addressed through the Student American Dental Hygiene Association (SADHA) in which you are required to be a member
2. Dental Hygiene students must have the ability to communicate safely, accurately, and effectively in both written and spoken English. To enhance success, students who have English as a second language are encouraged to enroll in Speech 3, 121 and/or 125 and Medical Assisting 115.
3. An application will be voided if it is late or incomplete, faxed, left under the door after hours to the Division office, the Program Director’s office or the Dental Hygiene Clinic office.
4. The PCC Dental Hygiene Program does not accept transfer students from other Dental Hygiene Programs.
5. Jobs for Veterans Act
• Pursuant to the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) eligible U.S. veterans and eligible spouses, discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and who have met the requirements for the program will be accorded priority admission to the dental hygiene program.
6. The dental hygiene program takes two years to complete once you are accepted into the program. This includes four semesters and two six week summer sessions.
Selection Criteria for Admission
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Applicants to the Dental Hygiene program will be contacted by email and a phone call and informed of acceptance status as well as information given regarding the next steps in the process. Placement on the alternate list does not guarantee acceptance for the following year. All alternates who are not accepted into the program must reapply. Enrollment is determined by the applicant pool and is competitive. Additionally, acceptance into the program may also be based on the outcome of a criminal background check. A grade of C or better is required in all prerequisite courses. ALL applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in the prerequisite courses in order to be considered for acceptance into the dental hygiene program.
DENTAL HYGIENE APPLICATION Application Period: February 1- June 1 Incomplete Applications will not be processed Print Name:
Last ____________________________________First ________________________________
Social Security # ______ - ____ - _______
PCC student Identification numbers are not accepted in place of a social security number Address: ______________________________________________________________________
City: ____________________________________ State: ________________ Zip: ___________
Cell Phone # _____________________________ Home Phone #_________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________________________
I have previously applied to the Dental Hygiene Program:
If yes (include semester & year) ___________________________________________________
Name applied under: ____________________________________________________________
One official transcript of ALL colleges attended must be submitted with this
application. A second official transcript of ALL colleges attended must be sent to the Records Office upon acceptance to the program. The Health Sciences Division will not retrieve scanned transcripts. If credit is being given for courses taken in a foreign college a Foreign Equivalency Report must be submitted.
Some prerequisite courses including upper-division courses completed in other institutions may require a “Prerequisite Equivalency Petition”. If you have taken courses and you are unsure if they are transferable or equivalent to prerequisite requirements it is the applicants responsibility to determine course equivalency prior to applying to the program. Please submit a “Student Petition” or a “Student Request for Course Substitution and Waivers” form. Approval must be submitted with the application to the Health Sciences Division.
College degree(s) received: Associates _____ Bachelors _____ Masters _____
List all colleges attended:
(1) _________________________________ (2) _________________________________
(3) _________________________________ (4) _________________________________
(5) _________________________________ (6) _________________________________
Are you a U.S. Veteran or spouse of a U.S. Veteran?
________ YES (please submit a copy of your DD214 with this application.
________ I am not a U.S. Veteran or spouse of a U.S. Veteran
Course College Course Title & # Units Grade Term/Year Chemistry 1A or 2A
Chemistry 1B or 2B Microbiology 2 Anatomy 25 Physiology 1 Nutrition 11 English 1A Psychology 1 Sociology 1 Speech 1 or 10 Intermediate Algebra Humanities
*American Institutions 125 Political Science 1 U.S. History Physical Activity Physical Activity
*Prerequisite GPA
DENTAL HYGIENE APPLICANT EVALUATION FORM
Section A: Program Prerequisites Courses
All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to applying. Work in progress is not accepted.
*American Institutions 125 or US History (one course) and Political Science (one course)
*See page 9 to learn how to calculate your GPA
EXAMPLE FOR CALCULATING YOUR GPA
The GPA calculations are based on a FOUR point (4.0) grading scale Point values for grades earned:
A = 4 points B = 3 points C = 2 points D & F do not qualify
Units Grade Points
5 A Chemistry 20
5 C Chemistry 10
5 C Microbiology 2 10
4 A Anatomy 25 16
5 B Physiology 1 15
3 B Nutrition 11 9
Total Units = 27 Total Points = 80
Total Points Divided by Total Units = 2.96 (Science GPA)
Multiply the number of units by the grade points for total (5 units X 4 (grade is A) = 20 We do not round up or down for the GPA. Example: 80 ÷ 27 = 2.96. The GPA will be re- corded as 2.96 not 3.0.
Be sure to include ALL the prerequisite courses when calculating your prerequisite GPA.
If a course has been taken more than once, the highest grade for that course will be used to calculate the GPA.
Section B: Estimated points for Prerequisite GPA
Maximum Points = 6
GPA Points Possible Points
4.0 – 3.67 6
3.66 – 3.34 4
3.33 – 3.0 2
Section C: Estimated points for Specific Prerequisite Courses
Maximum Points = 42; A = 6, B = 4, C = 2 Please submit official transcripts to verify information
Course Title College Name Term & Year Course Grade Points Chemistry 1A or 2A
Chemistry 1B or 2B Microbiology 2 Anatomy 25 or Physiology 2A Physiology 1 or Physiology 2B Nutrition 11 English 1A
Section D: Estimated points for Dental Related Education/License
(One Category only; Maximum points = 4)
Please submit copy of current license and official transcripts to verify information
Educational Licenses Points Possible Points Earned Active Current RDAEF
license 4
Active Current RDA license 3 Active Current dental lab
tech license 2
Currently enrolled in Accredited CA RDA Program
1
Section E: Estimated points for Dental Related Work Experience.
Full-time is 32+ hours per week (Circle One) Maximum points = 4 Please submit letter from employer to verify information
Time Worked Full-time Points Part-time Points Points earned
Five or more years 4 2
Three to Five years 3 1.5
One to Three Years 2 1
Six months to One year 1 0.5
Section F: Estimated points for Observation of Licensed
Registered Dental Hygienist
It is recommended that you observe a dental hygienist in two different practice settings/
offices. Points will be awarded for confirmed observations. Use the log format provided for verifying information. Maximum Points = 3
Observation Hours Points Points earned
18 3
12 2
6 1
Section G: Calculate your ESTIMATED POINTS by transferring your
points from each section and total them. Maximum Points = 59
Section Total Possible Points Applicants Points
Section A All prerequisites completed;
Overall 3.0 GPA or higher *****************
Section B 6
Section C 42
Section D 4
Section E 3
Section F 3
Total 59
NOTE:
When adding up your points, be sure to include all sections that apply to your total.
Actual GPA and points will be determined by PCC Dental Hygiene Program admissions.
I certify that all information on this application is correct to the best of my knowledge.
I understand that any falsification and/or withholding of information will disqualify this application.
______________________________________________________ ________________
Applicants Signature Date
In the event when multiple applicants have the same score the order of placement on the acceptance or alternate list will be completed by random selection.
OBSERVATION LOG FORMAT (EXAMPLE) Applicant Name: Flossy Brush
Date Time(s) Type of Dental Practice Total Hours
1/2/2013 08:00-12:00 Periodontal 4
1/3/2013 08:00-12:00 General 4
Dental Hygienist’s Name & Contact information:
Name: Susie Scaler RDH
Office Address: 123 Ultrasonic Avenue Dental Health, Ca. 91106 Office Phone Number: (123) 456-7890
Dental Hygienist’s Signature _____________________________________________________
Name: Gracey Thintip RDH
Office Address: 123 Younger Good Avenue Dental Health, Ca. 91106 Office Phone Number: (987) 654-3210
Dental Hygienist’s Signature _____________________________________________________
Contact information must include Dental Hygienist’s: Name, Telephone Number and Work Address for each office you observed.
Observation Log
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Time(s) Type of Dental Practice Total Hours
Dental Hygienist’s Name & Contact information:
Dental Hygienist Name: ___________________________________________________________
Office Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Office Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist’s Signature _______________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist Name: ___________________________________________________________
Office Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Office Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist’s Signature _______________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist Name: ___________________________________________________________
Office Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Office Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist’s Signature _______________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist Name: ___________________________________________________________
Office Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Office Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist’s Signature _______________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist Name: ___________________________________________________________
Office Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Office Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist’s Signature _______________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist Name: ___________________________________________________________
Office Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Office Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________
Dental Hygienist’s Signature _______________________________________________________
Revised: 4/7/2014 TPN
