Program Description
Dental Hygiene is an allied health program which emphasizes the prevention of oral health disease. The program prepares the individual to be a dental hygienist. The primary functions of the clinical dental hygienist are the assessment of patients’ overall health, formulating evidence-based patient centered treatment care plans, and performing the clinical procedures outlined in the individual treatment care plans. Additional roles of the dental hygienist include participating in community health programs, research, sales and education. The dental hygiene student will perform procedures which include, but are not limited to: exposing radiographs; applying cavity-preventive agents; providing oral health education; administrating local anesthetics, nitrous oxide and antimicrobial agents; performing oral prophylaxis, periodontal therapy, and risk assessments. The graduate will receive an Associate Degree in Applied Science and will be eligible to take national, regional, and state licensing examinations.
Individuals who have:
- been addicted to narcotics or alcohol;
- received treatment for the habitual use of narcotics or alcohol;
- been convicted for a narcotics-related offense;
- been reprimanded, disciplined, disqualified or suspended from the practice of dentistry or another health-related field;
- been a patient in a sanitarium or institution for the treatment of mental illness; or
- been arrested/convicted of any felony offense, including a deferred sentence;
may not be eligible for dental hygiene licensure in the state of Oklahoma. If any of these circumstances exist, it is advised that the prospective student is advised to discuss this with the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, (405) 524-3592, prior to making application to the program.
Accreditation: The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, Chicago, Illinois.
Admission to the Program
Program Application Instructions
- All prospective Dental Hygiene students who have not been enrolled at TCC within the past year must complete an application for admission to the College, submit their high school transcripts, ACT scores and previous college transcripts to the Metro Campus Student Completion Services at 909 South Boston, Tulsa, OK 74119. Incomplete submissions will not be considered for admission into the Dental Hygiene program. Admission to Tulsa Community College does not guarantee admission to the Dental Hygiene program.
- Applications to the Dental Hygiene program must be completed online at tulsacc.edu/healthscienceapply by March 1. For more information, contact the Dental Hygiene office at (918) 595-7022. You will need your TCC student ID number to complete the application.
- Ensure the Dental Experience Verification form has been received by the Dental Hygiene program at Tulsa Community College, Department of Allied Health, Attention: Daniele Dennison, MP 458, 909 South Boston Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74119 before the March 1 deadline. Email dentalhygiene@tulsacc.edu to confirm.
- Eligible applicants to be interviewed for consideration for admission into the Dental Hygiene program will be notified through their TCC email. All interviewed applicants will also be notified through their TCC email regarding their selection status.
Program Admission Requirements
- BIOL 1314 - Human Anatomy and Physiology and CHEM 1134 - General, Organic and Biological Chemistry must be completed the semester before the application deadline.
- Other prerequisite coursework must be completed before the end of the spring term in which the application is reviewed.
- An extensive criminal background check, including but not limited to, a seven-year county of residence nationwide criminal history check, national sexual predator screening, Social Security check, and Medicare/Medicaid fraud screening is required by all clinical affiliates. All Allied Health students participating in clinicals are required to complete these background checks, immunizations and a drug screening test by the Department of Allied Health office deadline prior to the first clinical rotation. Any positive findings may be subject to review by the clinical affiliates and could prevent the student from completing clinical requirements.
Contact Information
Program Director
Debbie Batson, RDH, MS, NBCT
Dental Hygiene Office 918-595-7022 or Program Director office 918-595-7019
dentalhygiene@tulsacc.edu or debbie.batson@tulsacc.edu
Additional Information Available
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who have successfully completed the program will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes.
Ethics, Professionalism and Communication
- PLO 1. Exemplify the American Dental Hygienists’ Association code of ethics, state and federal laws, recommendations and protocols in the provision of dental hygiene care.
- PLO 2. Communicate effectively using verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic skills.
Dental Hygiene Process of Care
- PLO 3. Perform evidenced-based individualized dental hygiene education and care based on the periodontal condition as defined by the American Academy of Periodontology.
- PLO 4. Integrate methods to ensure the health and safety of the patient and the dental hygienist in the delivery of dental hygiene care.
Community Involvement
- PLO 5. Perform oral health services in a variety of settings.
- PLO 6. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate community-based oral health programs.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- PLO 7. Evaluate elements that can be used to promote patient adherence to disease prevention and/or health maintenance strategies.
- PLO 8. Identify individual and population risk factors for oral disease.
Professional Growth and Development
- PLO 9. Exemplify commitment to lifelong learning, utilizing current scientific literature and self-assessment skills.
- PLO 10. Identify the role of the dental hygienist within healthcare, such as: industry, education, research and public health.
Careers
Search careers in Dental Hygiene at TCC Career Explorer and visit TCC Career Services to learn more about our free career planning and job preparation services.
Student Organizations
American Dental Hygiene Association (membership includes Oklahoma Dental Hygiene Association and Tulsa County Dental Hygiene Association).
Degree Requirements
View a semester-by-semester course plan of study on the Dental Hygiene Degree Map.
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