The Howard College Dental Hygiene application includes a physical examination, dental
examination, documentation of required immunizations and vaccinations, and documented
observation hours.
Applicants must also be admitted to Howard College. College admission and the Dental
Hygiene application may be completed at the same time. Apply to Howard College.
Observation hours may be completed before applying to the program. Use the Observation Form listed in the Resources section.
A Dental Hygienist is a preventive oral health professional licensed in dental hygiene
that provides educational, clinical, and therapeutic services supporting total health
through the promotion of optimal oral health.
Dental Hygiene students become eligible for licensure upon graduation from an ADA
accredited program and successful completion of a written national exam and clinical
regional exam.
This program in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the
Council on Post Secondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.
Accreditation Standards and the Commission’s policy on third-party comments can be
viewed at the link below.
Howard College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age,
national origin, veteran status, or disability.
Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program is selective and the number of admitted students
is based on facilities constraints. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission
to the Dental Hygiene Program.
Considerations
Criminal History
It is important to know that conviction of a felony or misdemeanor that directly relates
to the duties and responsibilities of the dental hygienist may disqualify a person
from receiving a license to practice in Texas (Occupations Code, Title 2, Ch. 53).
Prior to completing the application process for this program, it is recommended that
persons with a criminal history complete the Criminal History Evaluation offered by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.
This is separate from the criminal background check required for admission to the
Dental Hygiene Program at Howard College.
Employment
Due to the intensity of the coursework and time requirements for clinicals and enrichments,
it is difficult to maintain employment and sufficiently prepare for and successfully
complete course requirements.
The decision to maintain employment is at the student’s discretion, however absence
from classes or projects resulting from employment will be considered an unexcused
absence.
When possible, the program will make every effort to schedule events far enough in
advance to allow time for employment schedule changes.
Licensure
You must be at least 18 years of age to obtain a license as a Registered Dental Hygienist
in Texas. No age requirement exists for application to the program.
Dental Hygiene Applicant Handbook
Vision
It is the vision of the Howard College Dental Hygiene Program to become a model program,
which will meet the future needs of an ever-expanding service area. Our model program
will provide comprehensive dental hygiene education utilizing innovative, flexible
technology, delivery systems, and partnerships.
Philosophy
The faculty and staff of the Howard College Dental Hygiene Program, in harmony with
the vision of Howard College, believe in the worth and dignity of the individual students,
patients and fellow staff members, and that an education in dental hygiene will provide
an opportunity for growth in service to both the individual students and to others.
We believe in providing students access to the information and support they will need
to begin and sustain a career.
Mission
The mission of the Howard College Dental Hygiene Program is to be a dynamic center
of learning that serves the educational and economic community by developing competent
dental hygiene practitioners. Our Program will provide innovative and traditional
instruction to develop ongoing learning skills that demonstrate the best and most
ethical patient care, research and service.
Goals
To advance the mission the Dental Hygiene Program will:
- Provide a comprehensive dental hygiene program that is sensitive to meeting the needs
and requirements of the dental care community of West Texas and the Howard College
service area;
- Provide program facilities for clinic, laboratories and classrooms that are conducive
to learning, and a learning climate that emphasizes social and ethical development
as well as technical competence;
- Provide clinical and didactic curricula incorporating current scientific innovations
in dental health care and delivery;
- Recruit and retain faculty motivated to deliver and evaluate curricula in relation
to student success; provide access to continuous professional development;
- Stimulate students to critically analyze scientific information and develop ongoing
skills and interest in learning.
- Educate students about the various roles of the dental hygienist including private
practice, institutional practice, education, research and administration;
- Monitor and evaluate goals and outcomes for the continuous improvement of our Dental
Hygiene Program.
- Incorporate critical thinking processes with evidence-based provision of care.
A dental hygiene graduate should be competent in:
Patient Care
- Providing for prevention, maintenance and treatment of teeth and periodontal structures
in a dental hygiene practice.
- Comprehensively treating a patient through assessment, treatment planning, treatment
implementation, evaluation of results, and follow-up care.
- Effectively providing dental hygiene care to all degrees of periodontal pathology.
- Problem solving complete patient management situations in a dental hygiene practice
environment.
Professional Growth
- Evaluating scientific information and literature to promote lifelong learning.
- Interacting ethically with patients, fellow practitioners, and other healthcare professionals.
- Advancing the profession of dental hygiene through activity and affiliation in service
and professional organizations.
Educational and Prevention
- Educating patients in self-care and prevention.
- Communicating effectively with diverse population groups.
- Evaluating the need for and effectiveness of community oral health programs.
Disease Control
- Providing appropriate care for medical emergencies encountered in hygiene practice.
- Assessing and managing patients with medical conditions that relate to dental hygiene
care.
- Infection and hazard control in a dental hygiene environment.
Howard College Infectious Disease Policy
As healthcare workers, health professions students are frequently exposed to patients
that have been diagnosed with communicable diseases including but not limited to tuberculosis,
HIV, and hepatitis. Additionally, patients may carry communicable diseases but not
be diagnosed at the time that care takes place. All health profession students are
expected to follow standard precautions for all patients. Further, they may not refuse
care of any patient due to the nature of disease. The only exception to this is for
pregnant health care workers who are prohibited by hospital policy from working around
a specific disease or treatment process. (Ex. Pregnant health care workers must
not work with the drug Ribavirin.) Refusal to accept an assignment based on disease
status could result in the student earning an “F” for the clinical course and being
ineligible for re-enrollment in the program.