Faculty: Assistant Professor P. Fallon; Professor N. Glick; Associate Clinical Professor C. Ray; Assistant Clinical Professor L. Koberna; Lecturer I J. Schoen

Admission Requirements

Please see the Admission section of this catalog. In addition to these general requirements, the Department of Dental Hygiene has special admissions procedures.

Freshman dental hygiene majors and transfer students are required to make direct application to the Department of Dental Hygiene. The dental hygiene program has limited enrollment. Requirements for consideration of admission to the program as a sophomore student include:

• Completion of the Dental Hygiene Application Form which must be filed with the department by December 31, prior to the fall semester, sophomore year.
• Completion of an application to the university and payment of the application fee, if the applicant is a transfer student.
• Official high school transcript regardless of whether or not the applicant is currently enrolled at TWU or another college or university.
• Official college transcript(s), if applicant is a transfer student.
• Completion of at least one prerequisite science course by the time of the application deadline with a grade of C or higher. Science courses are weighted more heavily for admission.
• Completion of at least 12 hours of college credit courses in the dental hygiene degree plan by the time of the application deadline.
• Completion of at least 30 hours of college credit courses in the dental hygiene degree plan by the end of the second summer session previous to beginning the fall semester, sophomore year, including at least two prerequisite science courses.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 for all college level courses.
• A grade of B or better in any freshman dental hygiene courses taken prior to entering the program.
• Attendance at a scheduled Information Session in the Department of Dental Hygiene.
• Completion and verification of a 20-hour observation of a dental hygienist in clinical practice in a general dentist’s office.
• Notification of prior enrollment in a dental hygiene program with an explanation of reason for withdrawal and a letter of recommendation from the director of that program.
• Students enrolled in the TWU Honors Program will receive a higher ranking for ` admission to the dental program.
• A satisfactory evaluation from the Dental Hygiene Progression Committee.

The TWU Immunization Record must be completed and on file with the TWU Immunization Office by the first day of classes, fall semester, sophomore year. The immunization records must be in compliance with the TWU Immunization Office throughout enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. Evidence of TWU student liability insurance and a current CPR certificate must be completed and on file by the first day of classes, fall semester, in the junior year, and again by the first day of classes, fall semester, in the senior year. Results of a background check and drug screening must be submitted as needed by clinical rotation sites.

Academic Requirements

If a student receives a grade of less than C in a science course, nutrition, or statistics, the student must repeat the course to raise the grade to a C or better. These prerequisite courses must be passed with a C or better before progressing to junior level dental hygiene courses.

A student who has been admitted to the sophomore year of the dental hygiene program must maintain a cumulative overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 or higher, and a cumulative grade point average in all required dental hygiene courses (DHGPA), including freshman dental hygiene courses, of 3.0 or higher, to remain in the program. Any student whose overall GPA drops below 2.8, or whose DHGPA drops below 3.0, any semester after program admission is ineligible to continue in the program.

Students must earn a grade of B or higher in freshman dental hygiene courses and C or higher in all other required dental hygiene courses. If a student receives a grade of less than B in a freshman dental hygiene course, the student will be ineligible to enter the program. If a student earns less than C in any other required dental hygiene course, the student will be ineligible to continue in the program regardless of the overall GPA and DHGPA. Dental hygiene courses may not be repeated.

A student who has been admitted to the sophomore year of the dental hygiene program must progress through the program in consecutive semesters. If a student does not register for the current semester of dental hygiene course work once enrolled in the program, the student will be ineligible to continue in the program and must reapply to enter a new class. An appeal process is available through a committee made up of dental hygiene faculty and the Vice President for Student Life.

The dental hygiene student should understand that due to heavy laboratory and clinic schedules, four to five full days of classes per week are required. One credit hour equals one lecture, two to three laboratory, or three to five clinic hours per week.

Suggested Sequence of Courses*

*Dental Hygiene courses must be taken in sequence as required by the Department, except that freshman dental hygiene courses may be taken during the sophomore year. **CHEM 1011/1013 or 1111/1113 must be taken if a student has not had one year of high school chemistry and achieved a passing score on the TWU chemistry placement examination prior to taking CHEM 1021/1023.

Degree-Completion Plan

The degree-completion plan leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene is designed for students who have a certificate or an associate degree from an accredited dental hygiene program. A license to practice dental hygiene in a minimum of one state in the United States is required to enter this curriculum.

The Bachelor of Science degree provides additional career opportunities for the dental hygienist in the job market. Available options include positions in community health departments, public school systems, federal and state agencies, faculty positions in dental hygiene programs, and advancement to graduate or professional school.

The degree-completion plan offers the opportunity of advancing professional knowledge and skills, combined with an optimal general education. The degree-completion student will generally receive transfer credit for most previous dental hygiene and general education course work; however, a maximum of 72 transfer hours will be accepted from a community college.

All degree plans for the degree-completion student must be individually designed. The degree plan must include completion of the following:

• All university core curriculum requirements for a B.S. degree.
• The University residential requirements.
• A minimum of 36 advanced hours, including 14 advanced hours in dental hygiene coures, some of which are required and some elective.
• A 7-8 hour dental hygiene track in research, clinical practice, administration/management, public health, or dental hygiene education.
• Up to 6 hours of advanced level dental hygiene course work may be obtained through cooperative education; however, only 3 hours may count toward the 14-hour dental hygiene requirement.

Applicants must submit official college transcripts of all college work completed to date, an application for the curriculum, and a copy of a current license to practice dental hygiene to the chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene. An advisement appointment will then be arranged to determine a projected degree plan.

Dental Hygiene Undergraduate Courses

DH 1101. Orientation to Dental Hygiene. Introduces the student to dentistry, dental hygiene, dental assisting, and dental laboratory technology; outlines the development of the professions, their organizational structures, councils and bureaus; dental terminology, disease control, modes of dental practice, specialities, educational programs, and career options are discussed. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 1201. Dental Hygiene Practicum Seminar. Familiarize the student with job opportunities of dental hygiene: public health, dental hygiene education and the various types of clinical practice. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 2101. Dental Anatomy Laboratory. Labeling and modeling of individual teeth; emphasis on the traits specific to each tooth. Corequisite DH 3102. Three laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 2102. Dental Anatomy. Primary and permanent human teeth; emphasis on root anatomy and its relation to treatment. Prerequisite: Admission to the dental hygiene program. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 2201. Dental Materials Laboratory. Manipulation of dental materials, the observation of the effects of manipulation variables and the evaluation of completed products. Corequisite DH 3242. Three laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 2202. Dental Materials. Types and properties of dental materials. Prerequisite: Admission to the dental hygiene program. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 3163. Anatomy and Histology of the Head and Neck. Study of the gross anatomy of the head and neck and the gross, microscopic, and embryologic study of the cells and tissues of the oral cavity, teeth, and related structures. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DH 3172. Dental Hygiene Techniques and Practice. Principles and techniques in the care of the dental hygiene patient; use and care of instruments. Prerequisite: Admission to the dental hygiene program. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 3173. Dental Hygiene Techniques and Practice Laboratory. Laboratory and clinical experience in performing the complete oral prophylaxis. Corequisite DH 3172. Eight laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DH 3201. Dental Hygiene Clinic I Seminar. Clinical topics of special interests for Clinic I students. Corequisite DH 3203. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 3202. Periodontics for Dental Hygienists I. Disease involving the oral soft tissues, principally those supporting teeth; rationale for proper oral hygiene treatment procedures used in dentistry. Prerequisite: Admission to the dental hygiene program and DH 3163. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 3203. Dental Hygiene Clinic I. Introduction to the clinic and the patient; development of dexterity; clinical skills. Direct clinical supervision. Prerequisite: DH 3172, 3173, 3252, and 3261. Sixteen clinic hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DH 3213. General and Oral Pathology. Pathologic changes in the human body; emphasis on disease manifestations of the oral cavity. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program and DH 3163. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DH 3221. Preventive Dentistry Laboratory. Clinical experience in providing disease control counseling, including oral hygiene, nutritional counseling, and tobacco cessation; application of sealants on extracted teeth and on patients. Corequisite DH 3222. Two laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 3222. Preventive Dentistry. Oral disease prevention; patient education, instruction in brushing, flossing, diet control, testing procedures, and the roles of various disciplines of dentistry. Prerequisite: Admission to the dental hygiene program. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 3252. Dental Radiology Techniques I. Theory and basic techniques in right angle radiography. Prerequisite: Admission to the dental hygiene program. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 3261. Dental Radiology Techniques I Laboratory. Laboratory and clinical experience using skulls, teaching modules and humans. Corequisite DH 3251. Three laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4001. Dental Hygiene Clinic II. Continued development of clinical skills with dental hygiene patients. Prerequisite: DH 3203. Three clinic hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4101. Dental Hygiene Clinic III Seminar. Clinical topics of special interest; emphasis on patients with special needs. Corequisite DH 4104. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4102. Dental Hygiene Research. Research methods and projects in scientific topics of special interest; emphasis on presenting research in written form and the preparation and presentation of research. Prerequisite:MATH 1703 or equivalent course and senior dental hygiene standing. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 4104. Dental Hygiene Clinic III. Clinical skills with the dental hygiene patient; emphasis on dental hygiene services for the periodontal patient. Prerequisite: DH 3203, DH 4001, DH 4121, DH 4131. Twelve clinic hours a week. Credit: Four hours.

DH 4112. Dental Hygiene Practicum. Study, internship in student’s interest area; may be selected in dental hygiene education, dental health education, clinical practice, community dental health, or research. Prerequisite: Senior dental hygiene standing or permission of instructor. Six hours on site a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 4121. Periodontics for Dental Hygienists II. Clinical therapeutic techniques used in the treatment of periodontal disease. Corequisite: DH 4131. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4131. Periodontics for Dental Hygienists II Laboratory. Laboratory experiences designed to develop skill in recognizing and treating the periodontally involved patient. Prerequisite: DH 3202 and DH 3203 or permission of the instructor. Corequisite: DH 4121. Three laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4142. Pharmacology. Nature, use, and action of drugs used by dentists and physicians and the pharmacological relation to dental treatment, prognosis, and office emergencies. Prerequisite: Senior dental hygiene standing. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4151. Community Dental Health Laboratory. Practical laboratory and field experience applying didactic course content of DH 4153 to community and government agencies. Prerequisite DH 4153 or permission of instructor. Three laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4153. Community Dental Health. Principles, practices and methods of dental public health, including dental health education; emphasis on the role of the dental hygienist in community dental health programs. Prerequisite: Senior dental hygiene standing. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DH 4201. Dental Hygiene Clinic IV Seminar. Clinical topics of special interest for Clinic IV students. Corequisite DH 4204. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4204. Dental Hygiene Clinic IV. Clinical skills; continued emphasis on dental hygiene services for the periodontal patient and disease control. Prerequisite: DH 4104. Twelve clinic hours a week. Credit: Four hours.

DH 4211. Dental Ethics and Jurisprudence. History of ethics; professional aspects; application as defined by the American Dental Association; laws, malpractice, and liability. Prerequisite: Senior dental hygiene standing. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4222. Dental Hygiene Practice Management. Principles of dental and dental hygiene practice management; leadership and management; management of personnel, patients, records, and work settings. Prerequisite: Senior dental hygiene standing or post certificate student. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DH 4251. Dental Radiology Techniques II. Theory of advanced procedures; emphasis on exposing extra oral radiographs; compensation and handling techniques with the special patient. Prerequisites: DH 3252 and DH 3261. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4311. Practicum in Clinical Practice. Practical experience in clinical practice on an individual basis designed as a review and/or update of clinical dental hygiene skills. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Four clinic hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DH 4911. Independent Study in Dental Hygiene. Independent study in selected topics. Credit: One hour.

DH 4913. Independent Study in Dental Hygiene. Independent study in selected topics. Credit: Three hours.

DH 4951, 4953. Cooperative Education