Dental Hygiene

Program Statement

The Dental Hygiene program prepares graduates to competently begin professional dental hygiene practice. Upon graduation, practice settings include private dental offices, school and public health departments, and research facilities. Students receive a thorough foundation in general sciences and in dental hygiene science. Students have the opportunity to develop the necessary knowledge, clinical skills, and judgment in the on-campus dental hygiene clinic.  

Program Information

• The Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene is a selective admission program. See Admissions requirements below for more detail.
• Once enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program, students are required to complete all courses in the four semesters of instruction in the required sequence and without interruption, in order to integrate theoretical and clinical education and to graduate.
• Students should expect to be involved in program courses and program responsibilities/requirements on a full-time basis most days of the semester from approximately 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday.
• Students may be required to be on campus when not normally scheduled for different meetings, events and/or at the request of faculty. Every attempt is made to give students advance notice of schedule changes.
• Students planning to transfer into this program may contact the department chair with questions.

Program Accreditation

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: http://coda.ada.org/. 

After Bristol Community College

Graduates work as registered dental hygienists in general and specialty facilities and as dental hygiene educators, consultants, dental sales representatives, and public and community health coordinators.   

Admissions Process

The Dental Hygiene program is a competitive program with selective admission requirements. The Admissions Office reviews each applicant based on the pre-admission requirements that must be submitted by the application deadline February 1st. Meeting minimum criteria places the applicant in the selection pool but does not guarantee admission to the Dental Hygiene program. Applicants in the selection pool are ranked according to GPA (highest to lowest) on the pre-admission courses. Additional selection criteria required for admission (TEAS score) may be considered in the ranking process. 

The Admissions Office notifies the top twenty-two candidates of acceptance into the program, and the date these candidates have to confirm their acceptance. Selection criteria are subject to change. 

Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to complete the following pre-admission requirements to be considered for the selection pool for the Dental Hygiene program:  

1. Provide documentation of a high school diploma, state-approved high school equivalency credential, or foreign credential evaluation.
2. Demonstrate successful completion of the following pre-admission (also referred to as prerequisite) courses with a final grade of B- or higher:
   • Minimum 3-credit college level statistics (e.g. MTH119), college algebra (e.g. MTH152), or higher-level college math course
   • A 4-credit college chemistry course with a laboratory component
   • BIO 233: Human Anatomy and Physiology I or equivalent
   • ENG 101: Composition I: College Writing (or equivalent or a higher-level college English course)
3. Achieve a total composite score of 60% or higher on the ATI TEAS Exam. For more detailed TEAS information, please visit the Testing Center.
4. Attend one mandatory Dental Hygiene Health Science Information Session. Applicants must attend one session during the current application cycle (not a previous cycle). Dental Hygiene Health Information Sessions are only offered on select dates within the application cycle beginning in August and leading up to the application deadline. Applicants are advised to preregister early as seating is limited.

NOTE: Students may retake BIO 233: Human Anatomy and Physiology I or equivalent only once within a five-year period. The higher grade of the two attempts will be used in GPA calculation. If a student takes BIO 233 more than twice in a five-year period, only the first two attempts will be considered.  

NOTE: Only the first three TEAS exam attempts withing the past three years will be considered.  

NOTE: Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the above pre-admission courses. If only the minimum of a “B-” is earned in the pre-admission courses, this does not equate to the 3.0 pre-admission GPA that is required. 

NOTE: Students must complete all pre-admission math and science courses within 5 years of the application deadline. 

Transcripts from attendance at other regionally accredited colleges and universities are required when submitting your application. Please refer to the Admissions page within this catalog for further information. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your application not being reviewed for the program to which you applied.

Additional Requirements 

As a prerequisite for a clinical placement in the program, all students must undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check.  These checks are required due to potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly during a clinical experience.  Students found to have certain criminal convictions or pending criminal actions will be presumed ineligible for clinical placement.  The College is authorized by the Commonwealth's Department of Criminal Justice to access CORI records.  Sex Offender checks shall be performed pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 6, Sections 178C-178P. 

A ten-panel random drug screen is required upon entrance and at random. If there is a need for any re-testing, the fee is paid by the student.  

Please be advised that despite Massachusetts law that permits the use of medical marijuana and the possession, use, distribution and cultivation of marijuana in limited amounts, any possession, use, distribution or cultivation of marijuana remains prohibited under College policy pursuant to federal law. Further, any student who tests positive for marijuana will be ineligible for clinical placement. Please refer to the College's Student Handbook for the College's complete Marijuana Policy.  

Admitted students must comply with Bristol Community College, clinical providers,  and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health requirements for college students participating in in-person classes. Refer to the Student Handbook for specific details.  

Compliance with all program requirements as outlined above and in the Student Handbook is a contingency for continuing in the program. It is based on fulfillment of all requirements by specified due dates. 

Additional Costs

Students must carry professional liability insurance and provide their own transportation to off-campus clinical assignments. They are responsible for purchasing instruments, equipment, textbooks, uniforms, clinical supplies and disposables. Students are responsible for paying for professional memberships, board examination fees, and CPR certification.    

Grade Requirements

A grade of 77% or better must be attained in each clinical course and all other Dental Hygiene (DHG) courses in order to progress in the program.  

Essential Functions

• The Dental Hygiene program essential functions include certain cognitive, physical and behavioral abilities which are necessary to perform the duties of a professional Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygiene practice requires specific functional abilities that are met with or without reasonable accommodation. Students will self-attest to their ability to meet the physical and mental criteria of standard professional Dental Hygiene practice. 

Risks of Exposure to Infectious Disease

As in any health care environment, students in the Dental Hygiene Program may have risks of exposure to infectious diseases. The Dental Hygiene Program adheres to all state and federal regulations to reduce the risk of health care associated infections. Individuals who disclose the presence of blood-borne infectious diseases will be shown the same consideration as non-infected individuals and will be offered reasonable accommodations. Information regarding the health status of an individual is considered confidential and protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.