DENTAL HYGIENE

WKU-O offers an online dental hygiene completion program. Transfer students with an associate degree from a dental hygiene program accredited through the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation receive a 16-hour waiver in the overall upper-division hour requirement and a 16-hour waiver in the major upper-division hour requirement.

In this program, you will learn how to clean teeth and apply preventive materials, provide oral health education and treatment counseling to patients, identify oral pathologies and injuries, and manage dental hygiene practices. You will study dental anatomy, microbiology and pathology, dental hygiene theory and techniques, equipment operation and maintenance, radiology, patient counseling, and office management.

Characteristics associated with success in this program include an interest in science and medicine and in helping others. You should:

• be able to pay attention to details

• be able to communicate clearly and work well with other members of the dental team

• be pleasant

• be patient when faced with anxious or upset patients

• have good manual dexterity

Work Tasks and Settings

• Do dental cleanings and tell patients how to take good care of their teeth

• Take x-rays

• Put on periodontal dressings and take out stitches

• Show people how to brush, floss, and use floss threaders

• Work in dental offices and clinics, hospitals, schools, research centers, and dental manufacturing companies

• Work with dental instruments, dental cleaning equipment, fluoride, sealants, and x-ray equipment

Abilities needed:

• put people at ease

• work well with people

• communicate well with others

• be patient

• pay close attention to detail

 

Coursework:

 WKU COURSES                                                  

AH 290 Medical Terminology

PH 381 Community Health

DH 304 Advanced Periodontology

DH 323 Research Methods

HCA 342 HR Mgmt for Health Care Managers

HCA 347 Int. Comp. of Health Care Systems

PSY 350 Social Psychology

Sequencing:

Because of transferring credits and WKU-O course offerings, the length of time to finish this program differs for each student. It is important to meet with a WKU-O advisor as soon as possible. Bring an unofficial copy of transcripts from all previously attended colleges and/or universities. It is also important to determine your availability to take courses: part-time, full-time, summer term.

WKU-O Requirements:

• 120 college-level undergraduate semester hours including the following:

- 44 semester hours of General Education

- 42 semester hours of upper-division credit (300-400 level courses)

- 30 hours must be earned in residence (at WKU), at least 16 of which must be completed after the semester in which the student earned a cumulative total of at least 90 hours.

• Students must earn a minimum of 54 semester hours with WKU to graduate with honors.
• Students must apply for graduation upon the completion of 90 semester hours.
• Students are to meet with an advisor each semester.