Course Catalog

Dental Hygiene - DH13 Degree


The Dental Hygiene program is a cooperative degree program offered by Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Valdosta State University. Students earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree from Valdosta State. The program consists of a combination of academic core courses at VSU and clinical training provided at WGTC. Clinical Training begins annually fall semester. Because of the depth and scope of training, the program utilizes a competitive admission process for selection of students. The top 14 candidates are admitted to the program.

The Dental Hygiene program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for positions in the dental profession. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Registered dental hygienists work in a variety of professional settings. The public is most familiar with dental hygienists in the private dental office, where they perform numerous critical services designed to detect and prevent diseases of the mouth. These include oral prophylaxis; examining the head, neck, and oral areas for signs of disease; educating patients about oral hygiene; taking or developing radiographs; and applying fluoride or sealants. In this setting, registered dental hygienists play a vital role in protecting the oral health of the American public.

Upon graduation from the program, graduates must pass the Dental Hygiene National Board and the Central Regional Dental Testing Service clinical exam in order to obtain a license to practice dental hygiene.

“The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program's compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students. A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission's policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 or by calling 1-800-621-8099 extension 4653.”

CODA Form for Formal Complaint Against an Educational Program

Requirements:

  • Submit a completed application and application fee
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Submit official high school transcript or High School Equivalency transcript
  • Submit official college transcripts, if applicable
  • Present acceptable SAT or ACT scores taken within the last 60 months, or acceptable ACCUPLACER, COMPASS or ASSET scores taken within the last 60 months. Documentation on a college transcript of successful completion of appropriate courses from a regionally accredited college or university may be accepted in lieu of test scores

Additional Program Requirements:

  • Students should apply to Valdosta State University for acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program and declare dental hygiene as their major. Each student will be assigned a dental hygiene advisor at VSU. Transfer students are accepted to the university, but are required to complete a minimum of 21 credit hours at VSU to satisfy the residency requirement.
  • Students should apply to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College for admission to the clinical portion of the program when core courses are complete. The application deadline for application is immediately following the end of spring semester each year. The students selected at the end of spring semester will begin the program fall semester. The dental hygiene clinical program is 5 semesters in length.
  • Students are accepted to the program based on a competitive admissions process. Program-specific competitive admission requirements are available online.

Please visit the Valdosta State University website for information on General Education Core Requirements.

Start Terms:

  • This program begins each Fall semester on the Valdosta campus.
Curriculum Outline (92 hours)
General Core Courses 44
General Education Core - See the Valdosta State University website for more information (44 Hours) 44
Occupational Courses 48
DHYG 1040

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Co-requisite(s): DHYG 1050 Provides fundamental skills to be utilized in the delivery of optimum patient care by the dental hygienist. Topics include: patient assessment, instrumentation, charting, occlusion, caries, emergencies, ethics and professionalism, asepsis, and patient and clinician positioning.

2
DHYG 1030

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 1 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Co-requisite(s): None Focuses on the nature, qualities, composition and manipulation of materials used in dentistry. The primary goal of this course is to enhance the student's ability to make clinical judgments regarding the use and care of dental materials based on how these materials react in the oral environment. Topics include: dental materials standards, dental materials properties, impression materials, gypsum products, mouthguards and whitening systems, dental bases, liners and cements, temporary restorations, classifications for restorative dentistry, direct restorative materials, indirect restorative materials, polishing procedures for dental restorations, removable dental prostheses, sealants, and implants.

2
DHYG 1050

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 0 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 6 Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Co-requisite(s): DHYG 1040 Provides fundamental skills to be utilized in the delivery of optimum patient care by the dental hygienist. Topics include: asepsis, ethics and professionalism, emergencies, patient assessment, patient and clinician positioning, instrumentation, charting, occlusion and caries.

2
DHYG 1070

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): DHYG 1080 Emphasizes the application of radiology principles in the study of the teeth and their surrounding structures. Topics include: radiation physics principles; radiation biology; radiation safety; radiographic quality assurance; imaging theory; radiographic interpretation; radiographic need; legal issues of dental radiography; and digital radiography techniques and principles.

2
DHYG 1080

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Dental Biology provides the student with a thorough knowledge of external and internal morphological characteristics of human primary and secondary dentition. It also introduces the student to various tooth identification systems, classifications of occlusion and dental anomalies. Topics include: oral cavity anatomy, dental terminology, external and internal tooth anatomy, tooth nomenclature and numbering systems, individual tooth and root morphology, occlusion and dental anomalies. Dental Biology also focuses on the study of cells and tissues of the human body, with emphasis on those tissues that compose the head, neck, and oral cavity. Topics include: cellular structure and organelles, histology of epithelium, histology of muscle tissue, and histology of nerve tissue, histology of connective tissue, embryological development of the head and neck, tooth development and development of tooth supporting structures. Dental Biology focuses on anatomy of the head and neck. Emphasis is placed on those structures directly affected by the practice of dentistry. Topics include: Terminology, anatomic landmarks, osteology of the skull, temporomandibular joint, muscles of mastication, muscles of facial expression, nervous system, blood supply of the head and neck, lymphatic system and immunology, endocrine and exocrine glands of the head and neck, nasal and paranasal sinuses, and fascial spaces and the spread of dental infections.

5
DHYG 1090

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 0 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, DHYG 1080 Co-requisite(s): None Emphasizes the application of radiology principles in the study of the teeth and their surrounding structures. Topics include: radiation safety, radiographic quality assurance, imaging theory, radiographic interpretation, radiographic need, and digital radiography principles and techniques.

1
DHYG 1110

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 1040 Co-requisite(s): DHYG 1111 Continues the development of knowledge in patient care. Topics include: prevention, instrumentation, patient management, dental appliances, and treatment planning.

2
DHYG 1111

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 0 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 9 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 1050 Co-requisite(s): DHYG 1110 Continues the development of knowledge in patient care. Topics include: prevention, instrumentation, patient management, dental appliances, treatment planning, and applied techniques.

3
DHYG 1206

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Co-requisite(s): None Introduces principles of basic pharmacology as they pertain to the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene. Emphasizes actions and reactions of medications commonly used in the dental office or taken by dental patients. Topics include: pharmaceutical referencing; legal and ethical considerations; drug effects; contraindications; drug related emergencies; dental related anesthesia; and pain control.

3
DHYG 2010

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 1070, DHYG 1110 Co-requisite(s): DHYG 2020 Continues the development of student knowledge in treating patients and preventing oral disease. Topics include: instrument sharpening; patient assessment; antimicrobial use; pulp vitality testing; treatment of hypersensitivity; whitening; implant care; tobacco cessation; pit and fissure sealants, scaling, debridement and root planing; ultrasonics and air polishing and dietary analysis.

2
DHYG 2200

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 1080 Co-requisite(s): None Provides fundamental information on periodontal anatomy, pathogenesis of the periodontal diseases, and an introduction to modern rational periodontal therapy, including preventive, non-surgical, and surgical methods. Topics include: tissues of the periodontium; periodontal pathology; periodontal diseases; assessment and treatment planning; periodontal disease therapy; and periodontal emergencies.

3
DHYG 2020

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 0 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 6 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 1070, DHYG 1090, DHYG 1111 Co-requisite(s): DHYG 2010 Continues the development of student knowledge in treating patients and preventing oral disease. Topics include: instrument sharpening; patient assessment; antimicrobial use; pulp vitality testing; treatment of hypersensitivity; whitening; implant care; tobacco cessation; pit and fissure sealants; scaling, debridement and root planing; ultrasonics and air polishing; dietary analysis, and applied techniques.

2
DHYG 2050

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 1080 Co-requisite(s): None Introduces pathology as a specialty of dentistry and includes the etiology, pathogenesis and recognition of various pathological conditions. Emphasis is placed on oral and paraoral pathology and systemic conditions affecting the head and neck. Topics include: terminology and biopsy procedures; inflammation, repair, and regeneration; soft tissue and dental anomalies; pathogenesis of caries and pulpal pathology; cysts and tumors of the head and neck; systemic conditions that affect the oral structures; infectious diseases; diseases of the salivary glands; diseases of bone; blood dyscrasias; vesiculo-erosive and autoimmune diseases; and genetic diseases and syndromes of the head and neck.

3
DHYG 2090

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 0 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 12 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 2020 Co-requisite(s): DHYG 2080 Continues the development of student skills necessary for treatment and prevention of oral disease. Topics include: special needs patients and applied techniques.

4
DHYG 2070

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 1 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 1110 Co-requisite(s): None Provides students with a broad understanding of the healthcare system and an objective view of the significant social, political, psychological and economic forces directing the system. Prepares students to promote oral health and prevent oral disease in a community, by meeting specific dental health needs of community groups. Topics include: epidemiology; community dental care assessment; community dental care provision; preventive counseling for groups; group oral health education; terminology; dental care systems; biostatistics; and concepts of dental research.

3
DHYG 2080

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 2010 Co-requisite(s): DHYG 2090 Continues the development of student knowledge necessary for treatment and prevention of oral diseases. Topics include: treatment of patients with special needs.

2
DHYG 2105

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 1 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): CHEM 1152/L Co-requisite(s): None Familiarizes students with the role of nutrition in the human body with an emphasis on the dental hygienist's role as a nutritional educator. Topics include: molecular structure, carbohydrates, proteins, nutrition and digestion, bioenergetics, nutritional aspects, nutritional disorders, and diet assessment.

1
DHYG 2130

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 2080 Co-requisite(s): DHYG 2140 Focuses on the dental hygiene field and presents the fundamental concepts and principles necessary for successful participation in the dental profession. Topics include: employability skills; State of Georgia Dental Practice Act; office management; expanded duties; legal aspects; ethics; dental hygiene practice settings; and dentistry and dental hygiene regulation.

2
DHYG 2140

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 0 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 12 Pre-requisite(s): DHYG 2090 Co-requisite(s): DHYG 2130 Continues the development of student skills necessary for treatment and prevention of oral disease. Topics include: applied techniques and time management.

4
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