The Associate in Applied Science major in Dental Hygiene program prepares graduates to become licensed (registered) dental hygienists (RDH). An RDH teaches and delivers clinical and therapy services to patients. The hygienist is a member of the dental team who cleans patient’s teeth and examines their mouth for signs of disease and damage. Dental offices, health departments, hospitals, or military facilities are possible places to work. Students in this program may have criminal background checks and drug screenings. The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. 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, Illinois 60611. The Commission’s web address is http://coda.ada.org.

Upon completion of the program and successful completion of a written Dental Hygiene National Board Examination and a Clinical Regional Board Examination, a graduate is eligible for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist; South Carolina certification in infiltration anesthesia; and South Carolina certification to monitor Nitrous Oxide. The licensed dental hygienist practices in accordance with the requirements of individual state dental practice acts.

Prior to entry, students must complete a required American Heart Association (AHA) BLS course, complete a dental office rotation, and complete a continuing education course in infection control.  Students must pay for liability insurance and possess current medical insurance. BLS certification, liability insurance, and medical insurance must be maintained throughout the program.

Students must submit a completed student health form (within 3 months of entering the program and updated annually) to include the following:

• Physical Assessment
• MMR vaccinations/titers is required
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccinations/titer is required
• Proof of Diphtheria-Tetanus Booster is required (Last booster must have been received within the past 10 years.)
• Hepatitis B vaccination is required
• TB testing is required
• Physician’s evaluation
• COVID-19 vaccination.  Please note*, York Technical College does not require the COVID-19 vaccination for students as a condition of enrollment or attendance.  Students intending to enroll in a health-care related program should be aware that York Technical College maintains clinical placement agreements with health care facilities where students are required to complete clinical rotations as part of the requirements for their academic program.  Clinical sites maintain their own policies governing vaccine and booster requirements, including the COVID-19 vaccine, and any exemption processes related to those requirements.  Students choosing to pursue a program that requires a clinical component must follow all vaccine policies and requirements of clinical sites.  Vaccine requirements and the approval of exemptions are at the sole discretion of each clinical site, and clinical sites may implement and modify vaccine requirements at any time as they deem necessary.

Clinical facilities may require drug screens and background checks before allowing students to participate in clinical rotations. Students participating in clinical rotations may be required to have background checks and/or drug screens at any time during their rotations. Results of background checks and drug screens will be reviewed with designated personnel at the affiliate clinical sites. To be accepted for a clinical placement, all findings must be satisfactory to all participating clinical sites. Students not accepted for clinical rotations will not be able to successfully complete the course or program. Students are required to hold a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider BLS and First Aid certifications before entering clinics, labs, and clinical rotations.

Drug Testing and Criminal Background Checks:

Drug testing is designed to protect the York Technical College community of health care consumers, to the extent reasonably possible, from harm due to receipt of services by students who engage in the inappropriate use of narcotics, drugs, alcohol, and other controlled substances. This requirement also allows the Health and Human Services Dental Health Professions programs to be in compliance with YTC Dental Clinic Guidelines, community dental offices and other clinical affiliation agreements, as well as the South Carolina Technical College Alcohol and Other Drug Use Policy which may be found on website: https://www.sccsc.edu/uploadedFiles/Resources/PDFs/Essential_and_Disclosure_Information/Alcohol-Drug-Policy-SC-Tech-System.pdf. Students enrolled in programs within the Dental Health Professions Department are required to have a clear criminal record that does not include felony convictions or other criminal convictions that would affect the ability to obtain licensure following completion of a program, including violent crimes.

Admission Criteria - A non-refundable, nontransferable deposit of $100 is also required. Applicants for admission to the Dental Hygiene Program must be a high school graduate or equivalent and must meet the qualification requirements through one of the following methods:

Completion of Dental Office Certificate program with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Students with reading scores below 88 on the COMPASS placement test, below 95 on Accuplacer, below 263 on Accuplacer Next Gen, below 70 on YTC Placement Test Reading Level 4, or below 46 on the ASSET placement test must successfully complete all required reading coursework.

Students must have a minimum DHG Program GPA of 2.0 in classes taken at York Technical College that can be applied towards the Dental Hygiene program.