Dental Hygiene (DHYG) - Ferris Course Catalog

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Dental Hygiene DHYG

Degree Type: Associate in Applied Science

College(s): College of Health Professions

Required Courses		Credit Hours
BIOL 108	Medical Microbiology	3
BIOL 205	Human Anatomy-Physiology	5
CCHS 101	Orientation-Health Care	3
CCHS 102	Safety Issues-Health Care	1
CHEM 114	Intro to General Chemistry	4
COMM 105	Interpersonal Communication	3
Or
COMM 121	Fundamentals-Public Speaking	3
Cultural Enrichment Elective		3
ENGL 150	English 1	3
ENGL 250	English 2	3
MATH 110	Fundamentals of Algebra	4
*	OR Math ACT 19
MRIS 102	Orientation to Med Vocabulary	1
PSYC 150	Introduction to Psychology	3
SOCY 121	Introductory Sociology	3
PROFESSIONAL SEQUENCE
DHYG 101	Oral Imaging	1
DHYG 102	Oral Imaging Lab	1
DHYG 104	Dental Hygiene Theory 1	3
DHYG 105	Pre-Clinical DHYG Practice 1	2
DHYG 107	Oral Science A	2
DHYG 108	Oral Sciences A Lab	1
DHYG 117	Oral Science B	1
DHYG 118	Oral Science B Lab	1
DHYG 123	General and Oral Pathology	2
DHYG 124	Dental Hygiene Theory 2	3
DHYG 126	Dental Hygiene Practice 2	2
DHYG 127	Dental Materials	1
DHYG 129	Dental Materials Lab	1
DHYG 208	Perio/Path Review	2
DHYG 212	Dental Hygiene Theory 3	3
DHYG 213	Periodontics	2
DHYG 217	Community Dentistry A	1
DHYG 218	Pharmacology for Dent Hygiene	2
DHYG 222	Dental Hygiene Practice 3	3
DHYG 227	Community Dentistry A Lab	1
DHYG 229	Pain Management	1
DHYG 231	Pain Management Lab	1
DHYG 232		3
DHYG 233		3
DHYG 237		1
DHYG 239		1
DHYG 280		1
DHYG 291	Dental Hygiene Practicum	1 - 2 **
Computer Competency
Minimum semester credit hours required for Dental Hygiene A.A.S. degree:		82
All prerequisite coursesmust be successfully completed with a C or better before progressing into the program’s professional sequence.
* CCHS 101, and ENGL 250 may be taken prior to the professional sequence.
**DHYG 291 is optional
Student must have current standing in the dental hygiene professional sequence to take DHYG classes.
A grade of C or better must be received for all courses listed on the checksheet.

Why Choose Dental Hygiene?

The Dental Hygiene program at Ferris is the largest in the State of Michigan and one of the largest programs in the nation. The program enjoys a reputation of educational excellence, with expert faculty who are recognized at the state, national and international levels within the discipline of dental hygiene for the delivery of innovative academic and continuing education.

Dental hygiene is a practice area that continues to grow with the increased consumer awareness of the importance of good oral hygiene in the prevention and detection of systemic disease processes. Dental hygiene will continue to grow based on the increasing focus on preventive dental care needs of the public.

Completion of the three-year Associate in applied science degree, and final written and clinical exams enables the graduate to sit for the state licensure exam. Student clinical experiences occur within the college as the students work with patients from the University, community, and local schools in the College's 30-seat state of the art Dental Hygiene Clinic.

Get a Good Job

Dental hygienists are professionals, licensed by the state in which they practice, who complete extensive educational and clinical preparation in preventive oral health care. A dental hygienist is a clinician, oral health care educator, health promoter, consumer advocate, administrator, and researcher.

The responsibilities of a dental hygienist include the development, implementation, and
evaluation of a dental hygiene plan of care that is based on the needs of the patient. Clinical services can include:

the evaluation and monitoring of medical and dental health histories

examining, assessing, and documenting oral conditions

exposing, processing and interpreting x-rays

removal of calculus and stain that form on the teeth

application of caries-preventive agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants

delivery of dietary education and counseling

design and implementation of community or school oral health programs

delivery of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide

Accelerated employment growth is expected for several years in response to increasing demand for dental care. Earnings of dental hygienists are affected by geographic location, employment setting, education, and experience. The average hourly wage in Michigan is $26 – $30 per hour in private practice employment settings. Dental hygienists who work for school systems, public health agencies, the federal government, or state agencies usually have substantial benefits.

Admission Requirements

Students must be admitted to the university. To be qualified to enter the professional sequence of the program, a student must have earned at least a 2.5 GPA with a minimum grade of a "C" in the following courses or their equivalent: MATH 110 (alternate MATH ACT subscore of 19 or above); BIOL 108; MRIS 102; ENGL 150; SOCY 121; CHEM 114, BIOL 205, COMM 105 or COMM 221, CCHS 102, PSYC 150, and cultural enrichment elective with a grade of C or better.

To assure students of a quality technical education in classroom/lab and clinical practice, enrollment is limited. Students who meet or will have met the program's qualification criteria by the end of Spring semester are required to apply to the program's professional sequence between January 15 and January 30 of the year prior to the August professional sequence entry. Admission will be based upon date of qualification.

Graduation Requirements

The six-semester program leads to an associate in applied science degree. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in major and core courses and meet all the general education requirements as outlined on the General Education website.

If a student interrupts progression in the professional sequence of the program, re-entry cannot be guaranteed due to space limitations.

More Information

College of Health Professions
Ferris State University
200 Ferris Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone: 231-591-2270
email: alliedhealth@ferris.edu

For information about accredited programs and educational requirements contact:

Commission on Dental Accreditation
American Dental Association
211 E. Chicago Ave.
Suite 1814
Chicago, IL 60611
www.ada.org