Curriculum for students entering program in 2013-14
 
The degree of Associate in Science with a major in Dental Hygiene is awarded upon successful completion of the program.

The Dental Hygiene program provides an extensive educational background for students seeking careers as Dental Hygienists. The program places a major emphasis on clinical work experience in the modern campus clinic as well as a variety of outside agencies and clinics. The clinical work is combined with classroom study in Dental Sciences, English, Biological Science, Nutrition and Social Sciences.

Graduates are able to find employment as hygienists or to continue their education at the baccalaureate level.

Students in the Dental Hygiene Program may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases while providing clinical services. It is for this reason that students are provided with instruction on infectious diseases, mechanisms of disease transmission, and infection control procedures to reduce the risk of disease transmission, including those published by national public health agencies, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Policy for Dental Hygiene Students Regarding Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Diseases
• Policy Regarding Individuals with Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Diseases

Background and Drug/Alcohol Testing
As a pre-clinical requirement, students will be required to undergo a criminal background check and drug and alcohol screening. No student will be exempt from this process. Students are provided with procedural and cost information subsequent to admission to the dental hygiene program and are responsible for all costs associated with these testing procedures.

Admission to the Dental Hygiene program is very competitive. Selection is determined by a cumulative point system that is based upon high school level prerequisite courses and grades, applicable college courses and grades (only those courses required in the dental hygiene program), and the NLN score.

College level science and technical courses required in the program (e.g., Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, etc.) taken more than five (5) years prior to the desired date of entry into the Dental Hygiene program must be either repeated or challenged. Final decisions will rest with the Department Head of Dental Hygiene.

Prior to the start of the clinical dental courses, students are required to have on file in the Health Services Office (603) 230-4043 documentation of: current medical insurance; a complete physical examination; current immunizations; and certification in CPR (Health Care Provider - American Heart Association or Professional Rescuer - Red Cross ON-LINE COURSES NOT ACCEPTED; must be hands-on CPR). Professional liability insurance is arranged by the College and will automatically be charged to the student's account.

Transfer Information

• Transferring to other institutions
• Transfer (Articulation) Agreements (specific to this program)
• Transferring to NHTI

Dental Hygiene Mission, Goals & Competencies (PDF or contact (603) 271-6484 x4141.)

Facts About Our Dental Hygiene Program that Make it so Special

Program Quality

• Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association
• Established in 1970
• High success rate in national and clinical board exams
• Excellent reputation in the dental community
• Low faculty/student ratios in clinics
• Modern, state of the art equipment

Curriculum Features

• Hours of clinical experience with individual instruction
• Varied opportunities in the public health settings
• Transferability of general education courses
• Updated information from guest speakers in the profession
• Integration of computer work into the programs

Specific Admission Requirements

2013 Admission
Preference will be given to applicants whose applications are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than January 25, 2013 for Fall 2013 admission (with the exception of the interview).

2014 Admission
Preference will be given to applicants whose applications are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than January 24, 2014 for Fall 2014 admission (with the exception of the interview).

1. “Composite Percentile All” score of 50 or higher on the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Examination-RN (NLN) must be presented. Priority consideration will be given to candidates who sit for the NLN exam no later than and January 2013 testing date for Fall 2013 and and January 2014 testing date for Fall 2014 applicants. Applicants are permitted to take the NLN exam only once in any 6-month period; only NLN exams taken in the past three (3) years will be considered; NLN information is available here in PDF or contact the Admissions Office at (603) 230-4011).
2. College preparatory level courses in biology and chemistry, with labs, with grades of “C” or higher;
3. Algebra I with a grade of “C” or higher or NHTI's MT 103 and MT 104 with grades of “C” or higher;
4. An informational group interview with the Dental Admissions Committee; qualified candidates will be contacted after the deadline to arrange an interview;
5. Observe professional practices in a dental office for a period of not less than twenty (20) hours; please submit the completed Observation Form to the NHTI Admissions Office no later than 2012 January 27, 2012; 2013 January 25, 2013; the form is available in PDF or by contacting the Admissions Office at (603) 230-4011.

Internship Considerations

NHTI has developed excellent practicum opportunities for our students to foster hands-on learning while simultaneously receiving credit. Nonetheless, the college's first priority must be to ensure that patients/clients/children/families are not placed in jeopardy by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students in internship, externship, practicum, service learning, and clinical experiences must demonstrate sufficient emotional stability to withstand the stresses, uncertainties and changing circumstances that characterize patient/client/child/family responsibilities. Furthermore, the student is expected to have the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member, and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships and confidentiality with employees, customers, and/or patients/clients/children and their families.

Health, Character and Technical Requirements

Applicants must be in good physical and mental health in order to qualify for the program, to include:

1. Sitting at chairside for a sustained length of time with frequent reaching;
2. Manual dexterity to safely perform intraoral instrumentation;
3. Sufficient hearing to assess patient needs;
4. Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, operate equipment andÿevaluate radiographs; visual acuity (correctable) to work with small measurements, and to interpret small defects;
5. Sufficient writing skills to record medical and dental data and communicate with other dental professionals; ability to express ideas to educate the client and exchange information with other health professionals.

Readmission Policy for Dental Hygiene Program
Readmission to the NHTI Dental Hygiene Program is not guaranteed. Students who have withdrawn from the program due to extenuating circumstances or students who have been suspended from the program due to a failure in a non-clinical course may be considered for readmission only one time. Students who have been suspended due to a failure in a clinical course will not be considered. Applicants for readmission for any semester of the first clinical year who have been absent for one semester or longer will be required to repeat DN 113 Clinical Dental Hygiene I and DN 114 Clinical Dental Hygiene II (if previously completed). Applicants for readmission for any semester of the second clinical year who have been absent for one semester or longer will be required to repeat the clinical course schedule in the semester readmission is requested.