Dental Hygiene (Associate of Science) (226P, 226)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/alliedhealth
Program Coordinator
Joseph W. Evans, joseph.evans@wku.edu, (270) 745-6274
Program Accreditation
Commission on Dental Accreditation (Program of Dental Hygiene).
Allied health is defined as all the professional, technical and supportive workers in patient care, public health and health research. Allied health professions encompass a wide distribution of personnel with various levels of health education and training, which enables them to function as a member of the health care team.
Program of Dental Hygiene
Students with an interest in the program of dental hygiene may contact the dental hygiene program coordinator. When planning a program of study in this program, each student should be aware of the University’s academic requirements and regulations contained in this catalog in the chapter “Academic Information.” Specific attention should be given to the subsections in the chapter entitled (a) Academic Programs, (b) Colonnade Program Requirements and (c) Academic Requirements and Regulations. Students should be aware that this academic program might require additional scholastic regulations and standards not specified in the catalog. To obtain a copy of these regulations, students should contact the program office.
Enrollment in the program of dental hygiene is limited and special admission information and other special rules, standards and requirements should be obtained directly from the program office (Academic Complex, Room 236G) or from the program website (https://www.wku.edu/dentalhygiene/).
The dental hygiene associate degree curriculum is designed primarily to prepare the graduate hygienist to effectively practice as a respected member of the dental hygiene profession. The education also provides the student with knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable him or her to serve as a community resource in matters of dental disease prevention and sound dental health practices.
The educational experience offered prepares the graduate hygienist to effectively carry out the duties as prescribed by licensure. Hygienists are prepared for varied career opportunities, which include the following settings: general dentistry practice, specialty practices, public health, military installations, hospitals or clinics, research facilities or public school dental hygiene.
Although 14 hours of Colonnade courses (including Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology) are prerequisites, most beginning dental hygiene students will have successfully completed one or more years of college.
The associate degree in dental hygiene requires a minimum of 83 unduplicated semester hours. The associate degree may be completed in five semesters and one summer term. Requirements are outlined below.
Prerequisites for Admission into the Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 131 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 207 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 208 | General Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| ENG 100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| PSY/PSYS 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 14 | |
Program Requirements (53 hours):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| DH 201 | Dental Radiology I | 2 |
| DH 204 | Periodontics | 3 |
| DH 206 | Dental Pharmacology | 3 |
| DH 210 | Dental Materials and Expanded Functions in Restorative Dentistry I | 2 |
| DH 212 | Oral Anatomy | 3 |
| DH 222 | Preventive Dental Hygiene Care | 2 |
| DH 226 | Dental Materials and Expanded Functions in Restorative Dentistry II | 2 |
| DH 230 | Oral Histology and Embryology | 3 |
| DH 270 | Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DH 271 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DH 302 | Dental Radiology II | 2 |
| DH 303 | Community Dental Health | 4 |
| DH 307 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DH 309 | Pain Control in Dentistry | 4 |
| DH 324 | Practice Management and Ethics | 3 |
| DH 370 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 5 |
| DH 371 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| Total Hours | 53 | |
Additional Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HMD 211 | Human Nutrition | 3 |
| CHEM 109 | Chemistry for the Health Sciences | 4 |
| COMM 145 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Communication | 3 |
| SOCL 100 | Introductory Sociology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 13 | |