Information for Admission to Mississippi Delta Community College

DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM

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Admission Requirements:

Applications are available after October 1. All transcripts, high school and college, and ACT scores must be received along with the application by March 1. To request an application packet, contact Angie Cather , Health Sciences Support for Allied Health Programs at (662) 246-6249.

*Contacts for further help or information:

MDCC Home Page: www.msdelta.edu
MDCC Admissions and Records, (662) 246-6306
MDCC Counseling and Recruiting Services, (662) 246-6451
MDCC Financial Aid Office, (662) 246-6309

Considerations for Acceptance:

In addition to all of MDCC ‘s general admission requirements for a technical student, the Dental Hygiene Program has specific additional program admission requirements: Applicants must have the following documents on file before March 1 to be considered for admission to the Dental Hygiene Program:

a. MDCC application for admission and an application to the Dental Hygiene Program.

b. An official high school transcript from an approved high school or GED equivalency score and official college transcript(s) if college work has been completed.

c. ACT scores must be furnished. A minimum score of 18 is required for admission. Applicants who took the ACT prior to October 1989 will have their results converted to the Enhanced ACT scores (a score of 15 prior to October 1989 converts to an 18 on the Enhanced ACT).

d. The admission process is competitive. Performance in the following Dental Hygiene academic core courses is used in computing an applicant’s admission score:

Fine arts elective : Music or Art Appreciation

Humanities elective : American History, English Composition II, English Literature, American Literature, World Literature, French, Spanish, Western Civilization, Philosophy

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Selection of Students:

Students are selected based on their ACT, GPA , computerized entrance test [HOBET] scores, and performance on academic core courses . Applicants are considered on a competitive basis and performance in all academic areas listed previously is weighted heavily in candidate selection. Meeting the minimum requirements above does not guarantee admission to the Dental Hygiene Technology Program.

Educational Experiences to Expect:

The Dental Hygiene Technology Program provides a general education and clinical dental hygiene experience to prepare one for a career in the dental hygiene profession. All phases of dental hygiene education are covered and practiced by clinical experience. The program requires 50 hours of dental hygiene courses and 32-33 academic core hours leading to an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene. A graduate will be eligible to take the examination of the National Board of Dental Examiners, as well as state board examinations for dental hygiene licensure. The American Heart Association provides CPR for students as an additional prerequisite of study along with the courses listed above.

Career Facts:

Who is the Dental Hygienist?

The registered dental hygienist (RDH) is a licensed member of the oral health team who provides treatment to prevent oral diseases such as dental caries (cavities) and periodontal disease (gum diseases). The dental hygienist also instructs patients on methods to improve and maintain optimal oral health.

What does the dental hygienist do?

Each state has its own specific regulations and licensure requirements. The range of services performed by the dental hygienist will vary from one to another.

Where Does the Dental Hygienist Work?

The dental hygienist usually works as a clinical practitioner in either general dental practices or specialty practices such as periodontics ( treatment for disease of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth) and pediatric dentistry ( treatment for children). They also work as educators, researchers, administrators, managers, preventive program developers, consumer advocates and consultants. While most dental hygienists practice in private dental offices, others provide services in:

*hospitals
*health maintenance organizations
*federal, state, and municipal health departments
*primary and secondary school systems
*college and university educational systems
*private businesses and industry
*correctional institutions
*private and public centers for pediatric, geriatric, and other special needs groups

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does the “RDH” designation mean?
The “RDH” designation is an acronym for Registered Dental Hygienist. The designation assures patients that the dental hygienist has completed a nationally accredited program, has successfully passed a state clinical examination and a national written examination, and has received a state license to provide preventive oral health care services and patient education.

Why consider dental hygiene as a Career?

Dental hygiene is one of the country’s fastest growing careers. The demand for dental hygienists is expected to grow 48% by the year 2006. Dental hygienists have the opportunity to work with a variety of people, including children, the elderly, and the disabled.

What are my chances for employment?

Dental hygienists are listed among the fastest growing occupations in the state of Mississippi. Approximately 1,060 jobs are projected through the year 2010 for our state not including annual openings and replacements.

Nationally dental hygienists held about 143,000 jobs in 1998, with 203,000 jobs projected by 2010. Approximately 15,000 average annual openings, including replacements are anticipated.

What about salary and benefits?

Earnings of dental hygienists are affected by geographic location, employment setting, and education and experience. Dental hygienists who work in private dental settings may be paid on an hourly, daily, salary, or commission basis.

According to the 1999 American Dental Association Workforce Needs Assessment Survey, dental hygienists earned $29.26 per hour for an average 24 hour work week. 33% of dental hygienist work between 24-32 hours per week. Benefits offered to dental hygienists often include profit sharing and continuing education.

Program Costs:

Every effort is made to be conservative and to have respect for the financial resources of the student.

An estimation of the costs may be provided upon request.

Dental Hygiene Program Curriculum:

*For specific dental hygiene program curriculum,
please refer to the MDCC catalog (student handbook).

MDCC Dental Hygiene Program “Mission Statement”

The Mississippi Delta Community College Dental Hygiene Program is committed to offering a health care facility that is dedicated to the education of its students and the surrounding dental community. It is our philosophy to prepare individuals with the knowledge and skills for providing comprehensive dental hygiene care to those in need as well as to maintain high standards of ethical conduct while in the program and upon graduation