2013 - 2014 Catalog - Ozarks Technical Community College

Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)Dental HygieneA.A.S. Degree: 80 HoursContemporary Dental Hygiene practice requires that Dental Hygienists possess a breadth of knowledge and skills in a variety of areas. Changesin health care knowledge and practice have expanded the Dental Hygienist’s role to include five interrelated components: clinician, educator/oralhealth promoter, administrator/manager, consumer advocate, and researcher. These areas hold the common denominator of improved oral healthfor society.The duties of the Dental Hygienist include oral prophylaxis (cleaning); exposing, processing, and mounting radiographs; collecting and evaluatingmedical history information; performing head and neck examinations; periodontal assessment and non-surgical therapy; applying agents for theprevention of decay; applying desensitizing and antimicrobial agents; and administering local anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia.Dental Hygiene employment opportunities include general practice and specialty dental offices; federal, state, county, and city health clinics;hospitals; long-term care facilities; industrial clinics; the armed services; research institutions; and educational settings.Students may take the “Program Specific Courses” only after they have been admitted into the program. A separate application process is requiredfor acceptance into this program. A new class begins each fall semester. The application deadline for the program is May 30. A new class is selectedto begin each fall semester. Contact the Allied Health Office or visit the website( www.otc.edu/alliedhealth/1897.php) for an application packet.The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA), 211 E.Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, (312) 621-8099(Continued on Next Page)Ozarks Technical Community College • Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 2013–2014 57