Dental Hygienists are licensed, preventive oral health care professionals who provide educational, clinical, research, administrative, and therapeutic services that support total health by providing optimal oral health. Dental hygienists are required to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program that is at least two years in length. Graduation from an accredited program housed in a college or university is followed by successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, and regional licensing examinations.

Dental hygienists  work in private dental hygiene and dental offices; managed care organizations; federal state and municipal health facilities; long term care facilities; nursing homes; and schools.

Licensed dental hygienists work as clinical practitioners, educators, researchers, administrators/mangers, consultants and business owner/operators. (2001 ADHA position paper)

According to 18.29.050 RCW, dental hygienists in the State of Washington may remove deposits and stains from the surfaces of the teeth, may apply topical preventive (sealants/topical fluoride) or prophylactic agents, may polish and smooth restorations, may perform root planing and soft-tissue curettage, and may perform other restorative dental operations and services delegated to them by licensed dentists.

YVCC complies with all federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, creed, marital status, age, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the college’s Title IX/RCW 28A.604 officer and/or Section 504/ADA coordinator through the Human Resources Director, P.O. Box 22520, Yakima, WA 98907-2520, 509-574-4676/TDD 509-574-4687. (Revised 10-06)

PROGRAM MISSION

The Yakima Valley Community College Dental Hygiene Program will educate a group of diverse dental hygiene students by providing a curriculum which reflects the core values of the profession, instills life-long learning appreciation, and educates the students as a caring, clinically proficient and ethical entry-level dental hygienists prepared to serve the community in both private and public settings.

PROGRAM GOALS 2007

• Faculty will implement a student centered curriculum that strives to develop student abilities in self and peer assessment and self-directed learning by promoting critical thinking, problem solving, sound professional judgment, ethical decision making and life long learning.
• Graduates will be prepared for provision of current dental hygiene care as outlined in the Dental Hygiene Competencies document.
• The faculty will maintain a strong dental hygiene program/college/community liaison mechanism, which prepares and encourages students, faculty, and community to participate interactively.
• Clients/patients accepted for dental hygiene care will be satisfied with patient-centered quality care and appropriate dental hygiene patient education for disease prevention and health promotion.
• Graduates will be prepared to successfully pass dental hygiene licensing examinations.

In meeting the stated goals, the Dental Hygiene Program further considers:

• Affording continual self-assessment and improvement of the dental hygiene curricula, with respect to how the program is meeting the standards set for dental hygiene education.
• Through collaborative efforts, seek to stimulate innovative ideas that will lead to improved public oral health.
• Continuing to seek knowledge and education with respect to more effective educational methodologies, including use of computer technology.
• Utilizing information technologies to enhance management of information and services to dental clients.
• Promoting understanding and enhancement of human diversity with Dental Hygiene patients/clients, program students, staff and faculty, and college colleagues.
• Enhancing excellence and student success in the dental hygiene program, thereby enabling graduates to be successful within the dental hygiene profession and encouraging their life-long learning.
• Providing a positive climate of trust and mutual respect to maintain a sense of personal value.

Interested parties are welcome to visit the dental hygiene department/clinic to view the facilities and to observe the clinical and preclinical sessions.  It is also helpful to visit with the students to help understand the commitment that is necessary while enrolled in the dental hygiene program.  Serious applicants are encouraged to contact a dental hygiene advisor.

Dental Hygiene as a Profession

“As dental hygienists, we are a community of professionals devoted to the prevention of disease and the promotion and improvement of the public’s health.  We are preventive oral health professionals who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services to the public.  We strive to live meaningful, productive, satisfying lives that simultaneously serve us, our profession, our society, and the world.  Our actions, behaviors and attitudes are consistent with our commitment to public service”.  Preamble from the American Dental Hygienists Association Code Of Ethics For Dental Hygienists 1995.

Yakima Valley Community College Dental Hygiene Program continues to envision the future and participate in the changing direction of the field of dentistry and dental hygiene.  Included in the portrayal of the profession is the list of Policy and Strategic Principles of the Institute Of Medicine’s 1995 Report, Dental Education At The Crossroads-Challenges And Change.

1. Oral health is an integral part of total health, and oral health care is an integral part of comprehensive health care, including primary care.
2. The long-standing commitment of dentists and dental hygienists to prevention and primary care should remain vigorous.
3. A focus on health outcomes is essential for dental professionals and dental and dental hygiene) schools.
4. Dental education must be scientifically based and undertaken in an environment in which the creation and acquisition of new scientific and clinical knowledge are valued and actively pursued.
5. Learning is a life-long enterprise for dental professionals that cannot stop with the awarding of a degree or the completion of a residency program.
6. A qualified dental work force is a valuable national resource. Support for the education of this work force must continue to come from both public and private sources.
7. Efforts to reduce the wide disparities in oral health status and access to care should be a high priority for policy makers, practitioners, and educators.