Dental Hygienist

The two-year program is designed to prepare the student as a skilled, educated health care provider with the knowledge and skills necessary to become part of the dental health team. At the successful completion of the two-year program, graduates will be eligible to sit for national and regional examinations in dental hygiene leading to licensure as a registered dental hygienist.

Program goals:

At the completion of the dental hygiene program students will be able to:

1. Exhibit the highest level of professionalism.
2. Deliver high quality patient care by the use of sound judgment, critical thinking skills, and evidence based decision making.
3. Emphasize the role of the dental hygienist as a patient educator involved in community health engagement activities related to health promotion and disease prevention.

Program Objectives:

To be able to fulfill the requirements of an Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene and promote the overall program goals, graduates of the Dental Hygiene program at Wytheville Community College will be able to:

1. Apply didactic information through patient care.
2. Demonstrate critical thinking through writing, speaking, and listening.
3. Adhere to the ethical, legal, and professional codes of conduct expected of the dental hygiene practitioner.
4. Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate oral health community events that provide solutions to access to care and health education.

Program Notes: 

The program in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

Individuals who have a felony or misdemeanor conviction may not be allowed to hold an active dental hygiene license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Any questions regarding licensure and felonies/misdemeanor convictions should consult with the Virginia Board of Dentistry prior to applying to the Dental Hygiene Program.  The phone number for the VBOD is (804) 367-4538.

Board Success Rate