Dental

All applicants must:

• Be admitted to Germanna Community College
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Demonstrate college readiness through transcript review or informed self-placement, and enroll in prerequisite or corequisite math and/or English courses as needed.
• Maintain a 2.0 GPA
• Attend a Dental Assisting program information session
• Confirm with Admissions & Records (prior to the end of the application period) that all college transcripts, transcript evaluations, and supporting documents are on file

Competitive & Selective Admissions

Admission is offered on first-come, first-serve basis unless there are more than 12 applicants by the September 1 deadline. In the event that there are more than 12 applicants, the application process becomes selective via competitive admissions.

Applicants are ranked using:

• The most credits completed toward the Certificate in Dental Assisting
• Answers to short essay questions
• The highest GPA
• The highest TEAS exam scores

Admission Requirements

All applicants must demonstrate college readiness through transcript review or informed self-placement. Based on this review, students may request or be required to enroll in prerequisite or corequisite math and/or English courses.

Admission into the Dental Hygiene program is selective and competitive, with five students admitted annually. The number of qualified applicants admitted to the dental hygiene program is contingent upon the space available in the classrooms and dental laboratories, the program’s access to sufficient clinical spaces in the region’s healthcare settings in order to meet the program’s learning outcomes, and the number of qualified Dental Hygiene faculty to teach the students in classrooms, labs, and clinical settings.

To qualify, students must:

• Apply to Germanna Community College
• File (with Admissions & Records) a high school or home school diploma or GED
• Qualify for MTH 154 within the past five years
• Maintain a GPA of 2.5 or greater and demonstrate competency in Math (MDE 10) and English (ENG 111)
• Complete the TEAS exam with scores of 50% or better in all four content areas of the exam
• Answer essay questions
• Confirm with Admissions & Records (prior to the end of the application period) that all college transcripts, transcript evaluations, and supporting documents are on file

If there are more qualified applicants than spaces available, students will be selected in a blinded fashion using TEAS test results, GPA, essay scores, residency in the service region, formal Dental Assisting education and experience, and civic engagement or volunteer work, as well as the number of credits completed towards the Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree. Students with the highest combined scores and number of credits toward graduation will be selected.

Essay answers are evaluated by the Dental Hygiene faculty, representatives from two other disciplines or service departments, and a member of the Diversity Council using a rubric. The Registrar attends but does not vote. Students receiving the top mean rubric score from these evaluations are admitted to the Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree program.

Applications are due by September 1. Applicants’ transcripts, answers to essay questions, work experience forms, civic engagement/volunteer documentation forms, and Dental Hygiene (TEAS) pre-admission test scores will be evaluated and ranked according to the requirements and priorities noted above.

Final decisions regarding admission are made by a Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee. Dental Hygiene faculty, the Dean of Health Sciences, two other non-healthcare faculty members, and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council comprise this committee.

Continuation Requirements

1. Each course in the program major must be completed with a grade of C or better before taking the next course in the sequence and to satisfy graduation requirements, unless waived by the Division Dean upon the recommendation of the Program Director. 
2. All courses in the major must be taken in the sequence prescribed in the GCC Catalog, unless otherwise approved by the Program Director.
3. To pass a course, students must successfully complete both the didactic (classroom) and the clinical/lab requirements.
4. Program faculty and clinical affiliates reserve the right to recommend, through appropriate channels, withdrawal of any student who exhibits unsafe performance or non-adherence to prescribed clinical affiliate policies and procedures.
5. Satisfactory physical and mental health must be maintained for continuance in the program. Applicants must be free of any physical and/or mental condition that might adversely affect their acceptance or performance in the program. The College reserves the right to require medical examinations, vaccinations, and drug testing to verify continuing compliance. Students with pre-existing physical and/or mental conditions which might adversely affect performance in the program who do not self-disclose this information are subject to dismissal from the program.
6. Students with criminal convictions who do not self-disclose this information are subject to dismissal from the program.

Re-enrollment Requirements

Any student who has voluntarily withdrawn or who has been withdrawn due to unsatisfactory academic or clinical performance may apply for re-admission the following academic year. Any student who has voluntarily withdrawn or who has been withdrawn due to ethical violations or criminal actions may not reapply to the program. Acceptance will be based upon space availability, successful fulfillment of any contingencies agreed to in writing at the time of withdrawal, and Program Director approval. An interview and medical examination may be required.

Dental Assisting

The program in dental assisting has received accreditation without reporting status by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda. The next scheduled accreditation review and self-study is Fall 2027.

Dental Hygiene

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: https://coda.ada.org/. The next accreditation site visit is scheduled for fall 2027.

Dental Assisting

The Commission currently publishes, in its accredited lists of programs, the year of the next site visit for each program it accredits. In addition, the Commission publishes in its spring and fall newsletter, Communications Update, those programs being site visited January through June or July through December. Developing programs submitting applications for initial accreditation may be scheduled for site visits after the publication of Communications Update; thus, the specific dates of these site visits will not be available for publication. These programs will be listed in Communications Update with a special notation that the developing programs have submitted applications for initial accreditation and may or may not be scheduled for site visits. Parties interested in these specific dates (should they be established) are welcomed/encouraged to contact the Commission office. The United States Department of Education (USDE) procedures now also require accrediting agencies to provide an opportunity for third-party comment, either in writing or at a public hearing (at the accrediting agencies’ discretion) with respect to institutions or programs scheduled for review. All comments must relate to accreditation standards for the discipline and required accreditation policies. In order to comply with the department’s requirement on the use of third-party comment regarding program’s qualifications for accreditation or pre-accreditation, the following procedures have been developed.

Who can submit comments

Third-party comments relative to the Commission’s accredited programs may include comments submitted by interested parties such as faculty, students, program administrators, Commission consultants, specialty and dental-related organizations, patients, and/or consumers.

How comments can be solicited

The Commission will request written comments from interested parties in the spring and fall issues of Communications Update. In fairness to the accredited programs, all comments relative to programs being visited will be due in the Commission office no later than 60 days prior to each program’s site visit to allow time for the program to respond. Therefore, programs being site-visited in January through June will be listed in the fall issue of CU of the previous year and programs scheduled for a site visit from July through December will be listed in the spring issue of the current year. Any unresolved issues related to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the site visit team while on-site. Those programs scheduled for review are responsible for soliciting third-party comments from students and patients by publishing an announcement at least 90 days prior to their site visit. The notice should indicate the deadline of 60 days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. The announcement may include language to indicate that a copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, or by calling 1/800-621-8099, extension 4653.

Types of comments considered

All comments submitted must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program being reviewed or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process. Comments will be screened by Commission staff for relevancy. For comments not relevant to these issues, the individual will be notified that the comment is not related to accreditation and, where appropriate, referred to the appropriate agency. For those individuals who are interested in submitting comments, requests can be made to the Commission office for receiving standards and/or the Commission’s Evaluation Policies and Procedures (EPP).

Management of comments

All relevant comments will be referred to the program at least 50 days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the site visit team 15 days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Adopted: (07/95) Revised: (01/97) Updated: (08/02) Reaffirmed: (01/03)

Dental Hygiene

The Commission currently publishes, in its accredited lists of programs, the year of the next site visit for each program it accredits. In addition, the Commission posts its spring and fall site visit announcements on the Site Visit Process and Schedule area of the Commission’s website for those programs being site visited in the current and next year. Special site visits and initial accreditation site visits for developing programs may be scheduled after the posting on the Commission’s website; thus, the specific dates of these site visits may not be available for publication. Parties interested in these specific dates (should they be established) are encouraged to contact the Commission office. The Commission will request written comments from interested parties on the CODA website.

The United States Department of Education (USDE) procedures require accrediting agencies to provide an opportunity for third-party comment, either in writing or at a public hearing (at the accrediting agencies’ discretion) with respect to institutions or programs scheduled for review. All comments must relate to accreditation standards for the discipline and required accreditation policies. In order to comply with the Department’s requirement on the use of third-party comment regarding program’s qualifications for accreditation or initial accreditation, the following procedures have been developed.

Those programs scheduled for regular review must solicit third-party comments through appropriate notification of communities of interest and the public such as faculty, students, program administrators, dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers at least ninety (90) days prior to their site visit. The notice should indicate the deadline of sixty (60) days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that signed or unsigned comments will be accepted, that names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to the program, and that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. The announcement may include language to indicate that a copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, or by calling 1/800-621-8099, extension 4653.

All comments submitted must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program being reviewed or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process. Comments will be screened by Commission staff for relevancy. Signed or unsigned comments will be considered. For comments not relevant to these issues, the individual will be notified that the comment is not related to accreditation and, where appropriate, referred to the appropriate agency. For those individuals who are interested in submitting comments, requests may be made to the Commission office.

All relevant comments will have names and/or signatures removed and will then be referred to the program at least fifty (50) days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the visiting committee fifteen (15) days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Negative comments received after the established deadline of sixty (60) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint. Any unresolved issues related to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the visiting committee while on-site.

Programs with the status of initial accreditation, and programs seeking initial accreditation must solicit comment through appropriate notification of communities of interest and the public such as faculty, students, program administrators, dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers utilizing the procedures noted above.

On occasion, programs may be scheduled for special focused or special comprehensive site visits and because of the urgency of the visit, solicitation of third-party comments within the ninety (90) day time-frame may not be possible. However, third party comments must be solicited at the time the program is notified of the Commission’s planned site visit, typically sixty (60) days in advance of the visit. In this case, the timeframe for solicitation of third-party comments will be shortened. The notice should indicate the deadline of thirty (30) days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that signed or unsigned comments will be accepted, that names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to the program, and that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. All relevant comments will have names and/or signatures removed and will then be referred to the program at least twenty (20) days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the visiting committee ten (10) days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Any unresolved issues related to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the visiting committee while onsite. Negative comments received after the established deadline of thirty (30) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint.

All relevant comments will have signatures removed and will then be referred to the program at least fifty (50) days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the visiting committee fifteen (15) days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Negative comments received after the established deadline of sixty (60) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint.

Revised: 8/19; 8/18; 2/18; 2/16; 2/15; 8/13; 8/12, 8/11, 7/09, 8/02, 1/97; Reaffirmed: 8/13; 8/10, 1/03; Adopted: 7/95

Institution: Germanna Community College

Program to be reviewed: Dental Hygiene Initial Application

Site visit date: September 21-22, 2023

60-day deadline for receipt of comments in the commission office: July 21, 2023 (Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611)

Program Overview

The Dental Hygiene curriculum is designed to provide essential technological and practical knowledge required for a Dental Hygienist to perform ethically and efficiently in a dental office. Training experiences in on-site and community dental clinics will be provided. Students will be eligible to take the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination and regional clinical examinations required for licensure by the Virginia Board of Dentistry.

Goals

1. Graduates will demonstrate competency in ethics, values, and knowledge of dental hygiene practice.
2. Graduates will improve the oral health of the population served through efficiency and efficacy of dental care in the private and public dental practice, associated industries, and through community service.
3. Graduates will contribute to the art and science of the dental hygiene profession through demonstrated commitment to professional development and life-long learning.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding and implementation of aseptic technique.
2. Students will understand the purpose of and effectively apply the use of hand, ultrasonic, and laser instruments during preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene procedures.
3. Students will be able to produce dental radiographs of diagnostic quality utilizing ALARA principles.
4. Students will critically evaluate the patient assessment data in the development of a dental hygiene diagnosis and treatment plan.
5. Students will understand the purpose of, apply the use of, and understand the implications of dental materials on dental hygiene therapy and dentistry.
6. Students will understand the purpose, delivery, and implications of pharmaceuticals on dental hygiene therapy and dentistry.
7. Students will demonstrate various roles of the dental hygienist in community health and intra- and interprofessional health teams to include effective communication with patients, groups, and peers.
8. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical values defined by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and comply with federal and state laws and regulations.

Essential Functions

To successfully complete the Program, the student must be able to perform all essential functions of a dental assistant:

1. Students must possess eye/hand coordination, sufficient motor function, strength, and endurance with both hands and arms, as well as utilize digital fine motor skills to deliver patient care for varying lengths of time throughout the day. 
2. Students must have the ability to tolerate frequent hand washing and/or use of disinfectants including hand-sanitizing agents.  Additionally, students must have the ability to wear protective gloves when indicated. 
3. Students must have the ability to perform single provider CPR in the management of a patient during an emergency. 
4. Students must possess the physical capacity to participate in required laboratory, preclinical, and clinical experiences, as well as lift and operate equipment with the necessary strength and dexterity. 
5. Students must possess the capacity to participate in administrative duties related to the dental hygiene profession.  
6. Students must have the ability to utilize auditory and sensory perception sufficient to monitor and assess patient needs. 
7. Students must possess normal or corrected visual ability in order to assess oral health conditions and perform clinical procedures on patients. 
8. Students must be able to communicate in person and via electronic devices by effective use of the English language. 
9. Students must comply with the Code of Ethics and bylaws as defined by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the statutes and regulations associated with the Commonwealth of Virginia Dental Practice Act. 
10. Students must be able to participate as full-time student and commit at least 42 hours a week to the program.  
11. Despite the foregoing, a qualified person with a disability who can perform these essential functions with reasonable accommodation will be considered for admission along with other qualified applicants.

Student Responsibilities

1. To prepare students for the high ethical standards of the health professions, the College expects absolute academic integrity both in the classroom and in clinical practice. Therefore, cheating, attempting to cheat, plagiarizing, lying, stealing academic work which includes secured tests or related materials, submitting papers purchased or written by others, or failing to report an occurrence of academic dishonesty or any violation of this honor code may subject the student to the College’s disciplinary procedures as defined in the GCC Student Handbook. 
2. Applicants must subscribe to a Division of Nursing and Health Technologies approved online credential and criminal history report. Evidence of a criminal history report and all applicable credentials to include vaccination status must be submitted for review with the dental hygiene application. Applicants are responsible for fees associated with this report. 
3. Students in dental hygiene program incur a variety of expenses in addition to college tuition and fees. These include, but are not limited to, the cost of uniforms, accessories, and travel to clinical assignments. Students are also responsible for testing fees.
4. A strict dress code is required in the clinical setting. Students may be dismissed if they fail to comply with this dress code. 
5. The College reserves the right to require students to obtain and maintain at their own expense liability/malpractice insurance with a carrier authorized to transact such business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Whether or not insurance appropriate to the program is required, students are encouraged to carry such insurance on their own. 
6. Students are required to complete learning experiences at local clinics and/or other community-based agencies. Students may be required to attend both day and/or evening clinical assignments. 
7. Students must provide their own transportation to clinical assignments. Strict attendance is required at clinical sites.
8. Students may utilize the resources of the assigned clinical affiliate, at the discretion of the assigned clinical affiliate, for emergency medical treatment for injuries or illness that may occur during the time period when students are assigned to the health care facility. The student is responsible for any expenses incurred for this treatment. 
9. Students must comply with all clinical contract protocols including immunization requirements, drug screening, and background checks. 
10. Students must keep their CPR certifications current.
11. While enrolled in clinical courses, students may not replace or take the responsibility of “qualified” staff in affiliated facilities. However, after demonstrating proficiency, students may be permitted to perform specified procedures under careful supervision. Students may be employed in clinical facilities outside regular education hours provided that such work does not interfere with academic responsibilities. The work must be non-compulsory and subject to employee regulations. Any exception must have the approval of the Dean of Nursing and Health Technologies. Unless formally employed by the clinical site or the College, students are not covered under OSHA regulations or worker’s compensation laws. 
12. Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior consistent with standards associated with health care practitioners.