Dental Hygiene Technology

FIND YOUR WINGS

This two-year program provides students with a general education and clinical dental hygiene experience to prepare them for a career in the dental hygiene profession. A dental hygienist is a licensed, preventive health professional who provides educational, clinical, and therapeutic services while promoting total health through the maintenance of optimal oral health.

All phases of dental health education are covered and practiced through clinical experience. Students gain clinical experience by treating patients in all categories ranging from children to the aged as well as patients with oral and general systemic conditions. Students also participate in community dental health activities.

For an appointment with a student hygienist, please call 601.481.1353 and leave a message. A student will call back to schedule you. Patients are assigned to students based on their case type and level of difficulty.

To meet graduation requirements for this program, students must successfully complete the specified courses listed below with a “C” average (GPA of 2.00) or better. A grade of “C” or higher is required in each DHT course to progress in the program. All coursework must be passed.

In addition to general admission requirements, all of the following must be complete to meet the minimum requirements for the dental hygiene program:

  • A complete application for admission to Meridian Community College
  • Attain an 18 composite score on the ACT
  • Submit all transcripts (high school and college) and official ACT scores, to the Admission Office by April 30th
  • Submit a handwritten autobiographical information sheet and proof of four (4) hours observation in a dental clinic (faxed to the Dental Hygiene Department at 601-581-3525) by the April 30th deadline. → Download Here
  • Complete all prerequisites with a “C” average or above
  • Complete Anatomy and Physiology I and II within five (5) years prior to admission
  • Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (“C” average) or higher on all previous college coursework. Final college transcripts must be received by May 21st.
  • All applicants must attend a DHT Information Session. Applicants will receive notice about the Information Session once all of their documents have been received.

 

The DHT Admissions Committee will select each year’s class from the pool of applicants who meet minimum requirements. Any application with incomplete records will not be considered for admission.  The admission process is competitive, and completion of minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission. 

Priority consideration for admission will be given as follows:

  1. In-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC;
  2. Out-of-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC;
  3. Mississippi residents who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework elsewhere;
  4. Out-of-state students. 
  5. Check with the Health Education advisor for selection details and deadlines.


Prior to classes beginning, students are required to receive the Hepatitis-B vaccination (or present physician’s statement stating that this vaccination is not advisable). Students are also required to obtain a CPR Healthcare Provider (two year) certification  from the American Heart Association; including infant and child, also use of defibrillator and proof of immunization for MMR and varicella. A Mantoux Two-Step TB Skin Test and drug screening will be scheduled after enrollment. All these conditions must be met prior to the start of clinical training.

All students admitted into the program will be required to pay for fingerprinting and background checks, which will be performed after admission and prior to clinical laboratories. These fees will be attached as registration fees. For additional information, please contact the Health Education Advisor.

Students in the Dental Hygiene Technology Program must attend MCC full time (15 or more semester credit hours).

Performance in the following Dental Hygiene prerequisite academic core courses is used in computing an applicant’s admission ranking:

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES
Course Number Course Description Hours
CHE 1113 Survey of Chemistry 3
CHE 1111 Survey of Chemistry Lab  1
BIO 2923 Microbiology 3
BIO 2921 Microbiology Lab 1
BIO 2513 Anatomy & Physiology  3
BIO 2511 Anatomy & Physiology Lab 1
BIO 2523 Anatomy & Physiology II 3
BIO 2521 Anatomy & Physiology II Lab 1
Total Credit Hours 16
FIRST YEAR  |  FIRST SEMESTER
Course Number Course Description Hours
DHT 1115 Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene 5
DHT 1252 Dental Anatomy & Embryology 2
DHT 1314 Dental Radiology 4
DHT 1931 Dental Medical Emergencies 1
BIO 1613 Nutrition 3
  Semester Hours 15
FIRST YEAR | SECOND SEMESTER
Course Number Course Description Hours
DHT 1416 Clinical Dental Hygiene I 6
DHT 1513 Periodontics 3
DHT 1941 Theories of Patient Care 1
DHT 1243 Anatomy & Histology Head & Neck 3
DHT 2232 General and Oral Pathology 2
  Semester Hours 15
FIRST YEAR | SUMMER SEMESTER
Course Number Course Description Hours
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
PSY 1513 General Psychology 3
  Humanities/Fine Arts Elective 3
SOC 2113 Introduction to Sociology 3
  Semester Hours 12
SECOND YEAR  |  FIRST SEMESTER
Course Number Course Description Hours
DHT 2426 Clinical Dental Hygiene II 6
DHT 2713 Pharmacology 3
DHT 2613 Dental Materials 3
DHT 2922 Dental Ethics / Law 2
DHT 2961 General and Dental Nutrition 1
  Semester Hours 15
SECOND YEAR | SECOND SEMESTER
Course Number Course Description Hours
DHT 2436 Clinical Dental Hygiene III 6
DHT 2823 Community Dental Health I 3
DHT 2832 Community Dental Health II 2
DHT 2952 Fundamentals of Licensure 2
SPT 1113 Public Speaking 3
  Semester Hours 16
Total Semester Hours 89

MCC’s Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of approval without  reporting requirements. 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: www.ada.org/en/coda.

Graduates of the program are awarded an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene and are eligible to write the National Board of Dental Examiners as well as individual state board examinations for dental hygiene.

MCC’s Dental Hygiene Technology program is a program that meets the education requirements for a Dental Hygiene license in MS, and qualifies graduates to take the National Board of Dental Examiners and individual state board examinations for dental hygiene. 

Determinations about whether the Dental Hygiene Technology program at MCC meets the state education requirements for US States, Territories, and the District of Columbia can be found at Professional Licensure & State Authorization Program Determination Disclosure.

 

For more informationFor more information:
Dr. Paige Pennington, Coordinator
paige.pennington@meridiancc.edu
601.484.8751
For more informationFor more information:
Jimmyia Smith, Advisor
jimmyia.smith@meridiancc.edu 
601.484.8629