Program Information
Location of Program:
Forrest County Campus
Program Start:
Fall Semester
Contact Information:
Dental Hygiene Program
601.554.5509
dht@prcc.edu
Brief Description of Program:
Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis and provide other preventative dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health.
Dental hygienists typically do the following:
- • Remove tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth
• Apply sealants and fluorides to help protect teeth
• Take and develop dental x rays
• Keep track of patient care and treatment plans
• Teach patients oral hygiene, such as how to brush and floss correctly
Dental hygienists are skilled health care providers that specialize in the teeth and surrounding tissues of the oral cavity. Dental hygienists are trained to recognize early signs and symptoms of oral and systemic diseases and how oral and systemic health together affect the overall health of the patient. Dental hygienists are trained to use a variety of instruments to remove calculus, plaque, and stains from tooth surfaces. A series of examination and screenings gives insight to the hygienist to develop an individualized care plan to restore a person’s mouth to health. All of these tasks are done with optimal infection control procedures to provide safety to the hygienist and patient.
The American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is conducting an accreditation site visit of the Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene Programs at Pearl River Community College on November 29, 30, and December 1, 2023. Third party comments from students, patients, and other parties of interest are solicited by CODA up until 60 days prior to the scheduled visit.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review comments that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs.
Signed or unsigned comments will be accepted, names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to them to the program, and that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commissions’ accreditation process. A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commissions policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission by calling 1-312-440-4653 or by emailing navickask@ada.org
Possible careers in this program:
Private Practice, Sales, Education
What a student can expect from a career in this field:
A career in this field is very hands on. This program prepares you to work one on one with patients providing educational, preventative, and therapeutic services.
Essential requirements of a person in this career field:
Good people skills; Excellent hand/eye coordination; Ability to work in a team environment
Click here to view possible earnings of jobs in this career field
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives you comprehensive tools to explore salaries and incomes for any industry across the state.
Mission of Program:
To offer an allied health program that upon successful completion will qualify students for entry-level employment in the field of dental hygiene.
Goals of Program:
To provide the academic foundation as well as the technological education and clinical practice enabling the graduate to have the knowledge and skills to practice dental hygiene competently, ethically, and legally in the State of MS.
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Wildcats Don’t Wander
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