It is the mission of the Harrisburg Area Community College Dental Hygiene Program to graduate students who possess the knowledge, skills, and the ethical and professional behaviors necessary to provide the current standard of care within the dental hygiene profession.

A caring, comprehensive, team approach is utilized in providing oral hygiene education and treatment to all patients in the community without discrimination. The student-centered curriculum adheres to the standards of accreditation and the licensing requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, utilizing state of the art technology and evidence based research.

- Adopted 6/00

Philosophy and Goals

Students are prepared for employment as Dental Hygienists, caring for clients in private offices and other clinical facilities. 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 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

Successful students should be able to:

1. Utilize the dental hygiene process of care (assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation) in the provision of comprehensive treatment to all clients in the community without discrimination.
2. Demonstrate accountability in dental hygiene practices.
3. Apply the roles of dental hygiene to various practice settings, demonstrating competence, ethical behaviors, and professionalism.
4. Participate as in integral member of the dental health team, providing expertise in the area of preventive health care.
5. Perform to the level of competency specified by the faculty, the state board of dental examiners, and employers, those oral health services legally approved for a dental hygienist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and other states and territories.
6. Value a commitment to the professional organizations and continuing education.

In addition, students pursue general education courses that should enable them to write and speak effectively, appreciate accomplishments in the arts and sciences and understand the role of the hygienist in community education and preventive health care.

Students will gain clinical experience at the College campus facility and at assigned externship sites. Clients will come to campus for preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene care; however, students may need to personally secure clients to meet clinical requirements.