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DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAMS IN KENTUCKY

Kentucky has 3 entry level programs and 1 degree completion program

• KCTCS • Associate of Applied Science• Bluegrass Community & Technical College • West Consortium – Credentials granted by Henderson but also taught at West

KY Community & Technical College in Paducah• East Consortium – Credentials granted by Big Sandy Community & Technical

College but also taught at Somerset

• University of Louisville School of Dentistry• Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

• Western Kentucky University• Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene• Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene• On-line Degree Completion

PREPARATION & ADMISSION TO ENTRY-LEVEL PROGRAMS

• Admission requirements and prerequisites vary from institution to institution, but generally include:• High school diploma or GED• High school courses in Math, Chemistry, Biology & English• ↑ HS GPA• ↑ college entrance test scores• ↑ college GPA – 3.25 and above• The majority of dental hygiene programs (93%) have limited

enrollment.

• Admission to a program is typically highly competitive. • 25% of students applying for admission to associate programs were

admitted• 33% of students applying to baccalaureate programs were

admitted.

ENTRY LEVEL DENTAL HYGIENE CURRICULUM

• Accredited dental hygiene programs require an average of 2,910 clock hours of curriculum. This includes 654 clock hours of supervised clinical dental hygiene instruction. 2

• General education courses including English, Speech, Psychology and Sociology

• Basic science courses including Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Medical Microbiology, Pathology, Nutrition, and Pharmacology

• Dental science courses including Oral Anatomy, Head and Neck Anatomy, Oral Embryology and Histology, Oral Pathology, Radiography, Periodontology, Pain control and Dental Materials

2American Dental Association 2009-2010 Survey of Allied Dental Education, 2011,

American Dental Association (ADA) Survey Center.

ENTRY LEVEL DENTAL HYGIENE CURRICULUM• Dental hygiene courses include • oral health education, nutrition & preventive counseling• patient management• pharmacology • clinical dental hygiene• community dental health• medical and dental emergencies • supervised instruction in pre-clinical and clinical practice

• 54% of all programs use extended clinical facilities beyond their campus

• 80% require students to perform a clinical rotation in a community or public health setting• Free Health Clinic• Mobile Dental Clinic• Service Learning Projects

EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

• Dental Hygiene students are taught to use a wide variety of equipment• Cavitron ultrasonic scalers• Sonic scalers• Airpolisher• ScanX• Intraoral and Extraoral Films• Digital Sensors• Intraoral Cameras• VelScope • Diagnodent• Practice Management Software • EagleSoft, Dentrix, Soft Dent

• Diode Lasers (soon to be implemented)

COST OF A DENTAL HYGIENE EDUCATION IN 2014

Dental Hygiene:

Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene - $15,000 -$30,000

Bachelors Degree in Dental Hygiene - up to $40,000

Masters Degree in Dental Hygiene – additional $23,000

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DENTAL HYGIENE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF DENTISTRY

• Two Registered Dental Hygienists and one Ex-Officio members on the KBD

• Mary Ann Burch RDH• Mara Beth D. Womack RDH MS CDA• Kim Dean RDH MS - Ex-Officio member

REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE

• A licensed dental hygienist :• Must be a graduate of a CODA accredited DH school• Must have successfully completed the DH National

Board • Must have successfully completed a Regional Clinical

Exam:• CITA, CRDTS, NERB, SRTA or WREB

• RDH’s may be licensed by credentials if they meet the criteria established by the state law

• All RDH’s are required to maintain current CPR certification

LICENSE RENEWAL

• Kentucky Registered Dental Hygienists renew their licenses on or before December 31 of even numbered years (every 2 years).

• The current renewal fee is $110.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

• 30 hours of CE are required and must have been completed in a 2 yr. licensing period

• These courses must relate to or advance the practice of dental hygiene or dentistry

• A minimum of ten (10) hours must be taken in a live interactive presentation format

• 201 KAR 8:562

• The Dental Hygienist’s license must be posted in a conspicuous location in each place of employment

THE DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE

• Notations on RDH licenses include certification for:

• Local Anesthesia/Nitrous Oxide

• General Supervision

• Laser Debridement

• Dental Hygienist starting IV access line (when working with a Sedation Permit holder)

• Public Health RDH

• Kentucky Dental Hygienists work under the direct supervision of a dentist.

SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS

• A Dental Hygienist may provide, for not more than fifteen (15) consecutive full business days, dental hygiene services to a patient when the supervising dentist is not physically present.

• Dental Hygienists are allowed to work under General Supervision if they meet the requirements and conditions of KRS 313.040(7)(a);

The Dental Hygienist must:• Have two (2) years with a minimum of 3,000 hrs. of experience in the

practice of dental hygiene• Have successfully completed a board approved medical emergency

course• Comply with written emergency protocols established by the

supervising dentist

GENERAL SUPERVISION

GENERAL SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS

• The patient must have been examined by the supervising dentist within the previous seven months.

• The patient must sign an informed consent

• The patient must be categorized as a ASA I or ASA II

• In a volunteer community health setting, without the supervision of a dentist, a RDH may provide the following procedures:

• Dental Health education• Nutritional counseling• Generalized oral screening with subsequent

referral to a dentist• Apply fluoride• Demonstrate oral hygiene techniques• Apply sealants

SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS

• RDHs are allowed to do School Entrance Screenings for kindergarten & 1st grade. KRS 156.160(1)(i)

VIOLATION OF THE DENTAL PRACTICE ACT

• If there is a complaint filed against a Dental Hygienist, it will be referred to

• The Law Enforcement Committee then if necessary, to the KBD.

• If found guilty of the complaint, the RDH’s licenses may be • Denied• Limited• Suspended• Revoked

• The Well Being Committee for the KBD is available to all licensed KY Dental Hygienists. • Brian Fingerson RPh.

QUESTIONS ?

If you have questions contact the Kentucky Board of Dentistry www.dentistry.ky.gov

Mary Ann Burch RDH maburch@dcr.net

Kim Dean RDH MS kim.dean@kctcs.edu Mara Beth D. Womack RDH MS CDA mbdwomack@gmail.com