Program Duration
AccreditationThe Cabrillo College School of Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), established in 1975, as a nationally recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE). Its purpose is to serve the public by establishing, maintaining and applying standards that ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dental-related education and reflect the evolving practice of dentistry and to accredit dental and dental-related education programs conducted at the post-secondary level.
The Program operates in compliance with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Standards and violations of Standards may be reported to: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611. Completion of the DH Program leads to eligibility to take the California State Board Dental Hygiene Examination or the Western Regional Board Examination (WREB). The license is issued under the authority of the State of California, Dental Hygiene Committee of California; Department of Consumer Affairs. Program DescriptionThe Cabrillo College Dental Hygiene Program the program began in 1967 and graduated the first class in 1969 and is affiliated with the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco. Upon completion of the two year program, students are eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Exam, and also qualify to take either the California State Board Exam or the Western Regional licensure exam. Enrollment is limited to 22 students each fall. Program retention is based on a minimum grade of “C” in all courses in the published dental hygiene curriculum. Courses must be taken sequentially. A dental hygienist is a person who is trained and licensed to take dental x-rays, to provide dental hygiene therapy, usually under the supervision of a dentist. The dental hygiene profession demands a high level of ethics, attitude, confidentiality and performance.
Program PhilosophyIt is the Cabrillo College School of Dental Hygiene Programs philosophy to produce a clinical competent, ethical and knowledgeable dental hygienist who is capable of combining the knowledge from didactic sources in the sciences, social sciences and clinical sciences with the skill and techniques gained from clinical dental hygiene practice and apply this knowledge for the betterment of each individual patient, as well as the community.
Job DescriptionDental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who provide preventive and therapeutic oral health care services. Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. Hygienists examine patients’ teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities. In some States, hygienists are allowed to administer anesthetics via local anesthetics using syringes. Dental hygienists can work in a variety of settings such as: Dental offices of general dentists and dental specialists, public health agencies, hospitals, and community dental clinics, educational and administrative positions, dental hygiene educational programs, elementary schools and community organizations and research organizations or marketing companies of dental-related products. Job OutlookDental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations, and job prospects are expected to remain excellent. Employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow 30 percent through 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. This projected growth ranks dental hygienists among the fastest growing occupations, in response to increasing demand for dental care and the greater use of hygienists. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm (9/2012) |
Producing clinically competent, ethical and knowledgeable Dental Hygienists.
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| Dental Hygiene Department | |
| Program Chair | Bridgete Clark, RDH, DDS |
| Program Specialist | Sharon Spence |
| Phone: | 831.479.6471 |
| Fax: | 831.477.5687 |
| Location: | HW 2141 map > |
Academic Counselors |
Shawn Ogimachi or Bill Stamos 831.479.6274 |
| School of Dental Hygiene | |
| Phone: | 831.479.6431 |
