The Dental Hygiene program is designed to prepare students for a career in dental hygiene with concentration on educating students for clinical dental hygiene practice and transfer to baccalaureate studies. Faculty and students are committed to a culture of excellence in education, service and patient care while maintaining the highest levels of professionalism and teamwork. The program, accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, requires a minimum of one year of prerequisite coursework and two full academic years of Dental Hygiene major courses with 83/85 hours of credit course work including many hours of clinical practice.
Dental Hygiene Scope of Practice
A dental hygienist is a preventive oral health professional licensed to provide educational, clinical, and therapeutic services to the public.
Limited Enrollment
The Dental Hygiene program is a limited enrollment program which admits one class
each fall semester. An admissions committee selects candidates based upon published
requirements. For specific information on program admission requirements and application
deadlines please refer to the Admissions tab.
Program Goals
In addition to the learning outcomes set forth in the general education core curriculum
for the associate degree, the mission of the dental program reflects the department
goals to comprehensively:
- Provide a quality educational program meeting the standards of the Commission on Dental Accreditation and reflecting relevant and current dental hygiene practice to ensure competent individuals for licensure and clinical practice of dental hygiene
- Provide opportunities for quality patient care experiences in the dental hygiene clinic and off campus enrichment sites for diverse populations
- Encourage participation in community service and health promotion initiatives
- Provide an academic experience which allows students to pursue advanced degrees
- Promote an environment committed to professionalism, career development and lifelong learning
The Dental Hygiene program is a limited enrollment program which admits one class each fall semester. An admissions committee selects candidates upon the following published criteria.
- Applicants should review the Admissions FAQ sheet before proceeding. Admissions FAQs
- Applicants must complete an Application for Admission to BridgeValley if they are not currently a BridgeValley student.
- Applicants must complete and electronically submit the BridgeValley Dental Hygiene Program Application.
- Applicants complete 20 hours of dental hygiene shadowing and submit the Dental Hygiene Shadowing Instructions and Form.
- Applicants must scan and submit two letters of recommendation to the BridgeValley Dental Hygiene Department by emailing [email protected].
BridgeValley Community and Technical College will be given first consideration for admission when having the same qualifications as an off-campus student.
Dental Hygiene program application, recommendation letters and shadowing verification form are due by January 31st for first consideration for fall admission.
BridgeValley Dental Hygiene clinics and major courses are offered on the Montgomery campus.
Dental Hygiene Policies
Accreditation Information
BridgeValley’s Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "accreditation with no reporting requirements". The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education for dental hygiene education programs.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation may be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: https://www.ada.org/en/coda.
Program outcomes are assessed systematically and comprehensively by didactic course reviews, clinical performance evaluations, externally administered board examinations, advisory committee/employer feedback, patient surveys, student/graduate surveys and faculty evaluation.
Careers in Dental Hygiene
Dental hygienists may assume the roles of clinician, educator, researcher, administrator/manager and advocate. Dental hygienists are employed clinically in private dental practice, hospitals, clinics, institutions, public and private schools, and the armed forces. Dental hygienists are also employed as health educators in various public health settings.
On-campus facilities for the Dental Hygiene program are located on the Montgomery campus and include an eighteen chair dental hygiene clinic as well as a laboratory/classroom space. This facility is equipped in a manner to meet current standard of care requirements for dental hygiene practice.
Free Preventive Dental Hygiene Services Available
The Dental Hygiene Clinic is open late August through May to adults and children from the surrounding community, as well as students, faculty and staff of BridgeValley Community and Technical College. Patients are invited to make an appointment by calling the dental hygiene administrative associate at (304) 734-6651. Appointments must be made in advance. The office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Services are provided by students under the supervision of licensed, experienced dental professionals.
The clinic is located on the Montgomery campus in 605 Davis Hall. GPS address: 619 2nd Avenue, Montgomery, WV 25136.
Preventive and therapeutic services provided:
- Oral prophylaxis (scaling & polishing)
- Quadrant scaling and root planing (periodontal therapy)
- Oral radiographs (x-rays) – May be sent to dentist upon request
- Dental sealants and fluorides
- Health screenings
- Oral examinations
- Dental health instructions
- Nutritional counseling
- Topical anesthetic
- Local anesthetic
- Study models
- Cleaning of dentures/appliances
BridgeValley Dental Hygiene clinics and major courses are offered on the Montgomery campus.
All patients treated by students and faculty in the Department of Dental
Hygiene have the right to:
- Considerate, respectful and confidential treatment.
- Continuity and completion of treatment.
- Access to complete and current information about his/her condition.
- Informed consent including explanation of recommended treatment, treatment alternatives, the option to refuse treatment, the risk of no treatment and expected outcomes of various treatments.
- Treatment that meets the standard of care in the profession.
All patients treated by students and faculty in the Department of Dental Hygiene are expected to:
- Respond honestly and thoroughly to all inquiries regarding oral and general health status.
- Maintain a professional patient, student, and faculty member relationship free of unnecessary or unwelcome physical, verbal or
- electronic contact.
- Follow treatment recommendations to attain and/or maintain optimum oral and general health.
- Keep scheduled appointments so that students’ grades and the patient’s oral health are not jeopardized.