Dental hygienists Education, Laws and Regulations

Education Dental Hygiene

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.  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 2 American Dental Association 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

Laws and Regulations Dental Hygiene

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 (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 & 1 st grade. KRS (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 Mary Ann Burch RDH Kim Dean RDH MS Mara Beth D. Womack RDH MS CDA