College of Professional Studies
Dental Hygiene - Performance Standards
In order to be admitted to or continue in either Dental Hygiene (BSDH) program, a student must have skills and abilities essential to perform as a dental hygienist. Reasonable accommodations will be made on an individual basis; however, the candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner.
| Standard | Examples of Activities |
| Critical Thinking: Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment. | Identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations, develop treatment plans. |
| Communication: Communication abilities sufficient for effective interaction with patients and other members of the health care team in verbal and written form. | Able to obtain information, explain treatment procedures, initiate health education training, describe patient situations, perceive non-verbal communications. |
| Mobility: Physical abilities (including standing, walking, bending, range of motion of extremities) to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces. | Able to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, move around in patient treatment area. |
| Motor: Gross and fine motor function sufficient to provide safe and effective dental hygiene care. | Able to use dental instruments, manipulate various dental materials. |
| Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. | Able to listen to breath and heart sounds. Able to hear equipment monitors, such as x-ray equipment and autoclave timers. |
| Visual: Visual ability sufficient to provide safe and effective dental hygiene care. | Able to observe patients and use instruments in the oral cavity. Adequate close vision to see small lesions and deposits on teeth. |
| Tactile: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and scaling skills. | Able to perform palpation of a pulse, extraoral and intraoral structures, and feel calculus deposits. |