DENTAL HYGIENE 

The Dental Hygiene curriculum  provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate dental hygiene care for the individual and the community.  Students will learn to prepare the operatory, take patient histories, note abnormalities, plan care, teach oral hygiene, clean teeth, take x-rays, apply preventive agents, complete necessary chart entries, and perform other procedures related to dental hygiene care. Graduates of this program may be eligible to take national and state/regional examinations for licensure which are required to practice dental hygiene. Employment opportunities include dental offices, clinics, schools, public health agencies, industry, and professional education.

For more information concerning the curriculum or the Dental Hygiene academic department, please visit the Dental Hygiene department's web site.

Pre-Dental Admissions Requirements:

PHASE I –	Application to Wake Technical Community College: The following steps are required to be classified as a Pre-Dental Hygiene student (working towards the Dental Hygiene program):
1.	Attend a MANDATORY Information Session for Dental Hygiene. Information sessions are held on the Health Science Campus.
2.	Complete an on-line Wake Technical Community College application .
3.	Apply for Financial Aid and Veterans benefits. Students applying for financial aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit all supporting documents to ensure we can process your request in time for the start of the semester. Be sure to include the Wake Technical Community College school code:  004844
4.	Provide official transcripts (transcripts in a sealed envelope) of ALL previous education, including high school and/or GED scores    and all college transcripts (if college has already been attended).  Applications will NOT be processed until ALL transcripts have been received.  Applicants can send a "Request for High School or Prior College Transcript" form to the schools they have attended to have their transcripts sent to Wake Tech.  FAXed or open transcripts are not considered official and will not be accepted.  High school transcripts must be complete, showing the date of graduation.
5.	Take the COMPASS placement test. Schedule and prepare for your placement test at the Testing Center website. Students can be exempted from placement testing if they meet certain requirements .
6.	Meet with a Health Sciences advisor once Steps 1 through 5 have been completed.
PHASE 2 –	Application to the clinical Dental Hygiene (DEN) classes: The following steps are required to apply to the DEN classes.  Please note that entry into the DEN classes is a COMPETITIVE PROCESS. and submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance.
1.	Meet a chemistry proficiency - chemistry proficiency may be satisfied by completing ONE of the following:  a college level basic chemistry course from a U.S. regionally accredited institution with a minimum grade of “C”  OR  one unit of a high school chemistry course with a minimum grade of “C”  OR  CHM 090 (Chemistry concepts) or an equivalent CHM 090 with a minimum grade of “C”  OR  the self-taught chemistry Tutorial unit in the Individualized Learning Center with a minimum grade of “85”.
2.	Completion of 40 hours of job shadowing a registered dental hygienist.
3.	Submit a separate application for the Associate Degree Dental Hygiene Program (clinical).  All  the above minimum requirements must have been met or the application will not be reviewed for the pool.  The Dental Hygiene application deadline is January 31.  NOTE:  a new Dental Hygiene application must be submitted for every deadline.

Please note that Wake Technical Community College is constantly evaluating the admissions procedures and reserves the right to make changes as the need arises.