The following standards reflect reasonable expectations of a student in the Dental Hygiene program for the performance of routine dental hygiene care. In adopting these standards, the Dental Hygiene program is dedicated to the highest level of safety and care for Dental Hygiene students and future patients. The Dental Hygiene student must be able to apply the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a broad variety of situations while providing the spectrum of dental hygiene services. To verify the student’s ability to perform these essential functions, students may be required to demonstrate the following technical standards with or without reasonable accommodation.
| Definition of Standard | Example(s) of Technical Standard |
|---|---|
| Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment | Identify cause and effect relationships in clinical situations. Assimilate knowledge from lectures, laboratory, and clinical arenas. Utilize basic mathematic skills. |
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Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, physical, medical and intellectual backgrounds |
Establish rapport with patients, families, and colleagues. |
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Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others. |
Explain hygiene procedures and health instruction as well as document hygiene procedures and patient responses. |
|
Physical abilities sufficient to move around rooms in the dental environment, maneuver in small spaces and reach needed equipment. |
Move around clinical operatory, sterilization room and other treatment areas. Position self-chairside near patient. Administer CPR and BLS procedures. Access radiographic equipment, which is approximately 5-6’ off floor. Transfer patients from wheelchairs to dental chairs and back. |
|
Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective assistance to the dentist, patient and co-workers. |
Move, adjust, and use equipment and dental materials and supplies including sharp instruments during hygiene procedures. Use auxiliary aids, chairside mannequins, small equipment, etc. |
|
Fine motor skills sufficient for assessment and performance of dental chairside procedures including safe expanded functions |
Perform hygiene procedures to scale and polish teeth; place radiographic sensors; |
|
Abilities sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. |
Observe patient responses such as skin color and facial expression. Monitor vital signs. Evaluate radiographs for technical quality including density, contrast, and distortion. Judge and communicate clinical processes. |
|
Abilities sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. |
Detect instruments and equipment being properly utilized and monitor vital signs. Respond to patient needs. |
| Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective assistance to the dentist, patient, and co-workers. | Move, calibrate and use the equipment and dental materials and supplies including sharp instruments during operative procedures. Use ancillary aids chairside-mannequins, small equipment, etc. |
*If a student has a documented disability and needs accommodations, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the College’s Accessibility Counselor.
If a dental assisting student or applicant believes that he or she cannot meet one or more of the standards without accommodations or modifications, the college must determine on an individual basis, the need for requested accommodations. Contact Cody Ezell, an Accessibility Support Counselor at 828-395-1481 or cezell@isothermal.edu
Document is included in the admissions packet for signature.