Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene program at Virginia Western is a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare you to meet and exceed the requirements and regulations expected of a dental hygienist. Because of these strict regulations, this program has unique expectations and prerequisites that are not required of some other programs. While the program focuses on obtaining licensure in Virginia, the knowledge gained will prepare you to continue your career anywhere in the country upon obtaining appropriate local licenses.

Why choose Virginia Western?

With high demand both locally and nationally, now is the time to pursue a career in dental hygiene. This program has been designed to prepare students to pass the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) clinical examination as well as the comprehensive written National Board of Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). The first attempt pass average for Virginia Western students is 96% for the ADEX examination and 97% for the NBDHE over the last eight years. Upon graduating, students have gone on to work for Carilion Clinic, New Horizons Healthcare and private dental practices.

Learn more:

• Possible Career Paths from the ADHA can be found here.
• Compare local wages for Dental Hygienists in Virginia
• Regulations Governing the Practice of Dental Hygiene (PDF)

Transferring

If you’re considering an AAS program and interested in transferring to a four-year college or university, contact a program advisor upon entry to the program to discuss your plans.

Virginia Western has entered into the following agreement specific to the Dental Hygiene program. This list is subject to change, and the most current agreements can be found on our Transfer Agreements page.

• Old Dominion University: Dental Hygiene to BS in Dental Hygiene Post Licensure (online program) (PDF)

Accreditation

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (800) 232-6108 or at 401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3300, Chicago, IL 60611-4250. The Commission’s web address is: https://coda.ada.org/.

Mission & Goals

The mission of the dental hygiene program is to empower students to become ethical, self-directed primary care providers, encompassing a critical thinking evidence-based approach to oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice. Students will provide services that enhance oral and total wellness for culturally diverse populations in both traditional and non-traditional settings.

The Goals of the dental hygiene program are to effectively implement the program mission, the college and program faculty have made a commitment to:

• Foster a sense of belonging through a positive, fair, supportive, and inclusive learning environment that inspires student success, values diversity, and promotes community vitality.
• Support the social, emotional, physical, and mental health needs of all students through evidence-based strategies.
• Provide the educational setting and experiences necessary to develop the competencies required for entry into dental hygiene practice.
• Provide an academic environment that promotes, models, and facilitates critical thinking, problem solving, effective communication, self-assessment, and ethical behaviors.
• Provide quality oral health services, applying the dental hygiene process of care and current standards of practice, to residents of the communities served by the college and joint-venture distance program sites.
• Foster an interest in life-long learning and maintaining professional competence through professional activities, continuing education, research, and community service.