The Roane State Associate of Applied Science Degree Program in Dental Hygiene consists of five semesters of full-time study which includes supervised clinical coursework in the Oak Ridge Branch Campus dental hygiene clinic. Students are required to treat patients in a variance of difficulty and must schedule their own patients.
Dental hygienist provides oral health care services that help prevent gum and bone disease and dental decay as well as teach patients how to improve their oral hygiene. Hygienists examine patients’ teeth and gums; record the presence of diseases or abnormalities. They remove calculus, stains, and plaque from teeth; take and develop x-rays; apply cavity preventive agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. In Tennessee and many other states, hygienists administer local anesthetics and anesthetic gas; place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings and periodontal dressings; remove sutures; and smooth and polish metal restorations. Dental hygienists also help patients develop and maintain good oral health. For example, they may explain the relationship between diet and oral health, inform patients how to select toothbrushes, and show patients how to brush and floss their teeth. Dental hygienists use hand and ultrasonic instruments to clean teeth, x-ray machines to take dental radiographs, prepare syringes with needles to administer local anesthetics, and take impressions of patients’ teeth.
Dental hygienist must be licensed by the State in which they practice. To qualify for licensure, a candidate must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school and pass both written and clinical examination.
Dental hygienists should work well with others and must have good manual dexterity, due to working with dental instruments in patient’s mouth. Be willing to refine their verbal, non-verbal and written skills to successfully communicate with patients of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
RSCC Application Link - Steps 1 and 2 are required for admission to the College and Health Sciences programs.
Health Sciences Application
Job Shadowing Instructions & Form - All program applicants must provide evidence of 20 job shadowing hours.
Roane State Tuition & Fees
All tuition and fees are subject to change by the Tennessee Board of Regents.
* Program courses that are taken in an online format are subject to a distance education fee. A Specialized Health Science Fee of $25 per credit hour will be applied to all Health Science courses. See Tuition and Fees link above.
Visit the bookstore for book titles and prices.
See the current catalog for out-of-state tuition and fees and residency requirement rules.
The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611-2678; (312) 440-4653; ada.org.
Commission on Dental Accreditation Posting Form for Third Party Comments
Melinda K Gill
Click above for email address
(865) 354-3000 ext. 2128
RDH, BSDH, MPA
Program Director
Jessica L Rockwell
Click above for email address
(865) 354-3000 ext. 2209
RDH, BSDH
Clinical Coordinator
Sherri Graham
grahamss@roanestate.edu
Faculty
For information regarding the status of your AHS application for the Dental Hygiene program, please contact:
Health Sciences Admission Advisor
Michael Burtch
(865) 354-3000, ext. 4705
hsnadmissions@roanestate.edu
For Information regarding program admission contact:
For program specific information contact:
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulation and by Tennessee board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.
