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USI campus to reopen, classes resume, January 28

Change is never easy, and we know this is a challenging time as you navigate recent announcements affecting programs and operations at Oakland City University. We want you to know that your educational journey doesn’t have to pause.

At the University of Southern Indiana, we are fully committed to helping you transition seamlessly so you can stay on track with your education journey. We’ve designed this dedicated page specifically for you to explore our programs, access resources, learn about credit transfers and continue your education with minimal interruption.

>> OCU Student Information

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Student & Program Outcomes

Program Goals

  1. Provide an educational curriculum that prepares graduates for excellence in advancing oral healthcare and wellness.
  2. Provide support to the community through service learning activities and organizational involvement.
  3. Provide a campus community that supports student success and graduation.
  4. Serve as a leader in health care education, scholarly activity, and practice.
  5. Provide an inclusive learning community which values a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.
  6. Promote and support the professional development of faculty, graduates, and oral health care professionals.

Entry-level Competencies for Graduation

The Dental Hygiene Program is competency based.  Successful completion from the program indicates the graduate has acquired the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of a dental hygienist in an entry level position.
Upon completion of the Dental Hygiene Program, graduates should be able to utilize the following skill sets in each category:
  • Apply professional values and ethics in all endeavors.                                                  
  • Adhere to accreditation standards and federal, state and local laws and regulations.
  • Promote quality assurance practices based on accepted standards of care.
  • Demonstrate interpersonal skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with professionals and patients across socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
  • Comply with local, state and federal regulations concerning infection control protocols for blood-borne and respiratory pathogens, other infectious diseases and hazardous materials.
  • Follow manufacturers’ recommendations related to materials and equipment used in practice.
  • Establish and enforce mechanisms to ensure the management of emergencies.
  • Use security guidelines and compliance training to create and maintain a safe, ecofriendly and sustainable practice compatible with emerging trends.
  • Ensure a humanistic approach to care.
  • Uphold a respectful and emotionally safe environment for patients and practitioners.
  • Demonstrate critical and analytical reasoning to identify and develop comprehensive oral health care solutions and protocols.
  • Apply individual and population risk factors, social determinants of health and scientific research to promote improved health and enhanced quality of life.
  • Support research activities and develop research skills.
  • Use evidence-based decision-making to evaluate and implement health care strategies aligned with emerging trends to achieve high-quality, cost-effective and humanistic care.
  • Integrate accepted scientific theories and research into educational, preventive and therapeutic oral health services.
  • Endorse health literacy and disease prevention.
  • Communicate and provide health education and oral self-care to diverse populations.
  • Facilitate learning platforms for communities of interest by providing health education through collaboration with dental and other professionals.
  • Promote the values of the dental profession through service-based activities.
  • Evaluate outcomes for future activities supporting health and wellness of individuals and communities.
  • Promote an ethical and equitable patient care and practice environment by demonstrating inclusion of diverse beliefs and values.
  • Uphold civic and social engagement through active involvement in professional affiliations to advance oral health.
  • Commit to lifelong learning for professional and career opportunities in a variety of roles and settings.
  • Engage in research, education, industry involvement, technological and professional developments and/or advanced degrees.
  • Demonstrate self-awareness through reflective assessment for continued improvement.
  • Facilitate referrals to and consultations with relevant health care providers and other professionals to promote equitable and optimal patient care.
  • Promote economic growth and sustainability by meeting practice goals.
  • Create and maintain comprehensive, timely and accurate records.
  • Protect privacy, confidentiality and security of the patients and the practice by complying with legislation, practice standards, ethics and organizational policies.
  • Develop and use effective strategies to facilitate change.
  • Inspire and network with others to nurture collegial affiliations.
  • Solicit and provide constructive feedback to promote professional growth of self.
  • Apply the knowledge of the following sciences during the dental hygiene process of care:
    • Microbiology
    • Human anatomy and physiology
    • Human cellular biology
    • Chemistry
    • Biochemistry
    • Immunology and pathology
    • Nutrition
    • Pharmacokinetics
  • Apply the knowledge of the following behavioral sciences during the dental hygiene process of care:
    • Sociology
    • Psychology
    • Interpersonal communication
  • Accurately collect and document a comprehensive medical, dental, social health history and diagnostic data.
  • Critically analyze all collected data.
  • Identify predisposing, etiologic, environmental and social risk factors for person-centered care.
  • Analyze comprehensive medical, dental and social health history.
  • Integrate observational and diagnostic data as part of the dental hygiene diagnosis.
  • Use predisposing, etiologic, environmental and social risk factors for person-centered care.
  • Use the patient’s assessment to establish an optimal and realistic person-centered dental hygiene Care Plan through mutual communication.
  • Use all aspects of the dental hygiene diagnosis in combination with the person’s values, beliefs, and preferences to develop a dental hygiene Care Plan through shared decision-making.
  • Obtain informed consent based on the agreed-upon treatment plan.
  • Execute individualized treatment based on the patient’s dental hygiene diagnosis.
  • Integrate educational, preventive and therapeutic services to provide comprehensive person-centered care.
  • Use specialized skills and evidenced-based technology to promote dental and periodontal health.
  • Continuously re-evaluate for modifications to achieve desired outcomes.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of completed services.
  • Analyze treatment outcomes of the dental hygiene process of care to determine improved health and modifications.
  • Modify dental hygiene Care Plans as necessary to meet goals of patient and clinician.
  • Identify necessary referrals for success of the treatment outcomes, including intraprofessional and interprofessional health care providers, supporting professions, and patient advocates.
  • Accurately document assessment findings and data, dental hygiene diagnosis and Care Plan, implementation, outcome evaluation, and any communication between professionals and patient and anyone else in the circle of care.

Pass Rates

The information below represents pass rates for required board examinations: National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) clinical patient examination, and the CDCA local anesthesia examination.

NBDHE: 100%

CDCA/WREB/CITA Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Exam: 100%

CDCA/WREB/CITA CSCE OSCE: 100%

CDCA/WREB/CITA Local Anesthesia: 100%

NBDHE: 100%

CDCA/WREB Manikin Treatment Clinical Exam: 100%

CDCA/WREB CSCE OSCE: 100%

CDCA/WREB Local Anesthesia: 100%

NBDHE: 96%

CDCA Manikin Treatment Clinical Exam: 100%

CDCA CSCE OSCE: 100%

CDCA Local Anesthesia: 100%

NBDHE:  96%

CDCA Clinical:  Waived due to COVID-19 pandemic

CDCA Local Anes.:  100%

NBDHE:  100%

CDCA Clinical:  100%

CDCA Local Anes.:  100%

NBDHE:  100%

CDCA Clinical:  100%

CDCA Local Anes.:  100%

NBDHE:  100%

CDCA Clinical:  100%

CDCA Local Anes.:  100%

NBDHE:  100%

CDCA Clinical:  100%

CDCA Local Anes.:  100% 

NBDHE:  100%

CDCA Clinical:  96%

CDCA Local Anes.:  100%

NBDHE:  100%

CDCA Clinical:  96%

CDCA Local Anes.:  100%

NBDHE:  100%

CDCA Clinical:  100%

CDCA Local Anes.:  100%

Connect With
Dental Hygiene

Mrs. Emily Holt
Mrs. Emily Holt
(812) 461-5395