Stephen K. Young, D.D.S., M.S., Dean
1201 N. Stonewall Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1214
Phone: (405) 271-5444
FAX: (405) 271-3423
Internet: http://dentistry.ouhsc.edu/
The dental hygienist (RDH) is a licensed primary health-care professional, oral health educator, and clinician. The dental hygienist works closely with and under the supervision of a dentist. Most dental hygienists are employed in a dental office; however, dental hygienists can be found in numerous other settings; long-term care facilities, hospitals, corporate health facilities, school systems, research centers, state and federal agencies, and public health clinics. The responsibilities of a dental hygienist include preventive services that promote or maintain oral health and clinical treatments designed to arrest or control oral disease. Quality dental hygiene care requires critical thinking to assess the patient’s needs, determine a dental hygiene diagnosis, develop individualized patient care, implement dental hygiene treatment, and evaluate outcomes of dental hygiene treatment.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that employment prospects for dental hygiene are expected to remain excellent. In fact, the dental hygiene profession is expected to be one of the fastest growing occupations through the year 2012. The national median hourly wage in 2004 was $28.58 and in Oklahoma for 2004 the median hourly wage was $28.48. Annual salaries for part-time practitioners vary. There is considerable freedom for dental hygienists to select work days and hours.
The Department of Dental Hygiene, which has been educating outstanding dental hygienists since 1971, is located within the College of Dentistry at the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. The University offers two paths to completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene; a Bachelor of Science Degree Program that requires of at least 60 hrs of prerequisite coursework and two years in the dental hygiene curriculum, and a Career Ladder Program that is an individualized program designed for associate degree registered dental hygienists to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene: RDH-to-BSDH Track.
The University of Oklahoma Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree requires a minimum of 128 credit hours. The University offers a baccalaureate degree program that consists of at least 60 hours of prerequisite coursework and two years in the dental hygiene curriculum. The baccalaureate RDH may be employed as an educator and/ or researcher who conducts clinical studies and analyzes scientific data, and as a provider of continuing education seminars. Prerequisite courses may be taken at the University of Oklahoma or another accredited university or college. The College of Dentistry offers the program on the Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City and by distance education at the following three sites: 1) Tri County Technology Center in Bartlesville, OK, 2) Southern Oklahoma Technology Center at Ardmore, OK and 3) Western Technology Center in Weatherford, OK. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates from all sites receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene and are eligible to take written and clinical examinations for licensure to practice as registered dental hygienists.
Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program is competitive. Selection is based on the applicant’s post-secondary academic record, life experiences, and potential for success in a baccalaureate program. New students are admitted for the fall semester only. Oklahoma residents are given preference, but well-qualified non-residents are also considered for admission. All application materials must be submitted by January 15th of the year in which admission is sought. To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:
1. Be in good standing with the last college or university attended.
2. Take the ACT or SAT and provide individual component scores and composite score. (Recommended for the 2006 admissions cycle; REQUIRED for 2007 admissions cycle).
3. Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale with a grade of C or better on all required coursework.
4. Have a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from an accredited college or university.
5. Ideally applicants should have completed the FOUNDATIONAL coursework (see prerequisite courses) before the January 15 application deadline. Acceptance is based upon completion of foundational coursework by the end of the spring semester prior to admission. All prerequisite courses, excluding foundational, must be completed by the time the fall semester begins.
6. Spend a minimum of 40 hours observing a dental hygienist.
7. Submit a completed University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center application online that includes the prioritized site(s) for which the applicant wishes to be considered. https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=uok-hs
8. If English is the student’s second language, a minimum score of 250 is required on the national standardized TOEFL examination.
9. An offer of acceptance into the program is contingent upon meeting the required “C” in all remaining pre-requisite coursework and a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
The following courses completed are required (with a minimum of a “C” grade) and must be included within the minimum 60 semester hours of study. The course names and numbers are those of the University of Oklahoma. Any exception or substitutions must be approved by the program director or college dean or be listed in the Official Course Substitution Guide of the University of Oklahoma.
CORE AREA 1: Symbolic &Oral Communication
ENGL 1113, Principles of English Composition I
ENGL 1213, Principles of English Composition II
Foreign Language* — High School, two years; or, College, two courses
COMM 1113, Principles of Communication, or 2613, Public Speaking
COMM 2513, Introduction to Statistics, or PSY 2003, Understanding Statistics
ECON 2843, Elements of Statistics
CORE AREA 2: Natural Science
ZOO 2234, Human Anatomy or ZOO 2255, Human Anatomy
CHEM 1315, General Chemistry
HES 2823, Introduction to Nutrition
MBIO 2815, Introduction to Microbiology
ZOO 2124, Human Physiology
CORE AREA 3: Social Science
PSC 1113, Government of the United States
PSY 1113, Elements of Psychology
SOC 1113, Introduction to Sociology
CORE AREA 4: Humanities
HIST 1483, U.S. History 1492 to 1865, or HIST 1493, U.S. History 1865 to Present
Understanding Artistic Forms (three hours)*
Western Civilization & Culture (three hours)*
Non-Western Culture (three hours)*
Approved upper-division general education course (three hours)*
*Indicates additional general education courses required for students beginning their college education in fall of 1990 or after and those who have not earned an Oklahoma bachelor's or associate's (excludes applied science) degrees.
A Foundational Grade Point Average (FGPA) is computed and used in the selection process. The FGPA uses the best grade for the following seven required courses listed below: English II, Human Physiology, Human Anatomy, Microbiology, Statistics, Psychology, Nutrition, and General Chemistry** It is important that as much of the foundational coursework as possible be completed in the fall semester prior to desired entry in order to have the strongest possibility of selection.
**This course will be computed as a foundational component beginning with the admission cycle 2007.
The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry offers an individualized Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene: RDH-to-BSDH Track. The Career Ladder Program is designed for Registered Dental Hygienists who have earned an associate’s degree and wish to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree. Classes and requirements are designed for the working dental hygienist and those who may not live in the immediate geographic area. Didactic coursework may be taken in Oklahoma City at the College of Dentistry or via distance education at any of the three distance facilities located in Ardmore, Bartlesville, or Weatherford, Oklahoma. Clinical work may be completed at any of theses sites.
Each applicant’s prior dental hygiene educational credentials will be evaluated and an program will be designed specifically to meet the needs of the individual. The University of Oklahoma Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree requires a minimum of 128 credit hours. The 60-hour career ladder program grants credit for advanced standing of up to 30 hours of dental hygiene courses through various validation methods, leaving 30 semester hours required for completion of the degree.
Focus in degree work may include one or more of the areas identified by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association as interrelated roles of the professional dental hygienist.
1. Clinical — work in collaboration with dentists as co-therapists rendering preventive and therapeutic interventions, and evaluating treatments.
2. Management — as an office manager, the dental hygienist develops office protocol, monitors practice productivity and financial affairs, and coordinates human and material resources.
3. Acute and Extended Care Facilities — provide clinical and educational services for patients and residents, provide staff training, serve as client advocates and change agents to ensure that health care needs of diverse populations are met.
4. Public Health/School Districts — hygienists working in public health and school districts provide oral health assessments, referrals, and preventive services, and develop educational strategies to change the oral health behaviors of clients.
5. Education/Marketing — serve on the faculties of dental and dental hygiene programs in colleges and universities, in private business and industry, marketing dental technology and products, and in centers that focus on the needs of the physically challenged and elderly.
6. Research — contribute to advancing the knowledge base in dental health care by investigating both basic and applied research problems.
Formal admission to the University of Oklahoma is an initial requirement for admission to RDH-to-BSDH Track. The application deadline for a planned fall enrollment is June 1. (Late applications will be considered).
The following documents must be submitted:
1. Completed application forms.
a. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center application
b. RDH-BSDH Career Ladder Supplemental Application
2. Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
3. Photocopy of passing score on the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination.
4. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended.
5. Two letters of recommendation: one from the director or clinical supervisor of the dental hygiene program attended and one from the applicant’s current or most recent dental hygiene employer. In the event of extenuating circumstances, the Chair of the Department may approve other sources of recommendations.
6. Non-refundable application fees to OUHSC the Department of Dental Hygiene.
CORE COURSES
DH 3523, Research in Dental Hygiene 3 hours
DH 4331, Clinical Rotation I 1 hour
DH 4338, Clinical Dental Hygiene III 8 hours
DH 4341, Clinical Rotation II 1 hour
DH 4349, Clinical Dental Hygiene IV 9 hours
DH 4413, Correlation Seminar 3 hours
DH 4421, Ethics and Jurisprudence 1 hour
DH 4990, Special Studies in Dental Hygiene: Capstone 4 hours
ELECTIVE COURSES*
DH 3111, Pediatric Dentistry 1 hour
DH 3121, Geriatric Dentistry 1 hour
DH 4541, Community Health Practicum 1 hour
DH 4960, Directed Reading in Dental Hygiene 1-4 hours
*Additional approved elective courses may be taken for credit toward the degree. All students are responsible for maintaining current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
Registered Dental Hygienists may qualify for 30 hours of advanced standing credit by successfully completing the Dental Hygiene Advanced Placement Examination, which consists of four independent parts. A minimum score of 75 is required on each segment. Advanced standing academic credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript following successful completion of at least 12 hours of academic credit in the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree program with grades of C or better. The examination is divided into the following four segments:
Part 1: Clinical Dental Hygiene
Part 2: Periodontology
Part 3: Community Dental Health
Part 4: Preventive Dentistry
Registered Dental Hygienists who meet the following criteria may apply for up to 30 hours of advanced standing academic credit.
1. Graduated from an accredited associate degree or certificate of dental hygiene program.
2. Successfully completed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
3. Successfully completed the Western Regional Board Examination or the equivalent.
4. Satisfactorily completed any necessary prerequisite coursework.
5. Completion of Dental Hygiene Department Request for Advanced Standing.
6. Successful completion of the Dental Hygiene Advanced Placement Examination with a minimum score of 75 on each of four components.
The provisions of this publication do not constitute a contract, express or implied between any applicant, student, or faculty member of the Dental Hygiene Program.
To obtain pre-advisement contact:
Dental Hygiene Program
OUHSC, DCSB 567
P.O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3044
Telephone: (405) 271-4435; FAX: (405) 271-4785
For questions about the online application contact:
Office of Admissions & Records
OUHSC, BSEB Room 200
P.O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3040
Telephone: (405) 271-3282; FAX: (405) 271-2480
For information concerning financial aid contact:
Office of Financial Aid
OUHSC, BSEB Room 241
P.O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3040
Telephone: (405) 271-2118
The need for a dental school in Oklahoma was studied for many years, but it was not until 1965 that legislation was passed authorizing the planning of the College. A dean was appointed in 1969 and three years later the initial class was accepted and began studies. The first class of 24 students graduated in May 1976.
The College holds membership in the American Association of Dental Schools and is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
The College of Dentistry offers two degree programs. They are Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and Doctor of Dental Surgery. In addition, the College provides for the continuing education of area dentists and dental auxiliaries through a variety of short courses, guest lectures, and seminars.
There are master’s degree programs in orthodontics and periodontics in the Graduate College, which function as part of the College of Dentistry, and a hospital-based program in oral surgery.
There is also a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency program.
The College of Dentistry’s four-year curriculum is designed to produce a competent general practitioner. The curriculum is built upon a minimum prerequisite of two years of earlier academic work.
The program is divided into semesters with additional summer clinical sessions. The objectives of the program are to produce graduates who will:
The four-year dental curriculum is designed to provide those learning experiences which enable the student to acquire the essential knowledge and skills necessary for competent practice in the science and art of dentistry. To accomplish this, the academic program demands a large commitment of time throughout the curriculum. Direct participation in classes, laboratories, and clinics amounts to 35 or more hours per week, and related study and preparation time is extensive. In addition to the conventional two semesters of each academic year, students participate in four additional weeks of instruction during the first and second years and also provide patient care in a 10-week summer session following the third year. The total instructional period is 146 weeks; not including final examination weeks scheduled each semester. Flexibility is provided within many courses and the clinics to allow students the opportunity to learn in an individualized manner.
Instruction is provided in the basic biological sciences, behavioral sciences, and clinical dental sciences. Most of the biological science instruction is included in the first two years of the curriculum. Clinical sciences are taught throughout the entire curriculum. As the student progresses, increasing emphasis and time are devoted to supervised patient care. Behavioral sciences instruction, the management of dental practice and professional responsibility are incorporated throughout the curriculum. At graduation, the student is considered to be qualified to enter directly into the professional practice of dentistry.
The first year of the curriculum is concerned largely with the basic structure and function of the human body. Courses in human gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy with emphasis on the oral-facial structures, biochemistry, and physiology provide the student with the understanding of the biological sciences important to the dentist. Instruction in the clinical sciences gives the student the knowledge of form, structure, growth, and function of the dentition, the importance of and the mechanisms to prevent dental disease, and some of the procedures used to restore diseased oral tissues to a healthy condition. The first of a series of courses on individual behavior, communications, practice management, and the social responsibilities of the dentist are also offered in the first year. Students begin patient care in the first year by performing preventive dentistry and examination and diagnostic procedures.
The second year concentrates on the processes of disease and infection through conjoint courses in pathology, oral pathology, microbiology, and immunology. More advanced instruction in the clinical disciplines is provided and the student assumes an increasing responsibility for care of patients.
In the third year, more than half of the student’s time is spent in the provision of dental care to patients. At the same time, he or she continues to receive instruction in basic sciences, particularly pharmacology, and in the clinical, behavioral, and social sciences. Students work in collaborative groups to provide high-quality care, practice effective management principles, and assist each other in professional growth and development.
The final year concentrates extensively on patient care, the correlation of the basic, behavioral, and clinical sciences, as well as the effective and efficient management of dental services. Some students are granted the opportunity to pursue elective study to concentrate on further development of knowledge and skills in selective clinical specialties, or to engage in research or graduate-level study in scientific disciplines. Each student will spend five weeks in special preceptorships or rotations in private offices and/or institutions providing dental services. Extensive emphasis is given to comprehensive patient care and the teamwork and leadership involved in the provision of dental health services.
The Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree will be awarded to students who complete the prescribed curriculum at an acceptable level and demonstrate a high degree of professional ethics and behavior. The faculty will make the final determination of those candidates meeting requirements for graduation.
Basic science courses are conducted in the Basic Sciences Education Building. Space is devoted exclusively to the dental programs in multidisciplinary laboratories which are especially conducive to small group instruction. Basic science instruction takes place in a modern lecture room equipped with color slides, closed-circuit television, and other forms of audiovisual media. Preclinical technique instruction is conducted in a state-of-the-art laboratory in the Dental Clinical Sciences Building which was designed to simulate working at chairside, thus facilitating the student’s transition from the laboratory to the treatment of patients.
Dental clinical instruction takes place in the modern 112,000-square-foot Dental Clinical Sciences Building. This building is located immediately east of the Basic Sciences Education Building and is across the street from the Library-Learning Resources Center. The Dental Clinical Sciences Building provides the finest of facilities and equipment for clinical instruction. It includes 180 general practice operatories for student use and additional operatories for oral diagnosis, radiography, oral surgery, pedodontics, periodontics, graduate programs, and residencies. The Dental Clinical Sciences Building has three 88-seat lecture rooms and several multipurpose classrooms in addition to clinical laboratories and faculty offices. Student space is ample and includes locker rooms, a faculty-student commons with lunch facilities, several lounges, and an office and workroom for student organizations.
The College of Dentistry is a state-supported institution giving priority consideration to residents of Oklahoma. However, non-resident applicants will be considered in accordance with their qualifications. Acceptance to the dental program is based on grade point averages (cumulative and science), DAT scores, letters of recommendation, and personal interview. Each applicant’s record is evaluated for quality and achievement.
Admission requires completion of a minimum of 90 semester credit hours from an accredited college or university with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.50. Since admission is competitive, applicants should significantly exceed the minimum academic performance requirements. Coursework must include the following prerequisites completed with a “C” or better:
English six semester hours
Biological Sciences with laboratory eight semester hours
Inorganic Chemistry with laboratory eight semester hours
Organic Chemistry with laboratory eight semester hours
Physics with laboratory eight semester hours
General Psychology three semester hours
Biochemistry (with or without lab) three or four semester hours
Application for admission may be submitted while the student is working toward completion of one or more of the required courses, but the student will not be matriculated until each of these requirements has been met.
In addition to the required courses, it is recommended that applicants choose elective courses complementing the dental curriculum. The dental profession requires an understanding of areas such as psychology, sociology, and economics. The individual student should select additional courses on the basis of interest and personal enrichment.
All applicants are required to take the American Dental Association Dental Admission Test (DAT), and have their results forwarded to the College of Dentistry.
All non-resident applicants must also complete an application through the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). Oklahoma residents have the option of completing the AADSAS application or applying directly to the College of Dentistry via its online application at www.ouhsc.edu. All AADSAS applications must be postmarked no later than September 1. Oklahoma residents making direct application to the College of Dentistry have a December 1 deadline. Contact the College of Dentistry Office of Admissions at (405) 271-3530 for specific application procedures.
A personal interview is mandatory, but does not indicate acceptance into the program. Interviews will be granted on the basis of the applicant’s academic record and DAT scores. All expenses incurred in the application process will be the responsibility of the applicant.
Interviews begin October 1 of the year prior to the year of entry and end around mid-January of the year of entry. Candidates will be interviewed individually by two members of the Admissions Committee. The purpose of the interview is to determine the applicants’ knowledge of the dental profession, motivation, and maturity.
Therefore, it is recommended that applicants familiarize themselves with the profession by doing the following:
1. Discussing the profession with several general practice dentists.
2. Observing and/or assisting in dental offices a minimum of 100 hours.
3. Visiting a dental school and discussing with faculty, students, and staff the profession and the commitment necessary to succeed as a dental student. These steps to reinforce your goal to become a dentist should be taken early in the decision process, but no later than the summer of the year prior to desired entry.
Fifty-eight (58) applicants are selected each year to matriculate in the fall. Offers are made beginning December 1 of the year prior to the year of entry and ending the last week in February of the year of entry.
The College of Dentistry Office of the Dean will enroll all dental students during the advance enrollment period. Enrollment is not complete until an enrollment form signed by the student and advisor is submitted to the HSC Office of Admissions and Records Enrollment Section. Dental students will be notified of their scheduled class registration by the College of Dentistry Dean’s Office.
To hold a position in the class, applicants accepted into the College of Dentistry must submit a $500 deposit by the date specified in the acceptance letter. This deposit is applied to the first semester tuition. This deposit is non-refundable.
A complete schedule of fees is available from the Office of Admissions, College of Dentistry.
Adequate loan resources are available to meet the needs of all eligible dental students and are administered by the Financial Aids Office. In addition, some forms of financial aid are restricted to minority students.
An entering student should obtain the necessary application packet as early as possible from the Office of Financial Aids. Applications will be accepted throughout the year; however, applicants are cautioned that it takes several months to process applications and that applications submitted late may not be evaluated in time for eligible students to receive funds until after classes begin. Students must submit an application for financial aid each school year.
For further information, contact:
Office of Financial Aid
OUHSC, SU 301
P.O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3040
Telephone: (405) 271-2118
For further information, contact:
University of Oklahoma
College of Dentistry
Office of Admissions
OUHSC, DCSB 510
P.O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3040
Telephone: (405) 271-3530
Fax: (405) 271-3423
www.dentistry@ouhsc.edu