Dental Hygiene: Program overview
About
Welcome to PCC and the HEP Pathway
Welcome to Portland Community College and the start of your path to a rewarding career!
The Healthcare & Emergency Professions (HEP) pathway provides opportunities for students to gain certificates, degrees, licensure, and/or credentials to further their careers in healthcare and emergency services fields. Many of our programs provide hands-on learning opportunities with advanced technology, practical training in clinical settings, and instructors with industry experience. Program graduates are in high demand in the healthcare and emergency professions industry and have the potential to earn excellent wages and benefits.
For more information about the Healthcare & Emergency Professions pathway, see the programs offered. See the Healthcare programs comparison chart to compare degrees and certificates offered, program costs, and potential salaries offered in each career path.
Welcome to Dental Hygiene
We are thrilled to have you join our Dental Hygiene program at Portland Community College. As you embark on this exciting journey, we want to extend a warm welcome and provide you with all the essential information to help you succeed.
Our program is designed to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience necessary to excel in the dynamic field of Dental Hygiene. Here, you’ll find a supportive learning environment, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and guidance from experienced faculty members dedicated to your success.
In this handbook, you’ll find important details about the program structure, clinical requirements, academic policies, and student resources. Please take the time to review each section carefully, as it will help you navigate through your educational experience and make the most of the opportunities available to you.
We are committed to your success and are here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to our faculty and staff. We look forward to seeing you thrive in our program and make a positive impact in the field of Dental Hygiene.
Welcome aboard!
Best regards,
The Portland Community College Dental Hygiene Program Team
About Dental Hygiene
The Portland Community College (PCC) Dental Hygiene (DH) program is an entry-level dental hygiene program that provides the education required to become a licensed dental hygienist. Program faculty and staff are dedicated to providing comprehensive education and training for aspiring dental hygienists. The program combines rigorous academic coursework with hands-on clinical experience to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and professionalism needed to excel in the dental field. With a focus on evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and community outreach, PCC prepares graduates to become competent and compassionate healthcare providers prepared to work with diverse patient populations in a variety of healthcare settings. The program is designed to meet national accreditation standards for dental hygiene education programs, and provide the education necessary to work within the full scope of dental hygiene practice in the state of Oregon.
Mission and values
The mission of the Portland Community College Dental Hygiene program is to provide an outstanding educational pathway that prepares students for a rewarding profession in healthcare. The program is committed to developing critical thinking and clinical skills, fostering a strong educational foundation in dental hygiene, and promoting compassionate patient care, leadership, and service to the community and the profession.
Goals and objectives
- Prepare competent healthcare professionals: Educate students to become competent, critically thinking dental hygiene professionals who promote health and disease prevention.
- Provide equitable and quality care: Educate students to deliver equitable, inclusive, and culturally appropriate dental hygiene care for diverse populations with cultural humility, based on current standards of practice.
- Foster ethical conduct: Develop students who maintain high standards of ethical conduct in their behavior among students, faculty, administrators, and staff that will transition to professional practice.
- Support lifelong learning: Provide a learning environment that supports student success and encourages the pursuit of lifelong learning.
- Deliver an evidence-based curriculum: Offer a curriculum that incorporates evidence-based research, innovations, interprofessional collaboration, and the use of technology in dental hygiene practice.
- Promote professional service and leadership: Instill the value of active membership in professional organizations and prepare students for leadership roles in clinical practice, public health, education, research, administration, and advocacy.
Graduate achievement
The program effectively prepares students to be successful on their board examinations. The following are the results of the examinations taken in 2024:
- 100% first time pass rate on the CDCA-WREB-CITA Local Anesthesia Didactic Examination
- 94% first time pass rate on the CDCA-WREB-CITA Local Anesthesia Clinical Examination
- 100% first time pass rate on the ADEX Dental Hygiene Clinical Examination
- 100% first time pass rate on the ADEX Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE OSCE)
- 94% first time pass rate on the CDCA-WREB-CITA Dental Hygiene Restorative Clinical Examination
- 100% first time pass rate on the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)
Accreditation
Portland Community College is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). For more information, see the college’s Accreditation webpage.
The Dental Hygiene program is approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry and is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation which accredits dental, advanced dental, and allied dental education programs.
Notice of opportunity to file complaints
The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.
A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 or by calling 1-312-440-4653.
Costs
In addition to the costs of attending Portland Community College, there are expenses associated specifically with the Dental Hygiene program. Students should review the costs listed on the Dental Hygiene program costs webpage. Please note that all costs are approximate and subject to change.
Leadership
Janeen Hull
PCC – Academic & Career Pathways Dean
See the PCC Organizational Guide for information about college administration.
Contacts
- Jessica August, BSDH, MSDH, CDA, RDH, FADHA: Program Dean
- Sara Hill, CDA, EPP, RDH, BS: Full-time Faculty and Faculty Department Co-Chair
- Laura Vanderwerf, CDA, RDH, EPDH, BSDH, FADHA: Full-time Faculty and Faculty Department Co-Chair
- List of Faculty
Portland Community College
Vanport Building
1810 SW 5th Ave., Floor 3
Portland, Oregon 97201
Telephone: 971-722-4909
College mailing address:
PO Box 19000
Portland, Oregon 97280-0990
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee and the staff of the Dental Hygiene program collaborate to ensure that the program delivers instruction that is current, up-to-date, and relevant to contemporary business, industry, labor, and professional employment practices. Advisory committees provide essential support and guidance to academic programs. The PCC Dental Sciences Advisory Committee consists of the program dean, full-time faculty, admissions and advising staff, and a diverse group of clinicians from public health, private practice, and corporate practice settings. These clinicians represent the field of dentistry as dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists. The advisory committee meets twice annually and includes student representatives from the Dental Assisting program as well as from the first and second years of the Dental Hygiene program.