Dental Hygiene Pit and Fissure Sealant Certificate

This program offers a curriculum that provides the student with the appropriate academic instruction to achieve eligibility for the National Board of Dental Hygiene Examiners written examination, and the Western Regional Examining Board Examination (WREB) for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist, qualifying the candidate as stipulated in the California Dental Practice Act. A Certificate of Completion of Pit and Fissure Sealant shall be issued after a student has achieved all procedures to clinical competency and successful passed the courses. The Dental Board of California set forth the requirements and the California Code of Regulations of 16 CCR 107.3.

20 students are projected to earn the certificate annually.

The goal of the Cypress College Dental Hygiene Program is to provide the student with the educational opportunity to attain the knowledge, skills and values necessary to qualify for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist and a professional member of the allied health team. 

To be awarded the certificate, the student must pass DH 109, DH 110, and DH 116 at 75% or higher. 

DH 109 is the first in a series of four courses designed to prepare the student for clinical dental hygiene process of care. Content emphasis includes bloodborne and infectious disease exposure, care and operation of dental equipment, identification, purpose and function of basic instrumentation skills, instrument sharpening, polishing agents and methods, topical fluoride application, entry level clinic electronic forms and procedures, clinic duties, and clinical practice utilizing examination procedures and basic instrumentation techniques on student patient partners and periodontal typodonts/manikins.

DH 110 is the second in a series of four courses designed to prepare the student for clinical dental hygiene process of care. Emphasis is placed on perfecting oral inspection and medical/dental health history documentation, and developing dental hygiene process of care treatment plans, and electronic charting. Additional course content includes introduction to universal curette instrumentation, sharpening techniques, root debridement techniques, oral and subgingival irrigation, gingival curettage, introduction to ultrasonic instrumentation and air polishing. Clinical skills will be demonstrated and evaluated on clinical patients appointed in the Cypress College Dental Hygiene Clinic. 

DH 116 course is designed to provide the student with a study of structure, chemical and physical properties, and manipulation of materials used in dentistry will be covered. Laboratory application of dental materials and the relationship of dental materials to the oral environment is included. Emphasis will be placed on specific materials and functions delegated to the dental hygienist by the Dental Board of California and Dental Hygiene Board of California.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
DH 109	Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene	5
DH 110	Clinical Dental Hygiene	6
DH 116	Dental Materials - Hygienist	2.5

First year dental hygiene curriculum

Cerritos College and West Los Angeles College

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