Technical Standards

The following technical standards reflect performance abilities that are necessary for a student to successfully complete the requirements of the Dental Hygiene curriculum. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, "A qualified person with a disability is one who can perform the essential function of a job with or without reasonable accommodation."

Please read the standards carefully and seek clarification if necessary.

Standards

Examples

Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds

Establish rapport and professionally communicate with patients, families, faculty, staff and fellow classmates. Allow mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients, faculty, staff and classmates.

Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form

Listen attentively. Collect assessment data. Explain treatment procedures. Initiate health teaching. Document and interpret dental hygiene actions and client and family responses. Document assessment findings and treatment rendered. Utilize appropriate telephone etiquette. Perceive non-verbal communication.

Critical-thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment

Identify cause-and-effect relationship in clinical situations. Integrate, analyze and synthesize data. Develop dental hygiene treatment plans. Assimilate knowledge from lecture, laboratory and clinical arenas. Utilize basic mathematical skills. Draw sound conclusions.

Physical abilities and endurance sufficient to move around rooms in the dental environment, maneuver in small spaces, work in enclosed spaces, sit and work chair-side for long periods and reach needed equipment

Move around clinical operatories, dark rooms, sterilization room and other treatment areas. Position chair-side in close proximity to patient. Administer CPR and BLS procedures. Reach and move radiographic equipment, which is approximately 5 to 6 feet off the floor. Transfer patients from wheelchairs to dental chairs and back, if needed. Utilize repetitive motions with hands, wrists, neck, shoulders and back using gross and fine motor skills for at least eight hours per day.

Gross and fine motor abilities, including spatial relations, sufficient to provide safe and effective dental hygiene care

Move, calibrate and use equipment and supplies. Use ancillary aids chair-side – mannequins, small equipment, etc. Utilize sharp hand instruments requiring fine motor skills and manual dexterity. Use spatial relations to correctly instrument in clinic with use of indirect vision when required.

Tactile ability sufficient for assessment and performance of dental hygiene procedures

Perform palpation techniques (EO/IO exam, pulse, etc.), functions of a dental hygiene exam and/or those related to therapeutic intervention, such as exploring, scaling and root planning

Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs

Hears patients and the following sounds:

Emergencies (monitor vital signs)
Instruments being properly utilized
Slow speed hand piece and ultrasonic scaler
Radiography unit monitors
Autoclave monitors

Visual ability sufficient for physical assessment, performance of dental hygiene procedures and maintenance of environmental safety

Observes client responses, such as skin color and facial expression. Notes oral conditions and gingival description to include color changes and pocket depths in millimeter increments. Evaluates radiographs for technical quality, including density, contrast and distortion. Selects correct end of small instruments. Able to read small print, including anesthesia vials and medication labels.

Olfactory ability sufficient for maintaining a safe work environment and patient safety, as well as recognizing oral diseases

Distinguishes smells that affect the safety of the work environment (fire), safety for the patient (tissue burns) and the smell of oral diseases

Professional appearance, attitude and demeanor needed for utilization of intellectual abilities and good judgment in performing the roles of a dental hygienist

Present a professional appearance. Maintain own physical and mental health as well as emotional stability. Maintain a calm and efficient manner within time constraints, medical emergencies and high-stress situations. Exposure to communicable diseases and contaminated body fluids. Demonstrate teamwork and flexibility. Demonstrate empathy. Maintain ethics and sound decision making. Respect cultural diversity. Able to focus in an environment with multiple interruptions, noises, distractions and unexpected patient needs. Demonstrate organizational skills.

Accessibility and Accommodations

If a Dental Hygiene student believes they are unable to meet one or more of the program’s technical standards without accommodations or modifications, Northeast College of Dental Hygiene will conduct an individualized assessment to determine whether the requested accommodations can be made in a reasonable and appropriate manner.

We are committed to ensuring equal access to education while upholding the integrity and essential requirements of the program.