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Dental Hygiene Program

TNCC began their new Dental Hygiene Program at the Historic Triangle Campus in Williamsburg, Virginia in the Fall semester of 2010.

Students who have an interest in applying for the dental hygiene program are encouraged to begin taking the career study courses in preparation for application to the program; however, taking the prerequisite career study courses does not guarantee an acceptance into the program.

Contact the program:

  • (757) 258-6598 or email: DentalHygiene@tncc.edu
  • For an appointment to apply to the Dental Hygiene Program please contact the Historic Triangle Student Service Department at (757) 253-4755
  • For appointment, the following will be required:
    • Official high school transcript
    • Official college transcript(s)
    • ALL pre-dental prerequisites completed
    • Two professional recommendation letters
    • Certified Dental Assistant documentation, CPR Certification or Radiology Certification (optional)
  • Curriculum Vitae
    • Please describe in your curriculum vitae as it will appear fifteen years after your graduation from TNCC.
    • Dental Background Statement (must be handwritten)

Please compose a brief (approximately 300-500 words) description of how you became interested in the profession of dental hygiene.  Include those aspects of the field which you find most interesting and highlight the people or person who most influenced your career choice (i.e. high school guidance counselor, dental hygienist, dentist, friend, parent, college advisor).  Include name and address if applicable.

Program Documents:

Admissions to the Dental Hygiene Program will require the following:

  • General Admissions to TNCC
  • The Dental Hygiene application for admission (please contact Student Service at (757) 253-4755/ (757) 258-4882 to schedule an appointment to apply)
  • The applications are due on March 1, 2013
  • Acceptance results will be announced on April 1, 2013
  • Receive an acceptance from the admissions committee
Dental Hygiene Admission Requirements Mission Statement Scope of Practice Program Curriculum Prerequisite Courses

Steps to Admission

  1. Apply to the College
  2. Take College Placement Tests in Math, Writing, and Reading
  3. Complete Required Pre-Dental Hygiene Courses to earn points toward admission.
    • A point value will be assigned to each of the Pre-Dental
    • Hygiene Curricular Courses.
    • C= 3 pts, B=4 pts, A=5 pts
      • CST 100
      • CHM 110 (no points given for grades below “B”)
      • BIO 145 (no points given for grades below “B”)
      • BIO 150 (no points given for grades below “B”)
      • ENG 111
      • SDV 100
    • The student must have a curricular GPA of 2.5 or above the semester prior to applying to the Dental Hygiene Program. The curricular GPA is calculated using all pre-dental hygiene curricular courses (listed above) that have been completed.
  4. Apply to the Dental Hygiene Program

The Dental Hygiene Program has a separate application process. The Dental Hygiene Program anticipates receiving more applications than there are spaces available. Therefore, applications are reviewed and ranked by the Dental Hygiene Department.

Thomas Nelson Community College’s Dental hygiene program is designed to prepare highly qualified dental hygienists through excellence in teaching, patient care, and responsive community service by utilizing state-of-the-art facilities.

The goals established for Thomas Nelson’s Dental Hygiene program are:

  • Goal 1 – To provide dental hygiene students with a world-class education by using quality faculty and state of the art technology.
  • Goal 2 – To produce graduation and retentions rates that are comparable to other Dental Hygiene programs in Virginia.
  • Goal 3 – To provide all dental hygiene graduates with 100% job placement.
  • Goal 4 –To establish a program of study that allows students to transfer to a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) at four-year colleges and universities.
  • Goal 5 – To prepare dental hygiene students to communicate in a manner that promotes positive interpersonal relationships with patients, peers, employers and the community.
  • Goal 6 – To prepare dental hygiene students with the skills and competencies required to provide total patient care by performing dental hygiene services in an effective and efficient manner which will exemplify high ethical standards and professional conduct.
  • Goal 7 – To prepare students to successfully obtain a 100% pass rate on the National Boards and Southern Regional Board Examinations.

The following routine preventive dental hygiene services are available:

  • Routine examination of teeth and soft tissue
  • Scaling and Polishing
  • Home care instruction
  • Fluoride applications
  • Diagnostic radiographs
  • Blood pressure screening
  • Oral Cancer Screening
  • Sealants
  • Nutritional Counseling
  • Periodontal Screening
  • Local Anesthesia
  • Nitrous Oxide

First Semester Second Semester
Histology/ Head & Neck Dental Hygiene II
Oral Radiography for Dental Hygiene General and Oral Pathology
Dental Hygiene I Periodontics for the Dental Hygienist
Management of Emergencies Practical Materials for Dental Hygiene
Humanities Elective Principles of Nutrition
Third Semester (Summer)
Dental Hygiene III
Fourth Semester Fifth Semester
Pharmacology Public Health Dental Hygiene II
Public Health Dental Hygiene I Office Practice & Ethics
Dental Hygiene IV Management of Dental Pain & Anxiety
Introduction to Psychology I Dental Hygiene V

Course Number Title Hours
CHM 110 Survey of Chemistry 3
CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking 3
BIO 145 Human Anatomy and Physiology for HS 5
BIO 150 Introductory Microbiology 4
ENG 111 College Composition 3
SDV 100 College Success Skills 1
Total 19
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