Dental Hygiene at MCC

The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs), also known as “Competencies for Dental Hygiene Graduates”, outlines the knowledge, skills and attitudes that graduates of our program must exhibit to successfully complete the program and become competent Dental Hygiene practitioners. The PSLOs represent an integration of knowledge, understanding, skills and values.

These PSLOs define the core content of our objective curriculum and allow for continual assessment of our program. In other words, the PSLOs set out a blueprint for the curriculum of our program. Each course student learning outcome (CSLO) serves as a foundation or supports the PSLOs. These PSLOs are dynamic standards and must be responsive to change. The educational plan set out by these PSLOs will require regular review for continual program improvement and student achievement.

The Dental Hygiene Graduate will be competent in:

1. Using current scientific evidence to implement accepted standards of care to individualize the dental hygiene process of care to a diverse population of patients.
2. Using effective communication to collaborate with patients, colleagues and other professionals to provide optimal oral health care.
3. Promoting the values of oral and general health, integrating social determinants to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate community oral health programs.
4. Applying self-evaluation to ensure a high level of professional knowledge, judgement, and management of ethical and legal considerations in the practice of dental hygiene.
5. Demonstrating responsibility for professional growth through service activities and affiliations with professional organizations.

Health Programs Health Requirements Policy
Students accepted to Health Programs must be in compliance with the current immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for Health Care Personnel (HCP) and in accordance with state law, MGL, Chapter 76, Section 15C, and its regulations at 105 CMR 220.000 - 220.700 in order to participate in an externship placement or clinical experience. Students may also be required to meet additional requirements of the particular health program and/or clinical agency as outlined below.

Students who are not in compliance with these requirements may not be allowed to participate in classes, externship placement, or clinical experiences, which may jeopardize their ability to continue in the program.

Health Record Requirements
Completion of Pages 2 and 3 of Required Student Health Record Form, which Includes:

1. Student Information
2. Physical Examination and evaluation by a health care provider (completed within past 12 months).
3. Testing for Color (This may be administered in Lowell by the Health Compliance Personnel in the Talbot Building, room 302A or the Administrative Assistant in Talbot 312, or HEALTH 409 (formally Derby building)
4. TB Testing

Either:

Two-step tuberculin skin test (TST) for Tuberculosis:

• • • 1st TB/PPD given, read and recorded.
    • If positive, see notes below.
    • If negative, repeat in 1-3 weeks (2nd TB/PPD given, read and recorded)

OR

• • TB blood test (T-Spot or QuantiFERON Gold)

Notes:

• Positive reactors to the skin test must submit positive TB test report and a report of a negative chest x-ray performed in the past 5 years from admission date, and documentation of an annual symptom assessment.
• The TB Test must be done before entering the program and updated at least every 12 months*
  
• For the annual update of TB testing, 

1. 1. Either a two-step Mantoux (TB/PPD) tuberculin skin test*
      OR
   2. TB blood test (T-Spot or QuantiFERON Gold) will be sufficient to meet the requirements for the annual update.

*Students are required to have the two-step Mantoux (TB/PPD) tuberculin skin test upon acceptance and up to every 3 months thereafter according to clinical placement requirements.

Immunization Requirements for Health Care Personnel
Official Documentation of:

• One dose of Tdap vaccination, with a booster (either Td or Tdap) every 10 years.
  
• Two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, given at least 28 days apart on/after 12 months of age, or a positive blood titer report for all three - (1) Rubeola, (2) Mumps, (3) Rubella (with original copy of lab results)
  
• Completion of the 3 dose Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine series or the new 2 dose Heplisav-B,
  
• Positive Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti HBs) blood titer report (with original copy of lab results)
• Two doses of Varicella vaccine given one month apart, or a positive Varicella blood titer report with original copy of lab results
• One dose of MenACWY meningococcal vaccine administered on or after 16th birthday for any newly enrolled full- time student 21 years of age or younger.
• Annual flu vaccine including manufacturer, expiration date, and lot number Due October 1st of each year
• Up-to-date with the most recent COVID-19 vaccination. For each academic year, this includes receiving one dose of the most recent COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available. Proof of vaccination, including the manufacturer, lot number, and expiration date are due October 1 of each year. *
  
  *Newly enrolled Students must receive the vaccine as soon as it becomes available, to ensure timely compliance with individual clinical site requirements.

OSHA Requirements

• Color Deficiency testing (may be administered in Lowell by the health compliance personnel in in Talbot building, room 302A or the administrative assistant in Talbot 312 or HEALTH 409. (formerly Derby building)
• As part of the program curriculum, you will receive education for OSHA Blood-borne Pathogen Standard and Universal Precautions for all health program students prior to clinical placement.
  
  

CPR Certification
All health students (except for Medical Laboratory Science, Dental Laboratory Technology, Public Health, Medical Billing and Coding and Healthcare Administration) must be currently certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, and must maintain valid certification for the duration of the program.

Student Health and Medical Insurance
All students enrolled in Health Programs are required to carry health insurance because of the potential of exposure to a variety of communicable/infectious diseases as well as contractual requirements of some affiliating agencies. The period of coverage must be current throughout students’ enrollment in the Health Program. Please note, the following cannot be used: MassHealth Limited, Children’s Medical Security Plan, or Health Safety net. Also Students enrolled in free care at a hospital or with an insurance policy of a foreign carrier.

Malpractice Insurance
As part of your tuition, MCC will provide Malpractice/Liability Coverage of one million dollars per incident and three million dollars aggregate is maintained for all students in health programs. This insurance only addresses a claim arising from activities required by the student’s program.

Health Clearance for Participation in the Clinical Area
All enrolled Health Program students, new and returning, will be expected to have completed the Health Records, Immunization and OSHA (Color Deficiency Testing) requirements prior to participation in any externship placement or clinical experience.

All students should submit documentation of these requirements to CastleBranch as directed in the admission acceptance package. CastleBranch is an online resource that allows health program students to submit and track their health records with the College. The documentation will be reviewed and depending upon completeness of the record, the program coordinators will be notified regarding health clearance status for students enrolled in their specific program. Students may not participate in the externship or clinical experience until all records are successfully submitted and they are cleared, and/or an exemption is approved.

Students are also responsible for updating any requirements (e.g. annual TB/PPD test, CPR, Tdap) in order to continue their participation in the externship or clinical experience if any requirement expires before the end of the externship or clinical experience. CastleBranch reminder alerts start 21 days before due date and repeat weekly thereafter. 

Health requirements are subject to change based on the CDC and MA Dept of Health recommendations and clinical site requirements.

Medical Clearance for Return to Class/Clinical After Illness/Injury or Change in Health Status

1. Students are responsible for notifying their course faculty/clinical instructor and their Department Chair/Program Coordinator/ Director within 24 hours of any change in health status, including but not limited to:
   1. Exposure to a reportable disease requiring isolation/quarantine
   2. Symptoms/disease
   3. Accident/injury
   4. Any circumstance that may change health status
      
2. Department Chair/Program Coordinator/Director should notify the Health Compliance and Data Coordinator (HCDC) as soon as possible of this change.
3. The Health Compliance and Data Coordinator will provide the student with a copy of a clinical clearance form to submit to the student’s health care provider.
4. Students will not be permitted to return to classes or the clinical area until documentation from the health care provider is returned to the HCDC and the student is cleared to return.
5. The Department Chair/Program Coordinator/Director will notify the appropriate course faculty/clinical instructor that the student is cleared to return, and send the original of the clinical clearance form to the Health Compliance personnel.

Exemptions From Vaccinations and Immunization

Although currently the MA Department of Public Health does not require all of the vaccinations listed in this Health Requirements Policy, to comply with MCC’s clinical sites and hospital based placements, we require these vaccinations for Health Students who have not otherwise been approved for an exemption.

All medical requests must be verified with a letter from a medical provider. The letter must specify which immunizations cannot be given and the condition that prevents the administration of the vaccine(s). All religious exemptions must be accompanied by a statement of a student sincerely held belief and may also include a statement from a clergy member or faith-based leader.

In the event of an outbreak of any of the vaccine preventable diseases in the community, unvaccinated students will be excluded from campus, classes, and clinical rotations until the period of communicability has passed. The College will not be responsible for any costs associated with missed classes and no refunds will be made.

While MCC will make reasonable efforts to place you at a clinical site, clinical placements cannot be guaranteed for those who have not received all required vaccinations. This may prevent you from being able to participate in clinical/practicum courses and externships, and/or successfully complete the program.

Accepted: 2/21/06 Revised 12/11; 10/12, 8/13, 10/15, 4/16, 6/16, 3/17, 1/18, 8/18, 10/18, 8/20, 8/21, 11/21, 5/22, 6/23, 11/23, 5/24, 2/25e.

 

Nebal Al-Taweel, RDH, Assistant Professor
978-656-3061
MS, University of Bridgeport, BS, Vermont Technical College, AS, Middlesex Community College

Kimberly Augustus, RDH, Assistant Professor & Academic Clinic Coordinator
978-656-3066
BA, University of Massachusetts; AS Middlesex Community College

Nancy Baccari, RDH, Clinical Instructor
MA, University of Massachusetts, BS, Westbrook College, AAS, Westbrook College

Rebecca Bennett, RDH, LPN, Clinical Instructor
MS Ed., MCPHS University; AS MCPHS University

Julie Breen, RDH, Professor
978-656-3055
MEd., Rivier University; BS, Northeastern University; AS, Middlesex Community College

Nina Carresi, RDH, Clinical Instructor
MS Ed., Saint Joseph's College of Maine; BSDH, University of Bridgeport; AS, Middlesex Community College

Debbie Fernandes, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, AS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

Deborah Finnegan, RDH, Clinical Instructor
MS, MCPHS University; AS, Middlesex Community College

Peter Gangi, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BSED, University of Vermont; AS, University of Vermont

JoAnne Lamoureux, RDH, Clinical Instructor
MS, Framingham State University; BS, University of Rhode Island; AS, University of Rhode Island

Christine Lombardo, RDH, Associate Professor & Department Chair
978-656-3051
M.S.Ed, St Joesph’s College; BS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

Leah MacPherson, RDH, Professor
978.656.3058
MHP, Northeastern University; BS, Northeastern University; AS, University of New England

Mary Ellen Maney, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, Northeastern University; AS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

Elizabeth McElwain, RDH, CDA, Clinical Instructor
BS, University of Bridgeport; AS, Middlesex Community College

Crystal Ostroski, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, University of Bridgeport; AS, Middlesex Community College

Sarah Peterson-Taggard, Front Desk Manager, Dental Hygiene Clinic
978.656.3250

Kathryn Power, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BA, University of Massachusetts; AS, Middlesex Community College

Anita Qualter, RDH, Clinic Operations Manager, Dental Programs
978.656.3062

Marcie Silva, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, Mt. Ida College; AS, Middlesex Community College

Elizabeth Stone, RDH, Associate Professor 
978-656-3063
MS. Ed., St Joesph’s College; BS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

Donna Thibodeau, RDH, Professor 
978-656-3065
MS, Regis College; BS, Northeastern University; AS, Middlesex Community College

Patricia Tjoutjakis, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, MCPHS University; AS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

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Supervising Dentists

Dr. Linda Blashke-Doty, DMD

Dr. Mary Terkoski, DDS