The 21 dental hygienists, who graduated from WCC in May, passed a clinical board exam, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and a national board exam.
This is the third consecutive year that WCC’s Dental Hygiene graduates have achieved a 100% pass rate on these exams.
The clinical exam is administered by the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX). Students had to effectively demonstrate hands-on techniques involving calculus removal and periodontal probing.
The OSCE portion of the ADEX exam measures diagnosis, treatment planning, and related clinical judgment skills.
The National Board Dental Hygiene Exam requires students to pass a 350-question test including 200 discipline-based questions and a 150-question component on 12–15 case patients.
WCC Dental Department Chair Brenda Maddox said the College’s Dental Hygiene program offers a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for the challenging board exams.
“The students did an outstanding job preparing for the exams, and the faculty did an excellent job educating the students to be ready,” Maddox said. “Most importantly, the graduates are ready to provide excellent patient care to the public.”
After the tests were completed, the candidates applied for state licensure to practice dental hygiene. To become licensed, the dental hygienists passed an infection control exam, background checks, and a law exam that tested their understanding of dental law and allowable functions. They became licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners.
“We couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of the graduates and welcome them to the profession,” said Maddox.
WCC’s Dental Hygiene program includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical components for students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for practicing dental hygiene.
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