Section 1072.1 - Requirements for RDH Educational ProgramsAn educational program for RDHs shall comply with the requirements set forth below in order to secure and maintain approval by the board.
(a) Physical Plant. The physical plant and equipment shall be maintained and replaced in a manner designed to provide students with the most modern or educationally optimal environment.(b) Library. The library resources of an educational program for dental hygienists shall be broad enough to meet the teaching and research needs of the institution.(c) Admission. (1) The minimum basis for admission to an approved educational program for dental hygienists shall be the successful completion of an accredited high school course, or the recognized equivalent, which will permit entrance to an accredited college of liberal arts.(2) An accredited college of liberal arts shall mean an institution approved by the Association of American Universities or by one of the regional accrediting agencies.(3) The selection of students for admission to a hygiene educational program shall be based on estimates of their capacity for success in the study of dental hygiene as determined by evaluation of all available and significant information including information regarding background, knowledge,aptitude for and interest in the study and practice of dental hygiene, and the range of subject matter and quality of their scholastic record.(d) Instruction. (1) Instruction upon all levels in an educational program for dental hygienists shall be conducted upon the premise that dental hygiene education must meet the test of a true university discipline and shall include lectures, laboratory experiments and exercises and clinical practice under supervision.(2) The term "university discipline" shall be interpreted as a level of instruction at least equivalent to that level of instruction represented by college courses in the basic sciences commonly offered in approved dental schools.(e) Standards of Proficiency. Each school shall establish and maintain standards of proficiency and accomplishment of a qualitative nature, emphasizing thoroughness of didactic and laboratory requirements and precision in manual skills. Such standards shall be available to each student, and shall be used to ascertain periodic progress or achievement in the curriculum.(f) Faculty. An educational program for dental hygienists shall employ an adequate staff of competent full-time faculty members having general education, professional training and teaching experience.(g) Curriculum. (1) The organization of the curriculum for dental hygienists shall be flexible, creating opportunities for adjustments to and research of, advances in the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene.(2) The following factors should be considered in establishing and maintaining a balanced curriculum in the sense that it shall not over-emphasize any level or area of instruction: (A) Respective contribution to the practice of dental hygiene;(B) Effectiveness of instruction;(C) Time necessary for student independent study.(3) The general content of the curriculum shall include four subject areas: general studies, biomedical sciences, dental sciences and clinical sciences and practice. It shall also include didactic and laboratory instruction of those registered dental assistant duties specifically delegable by a licensed dentist to a registered dental hygienist. (The following guidelines are not to be interpreted as requiring specific courses in each, but rather as areas of instruction which shall be included in the curriculum.) General Subject Matter
Speech
English
Sociology
Psychology
Biomedical Sciences
General and Microscopic
Anatomy
Physiology
Microbiology
Pathology
Nutrition
Pharmacology
(Basic sciences necessary as a foundation for the instruction of Biomedical Sciences shall be included in, or be a prerequisite to, the curriculum of approved RDH programs)
Dental Sciences
Anesthesia
Dental and Medical Emergencies
Tooth Morphology
Head, Neck and Oral Anatomy
Oral Pathology
Oral Embryology and Histology
Dental Materials
Clinical Sciences and Practice
Periodontology
Clinical Dental Hygiene
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Dentistry
Oral Health Education
Community Dental Health
(4) Content of the curriculum for approved dental hygiene educational programs shall specifically include instruction in: (A) periodontal soft tissue curettage;(B) administration of local anesthetic agents, infiltration and conductive, limited to the oral cavity;(C) administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen when used as an analgesic, utilizing fail-safe type machines containing no other general anesthetic agents; provided, however, that a graduate of a nonresident program which meets all the requirements of Sections 1072 and 1072.1 except those contained in Section 1072.1(g)(4), shall be deemed to have completed an approved program if such person has successfully completed a board-approved course of instruction in each of the functions described in Section 1072.1(g)(4) which were not taught to clinical proficiency in the nonresident dental hygiene program.(h) Length of Program. A dental hygienist educational program shall be two academic years, not less than 1,600 clock hours, and lead to a certificate.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 1072.1
1. Amendment of subsection (g) filed 6-20-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 25).
2. Editorial correction of subsection (g)(3) (Register 2004, No. 12). Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1614, 1758 and 1759, Business and Professions Code.
1. Amendment of subsection (g) filed 6-20-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 25).
2. Editorial correction of subsection (g)(3) (Register 2004, No. 12).