The required information session needed to declare Dental Hygiene or Dental Assisting as your major.

1. Information Session:
Dental Assisting
&
Dental Hygiene

2. Session Objectives:
• To explain the Wake Tech Admissions and
Clinical Application Process
• To review the Dental Assisting and Dental
Hygiene programs
• To explain the competitive nature of both
programs and the selection process

3. What’s the difference?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXU-lZnuuqQ Use the link
to watch

4. The Structure of a Dental Office
Dentist
licensed
Dental Hygienist
Licensed
$28/hour
Takes on own patients. Duties include:
Remove plaque and calculus by scaling and polishing,
perform oral health assessments, provide oral health
instructions
Dental Assistant
DA I
Some certified - DA II/CDA
$18/hour
Assists the dentists, orthodontist, endodontists. Duties
include :
Work chair-side as dentists examine, take x-rays, take
impressions, control supplies, make temporary crowns
Office Manager/Receptionist

5. Dental Assisting Dental Hygiene
Diploma - 3 semesters
• Starts in Fall, full-time day program
• Graduate as a DA II
• Can sit for DANB certification – CDA
($400-$500)
Various clinical settings in Spring &
Summer
• Chapel Hill 2 days/week for 10 weeks
• Over 300 hours hands-on training
Duties include :
Work chair-side as dentists examine,
take x-rays, take impressions, control
supplies, make temporary crowns
Associate degree (A.A.S) - 5 semesters
• Starts in Fall, full-time day program
• Eligible for state licensure – R.D.H.
• National ($300-$400) and state
($1200) exam
On-site 25 chair clinic
• Start seeing patients in the first
semester
Duties include:
Remove plaque and calculus by
scaling and polishing, perform oral
health assessments, provide oral
health instructions

6. FYI from the Department Heads
– These are health service jobs.
• Professionalism
• Patient Engagement
• Sensitivity
• Keen listening
– Expect stress, both physically &
mentally. (refer to the Technical Standards
form, last page in your packet)
• Physically demanding - Back,
shoulders, fingers and wrists.
• Grip strength is important.
• Stress with patient interactions &
evaluations.
– You will see blood (oral surgery and
gum bleeds).
– It is difficult to work while in the
clinical portion of this program.
Students who work usually have
flexible job schedules or work only
during the weekends.
– Balancing school and family is not
impossible, but it takes effort!
– If you are accepted or an alternate
to the clinical program, attendance
at the orientation is MANDATORY –
no exceptions.
• DH – usually in April
• DA – usually in June or early
July
– please do not plan vacations
during these times
Resource
http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-
33/issue-11/features/the-fine-art-of-patient-
engagement.html

7. Admissions
Students seeking enrollment in health science
programs will actually submit two separate
applications. An application for general admission
must be submitted first. Phase 1 enables the
student to take general education classes and be
moved to pre-health status. Phase 2 the student
submits the application for competitive entry to
Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene after
completing the prerequisites.

8. Phase 1 = Admitted to take prerequisites
 Apply to Wake Tech (complete the RDS interview).
 Apply for Financial Aid.
 Submit official transcripts from every school you have attended.
 If applicable, take the ACCUPLACER placement test.
 Attend or view the Information Session.
 Meet with an Admissions Counselor.
 Attend New Student Orientation (for students with no prior college).
 Complete ELI – an orientation to online learning and e-readiness.
 Need more information? Visit Health Sciences Admissions
Admissions Checklist

9. Do you need a placement test?
Placement testing is required for
applicants who do not meet one or more
of the waiver options listed below:
Standardized Testing-ACT/SAT
Prior College Credit (for math and/or
English)
High School GPA – Multiple
Measures

10. Placement Testing Exemption
To meet minimum admissions requirements, everything must be within the past 5
years. The only item that can be MORE than 5 years old is the College English class.
High School GPA Standardized Testing Precurriculum Prior College Credit
Have at least a 2.6 unweighted GPA
and have taken four math classes as
specified for waiver (see below)
Must be verified through official
transcript
*High school graduation must be
within 5 years
Have achieved applicable SAT or ACT
scores (see below)
*Test scores are valid for 5 years
*Test can be waived in whole or in part
Precurriculum coursework within
the past 5 years at Wake Tech or
any NC Community College.
Have successfully completed a college-
level English and/or math with a grade of
C or better
The credits must be verified by college
transcript issued directly to Wake Tech
If a applicanthas taken an AP English or
math exam, scores may be provided for
review and determinationof waiver (see
below)
High School GPA and Math
Requirements
Standardized Testing Precurriculum Prior College Credit
Unweighted 2.6 GPA or&
Algebra II/Common Core Math III/
Integrated Math III & one of the
following:
 AdvancedFunctions & Modeling
 Discrete Mathematics
 Pre-Calculus
 Integrated
Mathematics IV
 AP Statistics/AP
Calculus A/B or AP
Calculus B/C/IB
 Essentials for College Math
 Trigonometry
 Analytic Geometry
 Statistics
 Mindset
SAT scores as of March 2016:
 Math: 530
 Evidence-based Reading/Writing: 480
SAT Scores before March 2016:
 Math: 500
 Critical Reading: 500 or
 Writing: 500
ACT
Scores:
 Reading: 22 or
 English: 18
 Math: 22
DRE 097/098
DMA 10-30 (Dental Assisting)
DMA 10-40 (Dental Hygiene)
Must have a C or better in college level
English and/or math course with a C or better
for test waiver.
Have official AP scores for English and/or
math sent to Wake Tech through
collegeboard.org. Applicants can check the
Wake Tech AP credit policy on
collegeboard.org

11. Placement Testing
• An application must be on file prior to testing
• Prepare and register for test through WTCC’s testing website:
testingcenter.waketech.edu
• Our placement test is called the ACCUPLACER
• Tested on Reading, Writing, and Math (pre algebra and algebra knowledge
especially).
• It is not pass/fail.
• Test scores have a 5 year time limit.
• There is no fee to take the test the first time.
• You may retest once within a year.
• Retest fee is $10.
• Must wait 7 days to retest.

12. Official Transcripts
• If you list the school on your application, you must provide Wake Tech with an
official transcript – high school and college.
– Official means they come from the actual school in a sealed envelope.
– Mail to 2901 Holston Ln., Raleigh, NC 27610
– If sent to you, do NOT open them
• Transcripts will be unofficially evaluated by a Health Sciences advisor during an
advising session.
• College transcripts are only reviewed after a student has been accepted to the
college.
• Official transcripts from accredited institutions will be reviewed against
established standard equivalencies, and transfer equivalency will be
recommended by the appropriate dean (or a designee).
– If you have questions/concerns about transfer credits, please
email tranevalreq@waketech.edu.
• A transcript review can take 6 – 8 weeks to process.
• Students may be required to submit a course syllabus if additional information is
needed.

13. Classes at Other Colleges
• All NC Community Colleges use the same Common
course library
– Other Colleges / Universities:
• BIOs MUST have labs
• Courses must be the same number of credit
hours and have a comparable course syllabus
• Check with a WTCC advisor first before signing
up
– Submit updated official transcripts!

14. Phase 1 is complete
You are now a Pre Dental Student
RDS
Wake Tech Application
Information Session
Transcripts
Testing
• Once accepted, you can register for classes.
• What classes can you register for?

15. What can I take as a pre dental
assisting student?
RefresherCourses
• DMA010-
DMA030
• DRE096-098
Prerequisites
• BIO 106
• ENG 111
• COM 120
• PSY 118
•Sciences must have been completed within 5 years of the clinical application deadline to be considered for transfer credit. Sciences
beyond 5 years cannot be used.
•Offered day and some evenings & usually at the Perry Health Science Campus
•Can be taken on a part-time basis (recommended), online and at other community colleges.

16. You earn competitive
points with the grades
you receive in your
prerequisite classes.
Students with the
highest point ranges are
selected for the 24-30
clinical seats.
There are ways to earn
extra points towards
your application.
Information is on the
next slide.

17. Extra Points:
Dental Assisting Only
 If you take BIO 163 AND BIO 175 in place of BIO 106, you will receive an extra
10 points in addition to the points for the grade (Class points are awarded based on BIO
106 and not 163/175)
 Students who have completed BIO 106, may take DEN 100 and/or DEN 111
prior to the application deadline, you can receive points for the grades:
 A=5, B=4, C=3
 Email tgriffin4@waketech.edu if interested in taking DEN 100 and/or DEN
111 (only available in the summer) as a pre-dental student
 Waiting points for students who applied previous years
 1 year = +5
 2 years = +10
 Radiation Health and Safety Certificate +10
 Intraoral Radiography Certificate +15 (only until May 15, 2018)
 Infection Control Certificate/ICE +5 (beginning with Fall 2019)
Refer to the
information
packet

18. What can I take as a pre dental
hygiene student?
RefresherCourses
• DMA010-DMA030
• DRE096-098
Prerequisites
• BIO 163
• BIO 175
• CHM 130
• ENG 111
• COM 120
• PSY 150
• SOC 210
• HUM/Fine Arts Elective
•Sciences must have been completed within 5 years of the clinical application deadline to be considered for transfer credit. Sciences
beyond 5 years cannot be used.
•Offered day and some evenings & usually at the Perry Health Science Campus
•Can be taken on a part-time basis (recommended), online and at other community colleges.

19. You earn competitive
points with the grades
you receive in your
prerequisite classes.
Students with the
highest point ranges are
selected for the 24
clinical seats.
There are ways to earn
extra points towards
your application.

20. Chemistry Proficiency Dental Hygiene OnlyChemistryProficiency
Needed to enroll in BIO
163
Can be fulfilled by one
full unit of high school
chemistry
OR
College chemistry
AND no expiration
ChemistryRequirement
Required for the Dental
Hygiene program.
Must be within five
years of your clinical
application deadline.
Must be CHM 130 or any
100 level CHM.
• In 2014 it meets both
admissions and CHM
130
• In 2009 it meets
proficiency only
Minimum Admissions Requirement vs Competitive Points

21. Job Shadowing: Dental Hygiene Only
– Will need 40 hrs of Job
Shadowing prior to applying to
the clinical program

22. Science Substitutions
Dental Assisting
• BIO 106 Intro to
Anatomy/Physiology/Microbiology
Acceptable substitution:
- BIO 163 & BIO 175
(Both must be taken to satisfy
the requirement)
Dental Hygiene
• BIO 163 Basic Anatomy and
Physiology I
– BIO 165/BIO 166 OR BIO
168/BIO 169
• BIO 175 General
Microbiology
– BIO 275
• CHM 130 General, Organic
and Biochemistry
– CHM 131 or CHM 151 or
higher level CHM
•Must have been completed within 5 years of
the clinical application deadline to be
considered for transfer credit. Sciences beyond
5 years cannot be used.
•Offered day and some evenings & usually at
the Perry Health Science Campus
•Can be taken on a part-time basis
(recommended)

23. Ways to Lose Points
“D” or “F” grade policy - Dental Hygiene only
• Five points will be subtracted from the quality points for
grades of “D” and ten points for grades of “F” received
in any of the non-clinical courses within 5 years of the
application date.
• For Technical core courses, the point reductions will
be doubled (10 points for a “D”, and 20 points for an
“F”).
• Negative points stay on your ranking sheet until the
class is more than 5 years old.
• Negative points are also given for “WF”.

24. Ways to Lose Points
“D” or “F” grade policy - Dental Hygiene only
• Examples:
ENG 111 SOC 210
Fall 2009 – D (0 points; over 5 years) Fall 2014 – F (-10 points)
Fall 2014 – B (9 points) Spring 2015 – D (-5 points)
Total = 9 points Fall 2015 – B (9 points)
Total = -6 points
BIO 163 CHM 130
Spring 2015 – F (-20 points) Summer 2013 – C (12 points)
Fall 2015 – C (20 points) Spring 2014 – A (24 points)
Total = 0 points Total = 24 points

25. Extra Points:
Dental Hygiene Only
• Being a Dental Assistant
– Graduate of an accredited program (+10 points)
– DANB CDA (+5 points)
• Dental Assisting Experience
– Points earned based on # of hours worked in the past 5 years
• Health Care Experience (paid or volunteer)
– Points earned based on # of hours worked in the past 5 years
– Cannot be the same as your Dental Assistant work experience
100-999 hours = 3 points 1,000-1,999 hours = 6 points
2,000-2,999 hours = 9 points 3,000 hours or more = 12 points

26. Other Dental Programs:
Dental Hygiene Only
• Applicants who have been dismissed from or
discontinued another dental hygiene program will
need to submit:
– A personal letter of explanation and
– A letter of explanation from the program director
• Up to 20 points may be deducted from the total
quality points (request more information to be
provided)
• Will be considered a new student only

27. Competitive Clinical Entry
• Only those students who turn in the Dental application will be
considered for the DEN classes
• Applications must be resubmitted on a yearly basis.
• Competitive entry based on points (No waitlist). Number of students
admitted each year is:
May 15 for Dental Assisting – 28-30 students per year
January 31 for Dental Hygiene – 24 students per year
• Points are calculated at the time the clinical applications are due
(as of January 31 for Dental Hygiene and as of May 15 for Dental
Assisting). Courses completed after these dates will not be
included in the total points calculation.

28. Phase 2 = Admission to enroll in
DEN clinical classes
• *Sciences and math courses must be within 5 years of the clinical application deadline.
 Dental Assisting (May 15)
 To be in the pool of qualified
applicants for Dental Assisting, you
must turn in the following: (1) a
Dental Assisting clinical application;
(2) Technical standards form; (3) all
educational transcriptions: college
and high school.
 Dental Hygiene (January 31)
 To be in the pool of qualified
applicants for Dental Hygiene, you
must turn in the following: (1) a
Dental Hygiene clinical application;
(2) 40 hours of job shadowing; (3)
Technical Standards form; (4) all
educational transcripts: college and
high school.

29. FYI – Background Check
Criminal Background Checks
• CBCs are required of all students entering Health Science
programs.
– Contact Barbara Smith at 919-747-0105 or
basmith1@waketech.edu with questions.
• The North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners may
request information regarding conviction of a felony and/or
misdemeanor and/or current charges on the application for
licensure and may decide not to license an individual
based on the results of an investigation.
– Representatives most often talk with graduates of dental hygiene
programs.

30. Class Class
Hours
Lab Hours Clinical Hours
Periodontology 2
Hygiene Theory I 2
Clinic I 9
Pharmacology 2
Materials and
Procedures
1 3
Once admitted to the clinical portion of the program are fulltime day
students. Here is example of the course load for the Dental Hygiene
Program Term 2.
20 Hours at
campus
+ 2 to 3
Hours of
Study time
per course =
35 Hours per
week

31. Class
Hours
Lab Hours Clinical Hours
Dental Sciences 2
Dental Health
Education
2 2
Practice
Management
2
Clinical Practice 2 3 12
Dental Radiography 2
Dental Assisting Term 2
27 Hours at
campus
+ 2 to 3
Hours of
Study time
per course =
42 Hours per
week
Once admitted to the clinical portion of the program are fulltime day
students. Here is example of the course load for the Dental Assisting
Program Term 2.

32. This image is a visual
version of Term 2 for DA
students.

33. FYI - Finding Patients
• Dental Assistants need patients for x-rays; Hygienists need patients for x-rays and
cleanings.
• It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that enough patients are scheduled to meet
minimum requirements for clinic. Quotas are assigned for each semester and are
included in the syllabus for each clinical course.
• The Dental Clinic maintains a list of perspective patients to assist the students in
finding acceptable patients.
Be prepared for cancellations
Try to schedule reliable, responsible patients
Utilize all social networks

34. Our Dental Hygiene Clinic takes
patients from adults to 4 years of age!
To get a first hand perspective of the
clinic and the job functions – become
a patient.
Screening appointments are usually 1-
2 hours long
Cleanings take 2-5 visits on average;
each visit may be 3-4 hours long
Call 919-747-0126 or email
dhclinic@wake.tech.edu

35. • In order to select applicants for programs with
limited clinical slots, a competitive admissions
procedure, NOT a waiting list, will be used which
utilizes a point system. This procedure will be
used when there are more applicants who have
met the minimum admissions requirements and
have submitted their checklist, than we have
available clinical spaces. Those applicants with
the highest number of points will be selected for
the available clinical slots.

36. Competitive Entry – Point Values
• Students with the MOST points are accepted into the DEN classes.
• Grades are given the following points:
– “A” = 4, “B” = 3, “C” = 2
• The point value of the grade is multiplied by the credit hours of the
class, and this equals the point total. Technical Core (Science)
courses are doubled.
ENG 111 COM 120 PSY 150/
PSY 118
HUM
Elect
SOC 210 BIO 106
(DA)
CHM 130
(DH)
BIO 163
(DH)
BIO 175
(DH)
A = 12 A = 12 A = 12 A = 12 A = 12 A = 24 A = 24 A = 40 A = 24
B = 9 B = 9 B = 9 B = 9 B = 9 B = 18 B = 18 B = 30 B = 18
C = 6 C = 6 C = 6 C = 6 C = 6 C = 12 C = 12 C = 20 C = 12

37. Dental Hygiene Prior
Points
24 seats
all A’s – 148, all B’s – 111, all C’s 74
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
# of
Application
s
90 89 76 102 131 122 124 110
Points of
Accepted
Students
124-
159
116-
145
125-
158
123-
153
133-
148
138-
160
142-
161
142-
160

38. Dental Assisting Prior
Points
28 seats
all A’s – 60, all B’s – 45, all C’s - 30
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
# of
Application
s
59 52 58 77 103 96 74 83
Points of
Accepted
Students
30-59 31-74 46-78 49-100 59-86 46-79 48-67 53-85

39. Application Mistakes
Not receiving/sending all school records
Not providing documentation
DANB Certification
Shadowing hours
Official Test scores
Not using the previous years points as your
guide

40. Registering for Classes
• Do NOT wait to register.
– Classes go very fast.
• Activate your Wake Tech account
– My WakeTech
– Student email
• Register yourself through
WebAdvisor.
– If there are any errors, WRITE THEM
down and contact a Health Sciences Advisor
• Can’t guarantee full-time schedule.
– Financial Aid covers half-time, ¾ time, and
full-time

41. October
12
March 29
Interested, but not sure which program to pursue? Consider attending the Dental Boot
Camp - https://www.waketech.edu/programs-courses/credit/dental-hygiene/boot-
camp

42. What’s My Next Step?
 Fill out NC Residency and Wake Tech application
 Submit all official transcripts
 Take Accuplacer, if needed
 Get accepted to Wake Tech
 See an advisor
 Register for classes or retake classes to be competitive
 Complete Job Shadowing (only DH)
 Submit clinical application by deadline
Any Questions??
Toye Griffin
tgriffin4@waketech.edu
919.747.0025
Student Services: Admissions & Advising (M-F; 8am-5pm)
• No appointment necessary; walk-in advising
• Any advisor at the Perry Health Sciences campus can answer your
questions about either of the dental programs
Email me