Essential Functions for Dental Hygiene Students
MVCC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The College will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for an otherwise qualified applicant with a disability. Applicants who are unsure whether they can meet the essential functions, or who know they will need help meeting them, should contact the Office of Accessibility Resources at 315-792-5644.
The program has identified the essential functions required for success and for entry into the profession. A candidate for graduation must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and values/judgment required to carry out the essential functions of a dental hygienist as defined by the regulations and laws of the NYS Practice Act and the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Candidates must be able to demonstrate safe practice with or without accommodations. The following are the minimum essential skills required to perform the functions necessary for success.
The student must be capable of or have the ability to:
- Use arms, wrists, hands, neck, back, and shoulders to safely operate switches, knobs, and levers on the dental chair and accessory equipment in both clinical and laboratory settings.
- Use upper body strength to move and position the X-ray equipment around the patient’s head.
- Display good manual dexterity and motor coordination in the fingers to grasp and control small instruments.
- Possess excellent fine motor control, accompanied by a correspondingly high level of hand-eye coordination.
- Be able to utilize two hands simultaneously to perform palpations during an oral cancer screening exam and to reflect light with a mirror during instrumentation procedures.
- Be physically capable of initiating emergency procedures in a precise, quick, and appropriate manner.
- Possess binocular vision with discrimination/perception of 1.0 mm or better, enabling the student to accurately read markings on a periodontal probe. Visual acuity should be corrected to 20/40 or better with the ability to accommodate at a distance of 10" or less.
- Color vision deficiencies should be limited to a single color, allowing students to differentiate various shades of colors in a limited environment and space within the oral cavity, and to distinguish various shades of gray on radiographic images.
- Be able to observe demonstrations and patient conditions as a part of clinical treatment.
- Communicate effectively with peers, patients, faculty, and other healthcare professionals.
- Hear sounds when using a stethoscope to measure blood pressure or on medical devices, such as an X-ray unit, and follow the verbal instructions on the AED.
- Document the patient’s clinical record in a clear, precise, and legible manner with proper spelling so that other professionals can understand the entries.
- Read, analyze, and comprehend material in grade 14-level textbooks and professional journals to apply didactic knowledge effectively in the clinical setting.
- Basic understanding of math skills and geometric angles.
- Ability to gather, classify, and interpret information.
- Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and anticipate treatment needs.
- Organizational skills and independent thinking skills to efficiently manage time.
- Adhere to and practice infection control procedures.