MIDDLETOWN- Each of the 17 recent graduates from the SUNY Orange dental hygiene program’s Class of 2023 has taken and passed, on their first attempt, both the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the CDCA-WREB Clinical Board.
The 100 percent pass rate continues a trend in which the College’s dental hygiene graduates perform exceptionally well on their initial attempt at both their national licensure and clinical exams.
“These results are not by accident,” said Mary Ann McGinnis-Adamo, chair of the Dental Hygiene department, “We have an extremely dedicated faculty and I am proud to be a part of it and proud to lead them. Our students are smart, committed and work through a carefully sequenced program.”
The dental hygiene program accepts only 20 students in each fall semester who must meet strict admissions requirements including passing a criminal background check, drug testing and a minimum GPA of 2.5. However, due to the competitive application process, most students have a GPA between 3.2 and 3.7 when entering the program.
The NBDHE assesses a candidate’s ability to use the information they have learned by administering an exam based on problem-solving skills. The CDCA-WREB is a nationally recognized licensure exam for dental hygienists. Passing both exams is required to work in the dental hygiene field.
Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association, the SUNY Orange dental hygiene program was established in 1977 and offers a dental clinic that is open to the community. The state-of-the-art facility offers a range of services including dental cleanings, exams, radiographs, sealants, local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation on the College’s Middletown campus.
