Health and Safety Issues

Dental hygiene is classified as a Category I level (high risk) profession for bloodborne pathogens according to OSHA Standards.

Individuals who are involved in the provision of dental hygiene services may be exposed to blood borne pathogens that may result in human disease. Students and faculty members who experience an exposure to potentially infectious materials (needle stick, mucous membrane, or non-intact skin) or airborne inhalation require specific follow-up. An accident insurance fee is assessed to courses where the likelihood of an exposure may occur and a management protocol has been developed.

Students must comply with infection control regulations as listed in the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Rules and Regulations, Rule 108.25:

• A dental health care worker(s) who knows he/she is infected with HIV or HBV and who knows he/she is HbeAg positive shall report his/her status to an expert review panel, pursuant to provisions of THSC, §85.204, et seq, 1991, as amended.
• A dental health care worker who is infected with HIV or HBV and is HbeAg positive shall notify a prospective patient of the dental health care worker's seropositive status and obtain the patient's consent before the patient undergoes an exposure-prone procedure performed by the notifying dental healthcare worker.

 

It is strongly recommended that individuals with any questions regarding the Employment Qualifiers contact the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.

For more information on the policies on bloodborne and infectious diseases refer to the current MSU Dental Hygiene Student Handbook/Clinic Manual Section 3.1-1 through 3.2-6 located under Student Resources.

 

The Dental Hygiene Department requires a copy of your official immunization records. If you are current with the immunizations listed below, once you are accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program please drop off or mail a copy of that record. If you are not current on these immunizations you must become current as dictated by law. Please note that self-declared immunization or immunizations submitted on a questionnaire or medical physical form cannot be utilized.
Once accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program or if you are already a student at MSU please check with the MSU Vinson Health Center to verify your status. Some vaccines are available for a small charge at the Vinson Health Center for faculty, staff and students.

Telephone: 940-397-4231
Fax: 940-397-4504
Email: vinson@msutexas.edu

To comply with the Texas Administrative Code '97.61-97.77 all students enrolled in health-related courses that will involve direct patient contact, must be compliant with state-mandated immunizations. The following are State and MSU Dental Hygiene Program requirements.

 

Students can be considered compliant only if they have documentation of the following:

1. Official documentation of immunization

 

Students can be considered compliant for Hepatitis B only if they have documentation of BOTH at least one of the following:

1. Official documentation of immunization with THREE (3) DOSES of Hepatitis B vaccine in accordance  with the    CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, prior to the start of direct patient
2. Laboratory (serologic) evidence of Hepatitis B immunity.

NOTE: HEPATITIS B Series MUST be completed prior to direct patient care. Therefore, dental hygiene students MUST have completed the vaccine series by the end of November their first semester in the program. To comply with this state requirement students MUST begin the series no later than October 1ST of the year they begin the program.

 

Students can be considered compliant for Tetanus/Diphtheria only if they have documentation of the following:

1. Official documentation of immunization with adult-type Tetanus/Diphtheria vaccine (Td) in the last 10 yrs OR the T-dap injection (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis)

 

Persons born on or after Jan 1, 1957 can be considered compliant if they have documentation of one of the following:

1. Official documentation of immunization with TWO (2) DOSES of live Measles virus on or after the first birthday and at least 28 days apart. Persons vaccinated prior to 1968 must be revaccinated.
2. Laboratory (serologic) evidence of Measles immunity.

 

Students can be considered compliant for Rubella only if they have documentation of one of the following:

1. Official documentation of immunization with live Rubella virus vaccine on or after the first birthday.
2. Laboratory (serologic) evidence of Rubella immunity.

 

Persons born on or after Jan 1, 1957 can be considered compliant only if they have documentation of one of the following:

1. Official documentation of immunization with live Mumps virus on or after the first birthday.
2. Laboratory (serologic) evidence of Measles immunity.

 

Students can be considered compliant for Varicella only if they have documentation of the following:

1. Official documentation of two doses of varicella vaccine, administered on or after the first birthday if given after 13 years of age.
2. Laboratory (serologic) titer documenting evidence of Varicella immunity.
3. A written, dated statement documenting the month/day/year of varicella (chickenpox) illness validated by physician, the student’s parent or school nurse.

Please Note: Specific wording is required. Forms are available in the Vinson Health Center.

 

Students can be considered compliant for Tuberculin testing only if they have documentation of at least one of the following (REQUIRED ANNUALLY):

1. Official documentation of negative Mantoux skin test.
2. Persons with a positive TST result must provide official documentation of a negative chest x-ray report AND a complete health care evaluation verifying a negative status for tuberculosis.