Associate in Applied Science Degree
DENTAL HYGIENE
The Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene degree prepares students to provide direct patient care in the detection and prevention of oral diseases under the supervision of a dentist, as required by law. The dental hygienist’s major role is as an educator and includes designing dental hygiene treatment and education for patients on an individual basis. Graduates of this program will be qualified to evaluate patient medical histories, take and record blood pressure, chart conditions of periodontal disease and decay for diagnosis by the dentist, conduct oral-cancer screening examinations, educate the patient on the latest techniques of oral home care, and perform a thorough cleaning of the patients’ teeth. A dental hygienist is also qualified to apply sealants and fluoride for the prevention of decay, to expose and develop radiographs, and to provide nutritional counseling for dental patients.
Students in the Dental Hygiene program receive their education in a state-of-the-art Dental Clinic on the GMAX Hands-On Hygiene Schools
campus/dental office, under the direct supervision of licensed dentists and hygienists. Graduates are eligible to take national and state board examinations. After successful completion of these examinations, graduates will be licensed and recognized as a Registered Dental Hygienist.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Specific Admission Requirements for Program
Applicants will be accepted into the Dental Hygiene program by completing a weighted admission form. Students with the highest scores will receive admission to the program. A waiting list of applicants will not be maintained for future admission. An applicant who is not admitted to the program must resubmit the Dental Hygiene Application by the program application deadline date to be considered for admission to the next available class. The Program Admissions Application form is available on the Dental Hygiene Academic Page.
• Criminal Background Check prior to acceptance and repeated annually. Felony or misdemeanor convictions could result in applicants and/or students being ineligible for licensure following completion of the program.
• Urine Drug Screening prior to acceptance and repeated annually.
• Submit a Health Sciences Division Student Health Record Form indicating the candidate has the ability to perform the physical tasks required in the program prior to second semester
• Complete the Dental Hygiene Checklist for Admissions.
• Complete 15 hours of clinical observation observing a practicing dental hygienist in a private dental office. Forms must be completed by the supervising dentist/dental hygienist verifying observations. Forms must be sent to the Office of Admissions upon completion of observation hours.
• Proof of CPR certification for Health Care Providers prior to and throughout curriculum
• Review and acknowledge the Technical Standards of the Dental Sciences Department
• Completion of the four prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher and a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher: BIO 210 Anatomy and Physiology I, CHM 105 General, Organic and Biochemistry, MAT 101 Beginning Algebra, and ENG 101 English Composition I. Some of these courses may have time limits, so please refer to the transfer credit limit section in the catalog.
• May not have more than two unsuccessful attempts in identified general education courses.
• Payment of a non-refundable tuition deposit.
• All applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission to the program.
Course Sequence and Progression Requirements
A minimum grade of “C” or better is required for all DHG-prefixed courses for progression and graduation. Grades below “C” are considered course failures. Failure of one Dental Hygiene course will result in the student being dropped from the curriculum with eligibility for readmission the next time the course is offered. Readmission will be on a space available basis and the student will also be required to meet all admission requirements for readmission. The Dental Hygiene Program does not currently accept advanced placement students. All courses with a DHG prefix, as well as AHS 113, are reserved for Dental Hygiene majors. If possible, students are strongly encouraged to complete BIO 211 and BIO 225 prior to enrollment in the dental hygiene program. Other corequisite courses such as SPC 205, PSY 201, SOC 101, and other Humanities may also be completed prior to enrollment in the dental hygiene program.
Curriculum Sequence
First Semester - Fall
Credit Hours
AHS 113
BIO 211
BIO 225
DHG 125
Course Title
Head and Neck Anatomy
Anatomy and Physiology II
Microbiology
Tooth Morphology and
Semester
1
4
4
2
Histology
DHG 151
Dental Hygiene Principles
TOTAL
5
16
Second Semester - Spring
DHG 121
DHG 141
DHG 165
DHG 243
SPC 205
Dental Radiography
Periodontology
Clinical Dental Hygiene I
Nutrition and Dental Health
Public Speaking
TOTAL
3
2
5
2
3
15
Third Semester - Summer
DHG 175
DHG 239
Clinical Dental Hygiene II
Dental Assisting for Dental
5
2
Hygienists
PSY 201
General Psychology
TOTAL
3
10
Fourth Semester - Fall
DHG 140
DHG 143
DHG 230
DHG 241
DHG 255
General and Oral Pathology
Dental Pharmacology
Public Health Dentistry
Integrated Dental Hygiene I
Clinical Dental Hygiene III
TOTAL
2
2
3
1
5
13
Fifth Semester - Spring
DHG 242
DHG 265
SOC 101
Humanities**
Integrated Dental Hygiene II
Clinical Dental Hygiene IV
Introduction to Sociology
3
TOTAL
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS
1
5
3
12
80
*Students interested in transferring to a senior institution to complete a bachelor’s degree may elect to take the following courses: MAT 110 in lieu of MAT 101 and CHM 110 in lieu of CHM 105. Please note that BIO 210 has a prerequisite of BIO 112, BIO 101 or CHM 110. It is the responsibility of students who plan to transfer to verify the transferability of credits and other transfer issues with the receiving institution prior to enrolling in classes at HGTC.
**Humanities: ART 101, HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 201, HIS 202, PHI 101, PHI 110, MUS 105.