Dental Hygiene (AAS)
Associate of Applied Science
Career-Technical Program
Interest Areas:
- Healthcare
The Dental Hygiene program prepares students for entry into the dental hygiene profession as licensed clinicians (Registered Dental Hygienist-RDH). Dental Hygienists provide preventive, therapeutic, restorative, and procedures to control oral disease and promote optimal oral health. The Dental Hygiene program includes instruction in dental anatomy, microbiology, and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counseling; and office management and professional standards. Clinical education experiences are integrated throughout the curriculum and offer students the opportunity to gain competency through practice each semester.
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination (NBDHE), and the regional and/or state clinical and local anesthesia examinations. Applicants are encouraged to contact the State Board of Dentistry in the states in which they wish to practice for individual licensing requirements.
Dental Hygiene is a competitive entry program. Students are admitted to the program every other year. The prerequisite course requirements are open to all students. The AAS degree may be obtained in a 24-month course of study following acceptance to the program. A minimum grade point average of B or 3.0 is required in all DENT courses, which includes BIOL-207 and PHAR-150.
Contact Information:
Health Professions Division
Meyer Health and Sciences Building, Room 167
Phone: (208) 625-2320
Program Requirements
Note: A minimum grade of C+ / 2.3 is required in all prerequisite courses. A minimum grade of B / 3.0 is required in all DENT courses, BIOL-207 and PHAR-150.
| Prerequisites | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| BACT-250 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL-227 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| CHEM-102 | Essentials of Organic and Biochemistry | 4 |
| COMM-101 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| ENGL-101 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| PSYC-101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC-101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| GEM 3 - Mathematical Ways of Knowing | 3-5 | |
| Credits | 27-29 | |
| Semester 1 | ||
| DENT-100 | Dental Hygiene Pre-Clinic | 3 |
| DENT-110 | Head, Neck, Oral, and Dental Anatomy | 4 |
| DENT-115 | Oral Health Education | 2 |
| DENT-120 | Oral Radiography | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| DENT-125 | Embryology, Histology, and Morphology | 2 |
| DENT-130 | Periodontology I | 2 |
| DENT-150 | Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 3 |
| DENT-151 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 3 |
| PHAR-150 | Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| DENT-200 | Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 4 |
| DENT-201 | Dental Hygiene Theory II | 1 |
| DENT-215 | Oral Pathology/Immunology | 2 |
| DENT-230 | Periodontology II | 2 |
| DENT-235 | Pain Management | 3 |
| BIOL-207 | Concepts in Human Nutrition | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| DENT-240 | Community Dental Health | 3 |
| DENT-245 | Advanced Instrumentation | 1 |
| DENT-250 | Dental Hygiene Clinic III | 4 |
| DENT-260 | Dental Materials | 3 |
| DENT-270 | Dental Hygiene Review/Ethics and Law | 2 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 80-82 | |
Course Key
- GEM
- AAS Institutionally Designated
-
- Gateway
-
- Milestone
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Apply principles of ethical reasoning, decision-making and professional responsibility in the provision and support of evidence-based oral health care services, research, patient care and practice management.
- Demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving and self-evaluation in the provision of comprehensive care, patient management strategies, and professional competence development.
- Plan educational strategies and clinical services for individuals with periodontal diseases using appropriate interpersonal communication, comprehensive data collection, and knowledge of periodontal conditions and therapies.
- Access, critically appraise, apply and communicate evidence-based practices for all periodontal classifications within diverse patient populations.
- Demonstrate interpersonal communication and collaborative skills to effectively interact with diverse population groups, health care providers, dental professionals, and community groups.
- Apply refined instrumentation skills for periodontal, restorative and therapeutic interventions for individuals at all stages of life.
- Apply behavioral sciences and patient centered approaches to promote, improve and maintain oral health.
- Use assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation for the provision of dental hygiene services and disease prevention strategies within diverse, multicultural and special needs populations, and community groups.
- Demonstrate use of mathematical and statistical concepts in the application of clinical and preventative dental care strategies.
- Use appropriate library and information resources to research professional issues, develop community health program planning and to support lifelong learning.
In addition to the program outcomes, students will meet the following North Idaho College General Education (GEM) Requirements: Written and Oral Communication; Mathematical Ways of Knowing; Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing; and an additional program-designated or selected course from any of the GEM requirements.