Associate of Science - Dental Hygiene

Students completing the program will be able to... • Synthesize knowledge from all branches of learning to provide preventative, educational, collaborative, and therapeutic dental hygiene care for individuals and groups in a variety of settings. • Develop a desire and ability to provide dental hygiene care applying the highest morale, ethical and legal principals including those outlined by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the American Dental Association. • Function in the professional dental hygiene roles of the clinician, health promoter/educator and change agent. • Develop and maintain professional competence founded in evidence based decision-making and continued education while promoting personal and professional growth. • Promote client and community satisfaction with the quality of the dental hygiene education and care process provided by the program.

The dental hygiene curriculum requires two consecutive academic years including Summer. The program includes classroom, clinical, and laboratory instruction as well as hands-on experience providing dental hygiene services in the DVC Dental Programs Community Clinic. The dental hygiene program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and approved by the Dental Hygiene Board of California (DHBC).

Entrance into the dental hygiene program is highly competitive with enrollment limited to 20 students. To be eligible, students must complete the specified prerequisite courses prior to submitting an application. Applications for acceptance to the dental hygiene program are generally accepted in January through mid-February for entrance during the following summer term.

Once accepted into the program, students must pass the orientation course DENHY-101 and submit the following to the Dental Programs Department by the beginning of fall classes: (1) CPR/BLS certification for Health Care Providers; (2) current immunizations/titers; (3) proof of satisfactory tuberculosis (TB) screening; (4) current physical examination; (5) passing background check; and (6) passing certified drug test. Students must achieve a “C” grade or higher in each course used to meet program requirements. The dental hygiene program classes are taught during the day; however, the general education and prerequisite courses may be offered in the evening. For more information and an application packet visit the DVC dental hygiene website.