Dental Hygiene Program Details

The Dental Hygiene curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for positions in general and specialty dental offices, hospitals, schools, public health agencies and industrial agencies.

Students are trained in educational methods and preventive clinical services which qualify them as dental health educators and competent clinicians. Emphasis is placed on the correlation between prevention, education, and the clinical phases of dental hygiene practice as well as basic and social sciences.

Handouts

• Program information brief and entry requirements
• Application for admission is completed online
• Catalog is accessed online
• Resource contact information
• Clinic information brochure
• Dental Hygiene Skills guide
• Bloodborne pathogens exposure plan*

Our program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association.  The CODA is a specialized body recognized by the UD Department of Education.  This Commission invites your comments regarding this program and can be contacted at (312)440-4653 or at 211 E. Chicago Ave; Chicago, IL  60611

1. Complete an application for admission.
2. Attend a Dental Hygiene program information session.
3. Provide proof of high school graduation or GED completion.
4. Complete required ACCUPLACER Next Gen testing, obtaining satisfactory scores in Reading (248 or above) and Writing (254 or above) or ACT scores in Reading (19 or above) and English (19 or above).
5. Complete BIO 164 - Essentials Anatomy/Physiology OR BOTH BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I AND BIO 173 Anatomy and Physiology II with a grade of “C” (not C-) or better. **BIO 168  Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in BIO 157 or a grade of "C" or better in BIO 104 or a grade of "C" or better in BIO 112 or a "C" or better in high school Anatomy within the last five years. **BIO 173 Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in BIO 168 - Anatomy & Physiology I
6. Complete CHM 122 - Intro to General Chemistry  with a grade of “C” (not C-) or better. NOTE: The course has a prerequisite that can be satisfied through ALEKS, SAT, or ACT testing.
7. Complete BIO 186 - Microbiology with a grade of “C” (not C-) or better.

When transferring equivalent courses to DMACC, an official transcript must be sent to the Admissions Office as courses are completed.​

After completing the Program Entry Requirements, your name will be added to a Standby List until a position in the program becomes available.

While on the Standby list, you should take the following courses. Your position on the standby list will be determined by the number of support courses completed:

• CHM 132 Intro to Organic and Biochemistry
• ENG 105 Composition I
• SPC 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication OR SPC 122 Interpersonal Communication
• PSY 111 Intro to Psychology
• SOC 110 Intro to Sociology

Taking the liberal arts courses will reduce your course load once you are admitted to the program and will give you more time to devote to your Dental Hygiene courses.​

Position of the Standby List will be determined by the number of support courses completed: ​

• CHM 132 - Intro to Organic/Biochemistry
• PSY 111 - Introduction to Psychology
• SOC 110 - Introduction to Sociology
• ENG 105 - Composition I
• SPC 101 - Fund of Oral Communication OR SPC 122 - Interpersonal Communication

When there is no completion of any remaining support courses for three years from the date the student’s name ​went on the Standby List, the applicant will be deleted from the list.

Wait List

• CHM 132 - Intro to Organic/Biochemistry
• PSY 111 - Introduction to Psychology
• SOC 110 - Introduction to Sociology
• ENG 105 - Composition I
• SPC 101 - Fund of Oral Communication OR SPC 122 - Interpersonal Communication ​

When there is no completion of any remaining support courses for three years from the date the student’s name went on the Wait List, the applicant will be deleted from the list.

Semester 1- Fall

• CPR Certification
• CHM 132 - Intro to Organic/Biochemistry Credits: 4
• DHY 170 - Principles of Dental Hygiene Credits: 2
• DHY 171 - Principles of Dental Hyg Pract Credits: 3
• DHY 121 - Oral Histology & Embryology Credits: 2
• DHY 114 - Dental Anatomical Sciences Credits: 4
• DHY 161 - Oral Radiology Credits: 3

Semester 2- Spring

• DHY 141 - General & Oral Pathology Credits: 3
• DHY 181 - Dental Hygiene I Credits: 2
• DHY 182 - Clinical Dental Hygiene I Credits: 4
• DHY 230 - Oral Health Nutrition Credits: 2
• ENG 105 - Composition I Credits: 3

Semester 3- Summer

• DHY 281 - Dental Hygiene II Credits: 2
• DHY 282 - Clinical Dental Hygiene II Credits: 2
• DHY 211 - Periodontology Credits: 2
• DHY 133 - Pharmacology Credits: 3
• PSY 111 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 3

Semester 4- Fall

• DHY 221 - Dental Materials Credits: 2
• DHY 223 - Dental Materials Lab Credits: 1
• DHY 261 - Dental Health Education Credits: 3
• DHY 291 - Dental Hygiene III Credits: 2
• DHY 292 - Clinical Dental Hygiene III Credits: 5
• SOC 110 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3

Semester 5- Spring

• DHY 251 - Community Oral Health Credits: 3
• DHY 301 - Dental Hygiene IV Credits: 2
• DHY 302 - Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Credits: 5
• Option 1 - Select 1 Course
  • SPC 101 - Fund of Oral Communication Credits: 3
  • SPC 122 - Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3

Fixed Costs

Tuition: $193. 00 per credit hour

The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change.

Approximate total for the program: $22,432*

* Program entry requirements are not included in the total approximate cost.

Be financially prepared!!!!

Varied Costs

 

• Job shadowing Required
• Collect data, organize information, and develop patient care plan for dental hygiene services.
• Counsel patients in areas of prevention and treatment of oral diseases.
• Provide direct patient services such as removal of stains and deposits from teeth, radiographs, fluoride, sealants and local anesthetic administration under the supervision of a dentist.
• Keep accurate patient records.
• Design and implement dental health education programs in community settings.
• Provide oral health education and preventive care in public healthcare settings

• Participate in continuing education activities to promote lifelong learning.
• Use empathy and understanding when relating to people with varied socioeconomic backgrounds and health status.
• Make decisions and work cooperatively with members of the dental team and allied health community.
• Demonstrate leadership skills through student organizations and professional association activities.
• Communicate effectively with persons of diverse backgrounds in a variety of treatment settings.
• Ability to be a self-starter and initiate and complete tasks under general supervision.
•  Basic computer skills.

• Centers for Disease Control and the Healthcare Infection Control Advisory Committee’s Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care settings-2003 is applied in all aspects of delivery of care and is available upon request.
• Background Checks are a requirement of DMACC and State of Iowa for Dental Hygiene Registration.​
• Medical/Dental examinations and immunizations are required.
• Students should not work more than 16 hours per week, as homework and required activities are demanding.
• Plan ahead to avoid conflicts between personal responsibilities and program demands. A support system is essential.
• Current CPR certification is required prior to program entry and must be maintained for the remainder of the program. (American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers program or Red Cross for Professional Rescuer.)
• Mandatory Reporter Training for Adult and Child is needed prior to program entry.
• Baccalaureate degree completion in dental hygiene is available at four-year colleges that offer dental hygiene completion and accept DMACC transfer credit.
• Applicants for licensure are asked if they have ever been charged, convicted, found guilty of, or entered a plea of guilty or no contest to a felony or misdemeanor crime. A prior criminal history, activity or record can be grounds for license or registration denial. Also, habitual use of drugs or intoxicants, or habitual intoxication or addiction to drugs can also be grounds for license or registration denial.
• Average salary for a dental hygienist is $77,000 per year with an average wage per hour of $37.06. *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021

• To earn a Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree, a student must successfully complete all dental hygiene and liberal arts support courses required in the curriculum, achieving a grade of “C” (not C-) or better in each course. In order to progress to the next semester of the Dental Hygiene program, all required courses in the current semester must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.  
• 86 credit hours total
• Licensing Requirements in IOWA
  • Graduate from an accredited institution
  • Pass the Jurisprudence exam
  • Pass the National Board (computerized 250 question exam accepted for 5 years)
  • Pass a Regional Clinical Board.  We train for the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) exam.