Health Professions AAS – Dental Hygiene Program

Code: AAS.HP.DENTL

The Dental Hygiene Program prepares graduates to perform competently in providing preventive oral care. The program incorporates didactic, clinical, technological, and laboratory teaching approaches throughout the curriculum. The dental hygiene curriculum is a challenging one that provides a “hands-on” approach and incorporates a variety of educational experiences and environments from the traditional classroom to the laboratory and the on-campus clinic. The dental hygiene clinic is open to anyone seeking preventative oral health care.

Program Length: 24 months; Preadmission Test: Dental Hygiene Admissions Exam; GPA for admissions eligibility: 2.50

High school applicants must attain the age of 18 by the first day of the first semester of the program.

High School prerequisite courses: Chemistry, with lab; Biology, with lab; Algebra. College requirements: BIO-109, CHM-112, and MAT-040 (if indicated by Placement Testing). Application Deadline: February 1; Program Admits: Fall semester

Eligible candidates are invited to sit for the Dental Hygiene Admissions Examination.

If a high school student is going to apply to the DHY program, they must complete CHM-112, College Chemistry, before the application deadline, Feb 1. A junior or senior high school student, 16 years of age or older, may apply for the College Experience, with their guidance counselor's or principal's permission/endorsement. Then they can register for CHM-112 during the fall semester and successfully complete prior to the application deadline.

All core DHY courses MUST be taken in sequential order within the Bergen Community College Dental Hygiene Program. NO DHY courses may be transferred or taken at any other dental hygiene program. All core DHY courses are co-requisites for each other during every semester of the dental hygiene program.

The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation;

Program Learning Outcomes

• Apply a professional code of ethics in all endeavors
• Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations, and regulations in the provision of dental hygiene care.
• Use critical thinking skills and comprehensive problem-solving to identify oral health care strategies that promote patient health and wellness.
• Use evidence based decision making to evaluate emerging technology and treatment modalities into patient care plans to achieve high-quality, cost-effective care.
• Assume responsibility for dental hygiene actions and care based on accepted scientific theories and research as well as the accepted standard of care.
• Continuously perform self-assessment for lifelong learning and professional growth.
• Integrate accepted scientific theories and research into educational, preventive, and therapeutic oral health services.
• Promote the values of the dental hygiene profession through service-based activities and community affiliations.
• Apply quality assurance mechanisms to ensure continuous commitment to accepted standards of care.
• Communicate effectively with diverse individuals and groups, serving all persons without discrimination.

• Record accurate, consistent, and complete documentation of oral health services provided.
• Initiate a collaborative approach with all patients when developing individualized care plans that are specialized, comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and acceptable to all parties involved in care planning.
• Initiate consultations and collaborations with all relevant health care providers to facilitate optimal treatments.
• Manage medical emergencies by using professional judgment, providing life support, and utilizing required CPR and any specialized training and knowledge.

Total Credit Hours: 66

Specific Program Notes

Students are encouraged to take their courses in semester sequence order.

Please note that required courses may have prerequisites. Click on each course to view details.

*General Education Course List.

The Basic Skills requirements must be completed and all Developmental English and Developmental Math courses must be completed PRIOR to the application deadline, February 1.