Dental Hygiene Associate in Applied Science
Program Description
Dental Hygiene is an allied health program that emphasizes the prevention of oral health disease. The program prepares the individual to be a dental hygienist. The primary functions of the clinical dental hygienist are assessing the patients’ overall health, formulating evidence-based patient-centered treatment care plans, and performing the clinical procedures outlined in the individual treatment care plans. Additional roles of the dental hygienist include the participation in community health programs, research, sales, and education. The dental hygiene student will perform procedures that include, but are not limited to, exposing radiographs, applying caries-preventive agents, providing oral health education, administrating local anesthetics and antimicrobial agents, and performing oral prophylaxis, periodontal therapy, and risk assessments. The graduate will receive an Associate Degree in Applied Science and will be eligible to take national, regional, and state licensing examinations.
Mission Statement
The primary mission of the Greenville Technical College Dental Hygiene program is to promote oral health in a culturally sensitive manner through education, community service, and preventive patient care. Graduates are expected to assume responsibility for continued personal and professional growth and to enhance knowledge and skills through continued education and lifelong learning.
Entrance Requirements
High school diploma or GED
See “Program Requirements” Section for additional requirements.
Type of Program
The program is designed as a One-Plus-One program. Phase I includes most of the general education and related course work and may be completed at Greenville Tech or at any articulating college. Upon successful completion of all Phase I courses, qualified students are eligible to apply to Phase II, which includes all of the dental hygiene course work. Applications for Phase II must be submitted no later than May 1st. Students are selected based on weighted admission criteria.
- Phase I: Day, night
- Phase II: Day
Location
- Phase II is located at Greenville Tech’s Barton Campus.
Employment Opportunities
- Dental offices, public health departments, sales, education, and research.
Professional Credentials
- Graduates are eligible to sit for the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam and a State or Regional licensure exam and credentialed as a Registered Dental Hygienist (subject to passing the National Board and State or Regional licensure exam).
Program Accreditation
The Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association
Visit our web page at https://www.gvltec.edu/dental/.
Phase I Admission Requirements:
- Must meet college admission requirements.
Phase II Admission Requirements:
- Meet all requirements for Phase I.
- Complete a Career Talk session for the major within a year prior to being accepted into Phase II.
- Complete a weighted admissions form by the designated date. Students are selected based on a “weighted admissions policy” and space availability.
- Attain a minimum technical GPA of 3.0 in all Phase I courses.
- All Phase I courses must be passed with a minimum grade of “C” on the first or second attempt. Some BIO prefix courses may not be more than five years old.
Once Accepted into Phase II:
- Submit a physical exam form (see details in the School of Health Sciences admissions requirements).
- Submit proof of current American Heart Association Health Care Providers course in CPR.
- Submit an acceptable criminal background check and a negative drug screen before beginning the clinical phase.
- Be prepared to purchase required supplies, instruments, and uniforms.
Listed below is the ideal grouping of courses in order by semester. This plan assumes a full-time schedule for the Dental Hygiene program. Many variables can affect this plan and not every course is offered every semester. Please see your advisor to map out your own personalized progression toward graduation.
Note: Please contact your advisor for recommended evening schedules.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MAT 120 | Probability and Statistics 1 | 3 |
| BIO 210 | Anatomy & Physiology I 1 | 4 |
| CHM 105 | General Organic & Biochemistry 1 | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I 1 | 3 |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIO 225 | Microbiology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 211 | Anatomy & Physiology II 1 | 4 |
| PSY 201 | General Psychology 1 | 3 |
| SPC 205 | Public Speaking 1 | 3 |
| Phase II (Requires acceptance into the program.) | ||
| Third Semester | ||
| AHS 113 | Head & Neck Anatomy | 1 |
| DHG 115 | Medical & Dental Emergencies | 2 |
| DHG 121 | Dental Radiography | 3 |
| DHG 125 | Tooth Morphology & Histology | 2 |
| DHG 161 | Clinical DHG I Foundation | 4 |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| DHG 122 | Office Management for Dental Hygienist | 2 |
| DHG 141 | Periodontology | 2 |
| DHG 143 | Dental Pharmacology | 2 |
| DHG 165 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 5 |
| DHG 244 | Dental Materials | 3 |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| DHG 140 | General & Oral Pathology | 2 |
| DHG 175 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 5 |
| DHG 241 | Integrated Dental Hygiene I | 1 |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| DHG 232 | Community Oral Health Outreach | 2 |
| DHG 255 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| BIO 240 | Nutrition 2 | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology 2 | 3 |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| DHG 242 | Integrated Dental Hygiene II | 1 |
| DHG 265 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 5 |
| HSS 295 | Leadership Through the Humanities 2 | 3 |
| or PHI 110 | Ethics | |
| Total Required Credit Hours | 84 | |
- 1
General education course - students must take prior to acceptance to Phase II.
- 2
Denotes general education classes that may be taken during or prior to the beginning of Phase II. Most successful candidates take these classes while they are taking Phase I to gain the points associated with the grades earned in those classes.