The Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree program prepares students for licensure through two academic years of coursework after successful completion of all prerequisite courses. Students must successfully complete all 68 hours of coursework.
Dental hygiene curriculum consists of simultaneous didactic and clinical education in four 16-week semesters (fall and spring) and one four-week summer session.
If your ultimate goal is to receive a bachelor's degree, please consider our
dual enrollment program with Texas Women's University.
Schedule
Classes meet Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patient contact begins the first semester of the program. Part-time, evening, weekend and distance learning are not available.
All classes and clinical experiences occur at the Dallas College Downtown Health Sciences Center.
Program Cost
The dental hygiene program strives to keep student costs as low as possible. Visit the Program Cost webpage for a breakdown of tuition, supplies, books and more.
Student Requirements
All clinical requirements are met at the on-site dental hygiene clinic at the Dallas College Downtown Health Sciences Center, fifth floor.
- Students do not have to rotate off-site to gain their clinical requirements.
- Student clinical schedules are maintained by the front desk staff of the dental hygiene clinic.
- The clinic does not charge patients for any services provided.
- Dallas College provides over $1 million a year in free dental hygiene services.
The dental hygiene clinic was built in 2021 with state-of-the-art equipment including:
- Digital radiography
- Digital scanners
- Dental lasers
- Intraoral cameras
- Fully integrated electronic records
Candidates for the Dental Hygiene Program must be able to perform the essential functions required by industry standards of care.
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Cognitive functions: A dental hygienist has the ability to solve problems, retain knowledge, read complex material, analyze learning materials, synthesize new information and apply learned knowledge using reasoning and critical thinking.
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Sensory and motor skills: A dental hygienist operates in a clinical environment that requires sitting, standing and working with repetitive movements. Physical stamina, strong dexterity abilities and sufficient vision, smell and hearing are demanded of the role. Industry standards require a dental hygienist to render general routine and emergency care to patients. Students must possess fine and gross motor skills to work in the small environment of the mouth, manipulate dental tools and equipment, and perform patient assessment maneuvers such as percussion, palpitation and auscultation appropriately in patient care. Students must be able to perform all classroom, laboratory and clinical demands and tolerate physically taxing workloads.
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Communication skills: A dental hygienist educates patients on good oral health practices. Dental hygiene education requires students to communicate with Dallas College employees, patients and their peers professionally, respectfully and maturely. Students need the ability to exercise good judgment, demonstrate emotional health and intelligence, and communicate with cultural sensitivity and social awareness.
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Behavioral skills: A dental hygienist responds appropriately to stressful and unpredictable circumstances surrounding patient care. They are skilled at working with patients who are afraid of coming to the dental office. A dental hygienist operates with high ethical standards, professional behavior, and adheres to all rules and regulations for health care providers.
Bloodborne Pathogens and Communicable Diseases
- Dallas College Dental Hygiene Program adheres to established infection prevention standards related to the transmission of bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases. Full policy can be found in the dental hygiene admission packet and is available upon request.
Successful completion of a course requires a grade of 75% or better.
How to Apply
To apply to the Dental Hygiene program, candidates fill out the Dental Hygiene Application Form. There is no application fee. The deadline for submissions is late February. The information packet provides:
- Selection process
- Prerequisite requirements
- Transcript information
- Pre-entrance examination requirements
- Immunization, BLS with AED, physical examination, health insurance, background check and drug screening requirements
The quality of a candidate’s application, their previous academic performance and entrance examination results are prime considerations for admission.
A point system, found in the application packet, is used for admissions that weighs the following:
- Previous college course work and degrees.
- College cumulative, science and prerequisite GPA.
- High school GPA.
- Entrance examination score.
- Observation hours with a licensed dental hygienist in any state.
Degree Advancement
Dallas College has partnered with Texas Women’s University (TWU) to offer a dual enrollment program open to all accepted Dallas College dental hygiene students. The program allows students to complete their associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Students will be enrolled in both colleges simultaneously.
Students must be organized with strong study and time management skills to be successful in the dual enrollment program. For more information contact Professor Amy Teague, Dental Hygiene Dual Enrollment Program Liaison at ATeague@TWU.edu.
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