Dental Hygiene, AAS
A key member of the professional dental team, the licensed dental hygienist is on the "front line" of patient care, responsible for providing educational, clinical and therapeutic services that promote total health through good oral health. The growing public awareness of the benefits of oral health, combined with the growth of corporate dental plans, has significantly increased the demand for dental care and has made dental hygiene one of the country's fastest-growing careers. Employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow faster than average through 2018. Competitive salaries and flexible work schedules are added benefits. Students in JCCC's dental hygiene program prepare for careers as preventive dental professionals who have a choice of working in a variety of settings. Upon successful completion of licensure requirements and board examinations, graduates get jobs in school systems, nursing homes and dental supply firms, as well as private dental offices.
Fully accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, this 80-credit-hour program requires four semesters and one summer session of full-time study. Successful completion leads to an associate of applied science degree. All dental hygiene students gain important practical experience working in JCCC's state-of-the-art clinical facility under the supervision of licensed dental hygienists and dentists.
For more information about the career paths of the dental hygiene professional, see the American Dental Hygiene Association website.
Enrollment is limited. The deadline for fall semester applications is December 1st. Fall course transcripts are due January 15th. For an application, call the dental hygiene program at 913-469-3808 or download a copy by visiting Dental Hygiene Application Process.
(Major Code 223A; State CIP Code 51.0602)
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Before Beginning Clinical Courses
ENGL 121 | Composition I* | 3 |
PSYC 130 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
CHEM 122 | Principles of Chemistry* (CHEM 122 must be taken prior to BIOL 230 and BIOL 231) | 5 |
BIOL 140 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 230 & BIOL 231 | Microbiology* and Microbiology Lab* | 5 |
Total Hours | 20 |
Note: CHEM 122 or BIOL 140 or BIOL 230 and BIOL 231 and either ENGL 121 or PSYC 130 must be completed by the end of the fall semester.
Note: Transcripts from the fall semester are due January 15. The application deadline is December 1.
Fall Semester
DHYG 121 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I: Pre-Clinic* | 5 |
DHYG 125 | Developmental Dentistry* | 2 |
DHYG 135 | Dental Materials* | 2 |
DHYG 138 | Head and Neck Anatomy* | 2 |
SOC 122 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Total Hours | 14 |
Spring Semester
DHYG 140 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II* | 4 |
DHYG 142 | Dental Radiography* | 2 |
DHYG 146 | Periodontics* | 3 |
DHYG 148 | Dental Health Education* | 2 |
BIOL 225 | Human Physiology* | 4 |
Total Hours | 15 |
Summer Semester
BIOL 235 | General Nutrition* | 3 |
Humanities Elective ^ | 3 | |
Total Hours | 6 |
^ |
Fall Semester
DHYG 221 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III* | 6 |
DHYG 225 | General and Oral Pathology* | 3 |
DHYG 230 | Dental Therapeutics* | 3 |
DHYG 240 | Dental Public Health* | 2 |
Total Hours | 14 |
Spring Semester
DHYG 245 | Nitrous Oxide Analgesia* | 1 |
DHYG 250 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV* | 6 |
SPD 120 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
or SPD 121 | Public Speaking | |
or SPD 125 | Personal Communication | |
Elective | 1 | |
Total Hours | 11 |
Total Program Hours: 80