Dental Hygiene in the HCC Catalog

DENTAL HYGIENE
Associate Degree in Applied Science
(A45260)
Curriculum Description:
The Dental Hygiene curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge and skills
to access, plan, implement, and evaluate dental hygiene care for the individual
and the community. Students will learn to prepare the operatory, take patient
histories, note abnormalities, plan care, teach oral hygiene, clean teeth, take xrays,
apply preventive agents, complete necessary chart entries, and perform
other procedures related to dental hygiene care. Graduates of this program may
be eligible to take national and state/regional examinations for licensure which
are required to practice dental hygiene.
Employment opportunities include dental offices, clinics, schools, public health
agencies, industry, and professional education.

Achievement of competence in the following basic skills courses must be met:

Reading Level Reading and Writing Skills Math Skills
12 ENG 095, ENG 095A MAT 070

Course Requirements
First Year
Fall Semester
DEN 110 Orofacial Anatomy 3
DEN 111 Infection/Hazard Control 2
DEN 112 Dental Radigraphy 3
DEN 120 Dental Hygiene Preclinic Lecture 2
DEN 121 Dental Hygiene Preclinic Lab 2
BIO 168* Anatomy and Physiology I 4
ACA 118 College Study Skills 2
Credit Hours: 18
Spring Semester
DEN 123 Nutrition/Dental Health 2
DEN 125 Dental Office Emergencies 1
DEN 130 Dental Hygiene Theory I 2
DEN 131 Dental Hygiene Clinic I 3
DEN 222 General and Oral Pathology 2
CHM 130* General, Organic, & Bio Chemistry 3
CIS 113 Computer Basics 1
BIO 169* Anatomy and Physilogy II 4
Credit Hours: 18
Summer Semester
DEN 140 Dental Hygiene Theory II 1
DEN 141 Dental Hygiene Clinic II 2
BIO 175* Genral Microbiology 3
ENG 111 Expository Writing 3
Credit Hours: 9
Second Year
Fall Semester
DEN 220 Dental Hygiene Theory III 2
DEN 221 Dental Hygiene Clinic III 4
DEN 124 Periodontology 2
DEN 223 Dental Pharmacology 2
DEN 224 Materials and Procedures 2
SOC 240 Social Psychology 3
Credit Hours: 15
Spring Semester
DEN 230 Dental Hygiene Theory IV 1
DEN 231 Dental Hygiene Clinic IV 4
DEN 232 Community Dental Health 3
DEN 233 Professional Development 2
ENG 114 Professional Research and Reporting 3
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective 3
Credit Hours: 16
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS:

While courses identified by the DEN prefix may not be taken prior to official admission into the Dental Hygiene Program, it is advantageous to take General Education courses that are part of the Dental Hygiene Course Sequence prior to enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program. Within the General Education courses listed below there are four Technical Core Courses (marked with *). These courses must have been taken no earlier than 5 years prior to enrollment in the Dental Hygiene Program.

General Education Courses: