Program Overview

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Summary

The Dental Hygiene Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree is designed to prepare students for careers in the Dental industry. Shoreline Community College works closely with local advisory committees and industry professionals to ensure students receive the knowledge and skills currently in demand by employers in the field.

Program Description

The Dental Hygiene Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree is designed to prepare students for careers in the Dental industry. Shoreline Community College works closely with local advisory committees and industry professionals to ensure students receive the knowledge and skills currently in demand by employers in the field.

What You’ll Learn

• Examine patients using appropriate screening procedures
• Expose and develop radiographs
• Remove calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from teeth
• Teach patients how to maintain healthy teeth and gums through proper oral hygiene
• Counsel patients concerning the role of good nutrition in oral health maintenance
• Apply cavity preventive agents such as fluoride and sealants
• Make impressions of patients' teeth for study models used in the evaluation of treatment options
• Place and finish dental restorations (fillings)
• Administer local anesthetic injections and nitrous oxide sedation

Courses & Requirements

Program Prerequisites

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. and satisfactory completion of pre-requisite college coursework: ENGL& 102, CMST& 101 or CMST& 220, PSYC& 100, MATH& 146 or higher, BIOL& 211, BIOL& 241, BIOL& 242, BIOL& 260, CHEM& 121, CHEM& 131, NUTR& 101, and General Education Requirements: Multicultural Understanding and Human Relations.

Dental Hygiene Core Requirements (First Year)

Fall Quarter - 18 Credits

• DENHY 100 Introduction to Dental Hygiene Education
• DENHY 101 Histology/Embryology
• DENHY 102 Princ of General Pathology and Systemic Disease
• DENHY 110 Dental Radiology
• DENHY 121 Clinical Dental Hygiene and Fundamentals I
• DENHY 141 Procedures Seminar I

Winter Quarter - 18 Credits

• DENHY 111 Dental Radiology
• DENHY 112 Dental Anatomy and Morphology
• DENHY 120 Medical Emergencies
• DENHY 115 Pain Control I
• DENHY 122 Clinical Dental Hygiene and Fundamentals II
• DENHY 142 Procedures Seminar II
• DENHY 151 Electronic Health Records I

Spring Quarter - 18 Credits

• DENHY 161 Periodontology I
• DENHY 114 Oral Pathology
• DENHY 130 Pharmacology
• DENHY 181 Restorative Dentistry I
• DENHY 123 Clinical Dental Hygiene and Fundamentals III
• DENHY 152 Electronic Health Records II
• DENHY 143 Procedures Seminar III

Summer Quarter - 13 Credits

• DENHY 162 Periodontology II
• DENHY 171 Community and Public Health Dentistry I
• DENHY 140 Ethics and Jurisprudence
• DENHY 182 Restorative Dentistry II
• DENHY 124 Clinical Dental Hygiene and Fundamentals IV

Dental Hygiene Core Requirements (Second Year)

Fall Quarter - 20 Credits

• DENHY 215 Pain Control II
• DENHY 250 Dental Gerontology
• DENHY 261 Periodontology III
• DENHY 260 Care of the Patient with Special Needs
• DENHY 281 Restorative Dentistry III
• DENHY 282 Restorative Dentistry Preclinic and Clinic
• DENHY 221 Clinical Dental Hygiene V
• DENHY 231 Dental Hygiene Fundamentals V
• DENHY 241 Procedures Seminar V
• DENHY 251 Patient Records III

Winter Quarter - 15 Credits

• DENHY 271 Public Health/Community Dentistry
• DENHY 283 Restorative Clinic I
• DENHY 222 Clinical Dental Hygiene VI
• DENHY 232 Dental Hygiene Fundamentals VI
• DENHY 242 Procedures Seminar VI
• DENHY 278 Extramural Clinic I
• DENHY 252 Patient Records IV

Spring Quarter - 15 Credits

• DENHY 272 Special Community Dental Health Project
• DENHY 270 Professional Issues
• DENHY 284 Restorative Clinic II
• DENHY 223 Clinical Dental Hygiene VII
• DENHY 233 Dental Hygiene Fundamentals VII
• DENHY 243 Procedures Seminar VII
• DENHY 288 Extramural Clinic II
• DENHY 253 Patient Records V

Approval To Graduate

• Student Name, SID and Date:
• Faculty Advisor and Date:
• Division Dean and Date:
• Credential Approval and Date:

Program Advisor

• Maryrose Bellert Rm 2519A

Program Information

• Length of Program: 117 Credits
• Completion Award: A.A.A.S. Degree
• Selective Enrollment: Students interested will find detailed information about prerequisites and the application process on the Dental Hygiene website.
• Approximate Quarterly Costs: $150-$3000 (in addition to tuition, books and parking)

Careers & Opportunities

• Employment opportunities for dental hygienists are expected to grow much faster than the average occupational growth over the next decade.
• Employment opportunities include positions as a dental hygienist, public health or school hygienist, health educator, research assistant, teacher, or sales representative.
• Potential employers include: Graduates can be employed by private dental offices, public health facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, the military, as well as research and education facilities. Part-time and flexible schedules are often available.

Sample Degree Map

• The following outline is designed to provide you with an example of what a full-time sequence of courses might look like. This degree is highly prescriptive with little room for customization. We strongly encourage every student to meet with an Academic Advisor to ensure they have met the prerequisites and can complete the program as it is designed.

Prior to Quarter 1

• 65 - 70 credits of pre-requisites

Quarter 1 - Fall

• DENHY 100 Introduction to Dental Hygiene Education
• DENHY 101 Histology/Embryology
• DENHY 102 Princ of General Pathology and Systemic Disease
• DENHY 110 Dental Radiology
• DENHY 121 Clinical Dental Hygiene and Fundamentals I
• DENHY 141 Procedures Seminar I

Quarter 2 - Winter

• DENHY 111 Dental Radiology
• DENHY 112 Dental Anatomy and Morphology
• DENHY 115 Pain Control I
• DENHY 120 Medical Emergencies
• DENHY 122 Clinical Dental Hygiene and Fundamentals II
• DENHY 142 Procedures Seminar II
• DENHY 151 Electronic Health Records I

Quarter 3 - Spring

• DENHY 114 Oral Pathology
• DENHY 123 Clinical Dental Hygiene and Fundamentals III
• DENHY 130 Pharmacology
• DENHY 143 Procedures Seminar III
• DENHY 152 Electronic Health Records II
• DENHY 161 Periodontology I
• DENHY 181 Restorative Dentistry I

Quarter 4 - Summer

• DENHY 124 Clinical Dental Hygiene and Fundamentals IV
• DENHY 140 Ethics and Jurisprudence
• DENHY 162 Periodontology II
• DENHY 182 Restorative Dentistry II
• DENHY 271 Public Health/Community Dentistry

Quarter 5 - Fall

• DENHY 215 Pain Control II
• DENHY 221 Clinical Dental Hygiene V
• DENHY 231 Dental Hygiene Fundamentals V
• DENHY 241 Procedures Seminar V
• DENHY 250 Dental Gerontology
• DENHY 251 Patient Records III
• DENHY 260 Care of the Patient with Special Needs
• DENHY 261 Periodontology III
• DENHY 281 Restorative Dentistry III
• DENHY 282 Restorative Dentistry Preclinic and Clinic

Quarter 6 - Winter

• DENHY 222 Clinical Dental Hygiene VI
• DENHY 232 Dental Hygiene Fundamentals VI
• DENHY 242 Procedures Seminar VI
• DENHY 252 Patient Records IV
• DENHY 271 Public Health/Community Dentistry
• DENHY 278 Extramural Clinic I
• DENHY 283 Restorative Clinic I

Quarter 7 - Spring

• DENHY 223 Clinical Dental Hygiene VII
• DENHY 233 Dental Hygiene Fundamentals VII
• DENHY 243 Procedures Seminar VII
• DENHY 253 Patient Records V
• DENHY 270 Professional Issues
• DENHY 272 Special Community Dental Health Project
• DENHY 284 Restorative Clinic II
• DENHY 288 Extramural Clinic II

Tuition & Fees

Estimated Tuition & Fees

(does not include additional program or course fees, books, or supply costs)

WA-Resident	Non-WA resident, US citizen, & Eligible non-citizen On Campus	Non-WA resident Non-US citizen¹	Non-WA resident, US citizen Online Only
1 credit	$126.47	$246.49	$327.01	$144.67
5 credits	$632.35	$1,232.45	$1,635.05	$723.35
12 credits (full-time)	$1,387.14	$2,487.04	$3,408.94	$1,571.08
15 credits	$1,570.80	$2,520.25	$3,617.20	$1,757.65

¹ Includes all International Students, both on campus and overseas online

Additional Program Fees

See detailed breakdown of program costs

Ways to pay for school

Federal aid, scholarships, grants, and more are available to help you pay for school.

Next Steps

The Dental Hygiene application period is open each year from January 15 to February 15.

Related Program Options

• Dental Hygiene BAS

Explore the Dental Hygiene Department

• Department Overview
• Programs
• Courses
• Faculty & Staff
• Accreditation
• Dental Clinic

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Shoreline Community College

16101 Greenwood Avenue North
Shoreline, WA

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