Program Overview

Program Overview

The Dental Hygiene Technology program is a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited associate of applied science degree program designed to prepare students to work as an integral part of a dental team. As licensed professionals, dental hygienists provide a variety of educational and health care services to the public, including:

• cleaning and polishing teeth
• applying preventive agents such as fluorides and sealants
• exposing and processing radiographs
• educating patients in the prevention of oral diseases
• instructing patients in home care procedures
• removing hard and soft deposits from teeth
• providing nutritional counseling
• administering nitrous oxide sedation and local anesthesia
• performing other preventive patient services

Program Structure and Accreditation

The UCBA Dental Hygiene Program is structured in accordance with accreditation requirements stipulated by the CODA of the American Dental Association. Upon successful completion of the two academic years, graduates are eligible to take national, regional, state, and local anesthesia written and clinical licensure examinations. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Career Opportunities

Graduates can be employed in general/family, pediatrics, or periodontal practices, hospitals, public health clinics, research institutions, public schools, business and industry, or the armed forces. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental hygiene is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for program admission, candidates must meet the minimum criteria and additional requirements outlined in the Dental Hygiene Admission Criteria. English proficiency and international student information are also provided.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to assist students in identifying course requirements and individual progress toward completion of academic programs. It is essential to utilize these resources with personalized guidance from a UC academic advisor regularly to ensure timely graduation.

Advising

Students interested in starting the Dental Hygiene Program should contact their Pre-Health Professions advisor. Students are assigned to advisors according to the first letter of their last name.

UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

The Dental Hygiene Program at UCBA was established in 1967 and is the only accredited program in Hamilton County. An advantage of UC Blue Ash College is the opportunity to complete this career-oriented program in a small college environment. Most classes are small to moderate in size, and the Dental Hygiene Program has a low student-faculty ratio, giving students many opportunities for personal contact with their professors.

Special Programs

The thirty-four chair clinic is an on-campus facility for students to gain clinical competence in providing dental hygiene care. It is open to the public during the academic year. Students complete their clinical experience on-site, providing a variety of preventive services.

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for the Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene technology degree, students must fulfill the requirements of the program with a C- or better and must have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Students must demonstrate competency in a variety of clinical patient care experiences as well as tasks and procedures performed by a practicing dental hygienist.

Accreditation

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Dental Hygiene program at UCBA is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.