Dental Hygiene, AAS

Program Code: A45260

(2023*03)

Program is offered through an Instructional Service Agreement with Wayne Community College.

This program requires a 2.2 or greater high school GPA from a College Prep Curriculum valid within 10 years, or a placement test demonstrating placement into college-ready English 111 and math. If either of these requirements is not met, the student will be placed into Associate in General Education – First Year (A10300-FY). *See the A10300FY – Associate in General Education-First Year Program page for more information.

Interested students are encouraged to contact a counselor in the Office of Admissions to obtain information about the program.

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 x-rays, 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.

Dental Hygiene, AAS Semester-By-Semester Plan

General Education Hours: 16 Hours

Math/Natural Sciences: 4 Hours

CHM 130 - Gen, Org, & Biochemistry Credits: 3
CHM 130A - Gen, Org, & Biochem Lab Credits: 1
Students must meet math proficiency with one of the following:
- Have an unweighted final high school GPA of 2.8 or higher within 10 years from the program start date (8/21) (GED/HiSET/CCRG)
- Meet appropriate scores on placement test within 10 years from the program start date (8/21) (ACT/SAT/CPT/Asset/Compass/NCDAP/NROC/Accuplacer) NROC MAT 003 Tier 2
- Complete a college level math class with a “C” or better (MAT 110, 115, 121, 122, 140, 143, 151, 152, 161, 171, 172, 263, 271, 272, 273, 285). *
- Provide proof of completion of an associate’s degree or higher.

Major Hours: 56 Hours

Core: 49 Hours

BIO 175 - General Microbiology Credits: 3**
DEN 110 - Orofacial Anatomy Credits: 3*
DEN 111- Infection/Hazard Control Credits: 2*
DEN 112 - Dental Radiography Credits: 3*
DEN 120 - Dental Hyg Preclinic Lec Credits: 2*
DEN 121- Dental Hygiene Precl Lab Credits: 2*
DEN 123 - Nutrition/Dental Health Credits: 2*
DEN 124 - Periodontology Credits: 2*
DEN 125 - Dental Emergencies Credits: 1*
DEN 130 - Dental Hygiene Theory I Credits: 2*
DEN 131 - Dental Hygiene Clinic I Credits: 3*
DEN 140 - Dental Hygiene Theory II Credits: 2*
DEN 141 - Dental Hygiene Clinic II Credits: 2*
DEN 220 - Dental Hygiene Theory III Credits: 2*
DEN 221 - Dental Hygiene Clinic III Credits: 4*
DEN 222 - General & Oral Pathology Credits: 2*
DEN 223 - Dental Pharmacology Credits: 2*
DEN 224 - Materials and Procedures Credits: 2*
DEN 230 - Dental Hygiene Theory IV Credits: 1*
DEN 231 - Dental Hygiene Clinic IV Credits: 4*
DEN 232 - Community Dental Health Credits: 3*
DEN 233 - Professional Development Credits: 2*

Other Required: 5 Hours

BIO 163 - Basic Anat & Physiology Credits: 5

Other Major Hours: 1 Hours

ACA 111 - College Student Success Credits: 1
or ACA 122 - College Transfer Success Credits: 1

Total Dental Hygiene, AAS: 73 Credits

*DEN Courses must be completed through Wayne Community College.

**Students may take BIO 275 at Lenoir Community College.

All General Education courses may be taken at Lenoir Community College.

The Associate in Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene will be awarded by Wayne Community College upon successful completion of all requirements.

For more information:

Dr. Alexis Welch
Dean of Health Sciences and Nursing
Floyd Health Sciences Center (Building 006), Room 103
Phone: (252) 527-6223, ext. 801
Fax: (252) 520-9598
Email: abwelch27@lenoircc.edu