Dental Hygiene, AAS

Program Code: A45260

(2023*03)

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

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.

This is a competitive admissions program, and acceptance is not guaranteed. Applicants are accepted for admission based on required criterion and individual applications. To be eligible to apply for the Dental Hygiene program, students must meet the following minimum prerequisite requirements.

Minimum MATH Prerequisite Requirements:

An applicant must have completed ONE of the following before receiving the applicant packet:

An unweighted high school GPA of 2.8 or higher from a College Prep Curriculum
A grade of “P” for DMA 010-080
A grade of “C” or higher for MAT 080
Completion of Transitions Math through Tier 3
A grade of “C” or higher in MAT 035
Placement test scores that demonstrate mastery of MAT 035

Students who have completed a college approved Math course such as MAT-121, MAT-122, MAT141, MAT-143, MAT-151, MAT-152, MAT-161, MAT-171, MAT-263, or MAT-271 (with grade of C or better) may meet the math requirement.

Minimum Anatomy & Physiology Prerequisite Requirements:

Successful completion of BIO-163 OR BIO-168 & BIO-169 (with grade of C or better)

Dental Hygiene, AAS Semester-By-Semester Plan

General Education Hours (16 SHC)

Math/Natural Sciences (4 SHC)

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 associates degree or higher.

Major Hours (57-58 SHC)

Required Courses (48 SHC)

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*

Required Subject Areas (8-9 SHC)

BIO 163 - Basic Anat & Physiology Credits: 5
BIO 175 - General Microbiology Credits: 3**
or BIO 275 - Microbiology Credits: 4

Other Major Hour (1 SHC)

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

Total Dental Hygiene, AAS: 73-74 Credits

Students may take ACA 111 or ACA 122, BIO 163, BIO 275, CHM 130 and CHM 130A, ENG 111 and ENG 112, and Humanities/Fine Arts Elective 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.

*DEN Courses must be completed through Wayne Community College.

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

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