Dental Hygiene, AAS

Program Details

Semester 1

 CPR Certification

• CHM 132 - Intro to Organic/Biochemistry Credits: 4
• DHY 170 - Principles of Dental Hygiene Credits: 2
• DHY 171 - Principles of Dental Hyg Pract Credits: 3
• DHY 121 - Oral Histology & Embryology Credits: 2
• DHY 114 - Dent Hyg Anatomical Science Credits: 4
• DHY 161 - Oral Radiology Credits: 3

Semester 2

• DHY 141 - General & Oral Pathology Credits: 3
• DHY 181 - Dental Hygiene I Credits: 2
• DHY 182 - Clinical Dental Hygiene I Credits: 4
• DHY 230 - Oral Health Nutrition Credits: 2
• ENG 105 - Composition I Credits: 3

Semester 3

• DHY 281 - Dental Hygiene II Credits: 2
• DHY 282 - Clinical Dental Hygiene II Credits: 2
• DHY 211 - Periodontology Credits: 2
• DHY 133 - Pharmacology Credits: 3
• PSY 111 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 3

Semester 4

• DHY 221 - Dental Materials Credits: 2
• DHY 223 - Dental Materials Lab Credits: 1
• DHY 261 - Dental Health Education Credits: 3
• DHY 291 - Dental Hygiene III Credits: 2
• DHY 292 - Clinical Dental Hygiene III Credits: 5
• SOC 110 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3

Semester 5

• DHY 251 - Community Oral Health Credits: 3
• DHY 301 - Dental Hygiene IV Credits: 2
• DHY 302 - Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Credits: 5
• Select one course from Option 1 Credits: 3

Total Credits Required to Complete this AAS Degree - 73*

*Program total credits do not include 13 entry requirement credits.

Fixed Costs

Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$160.00 per credit

The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change.

Varied Costs

Approximate total for the program: $19,593-20,093**

**Program total credits do not include entry requirement credits.

The Dental Hygiene program utilizes a background check service, www.certifiedbackground.com, to conduct crimina lbackground/abuse checks and to track immunizations, health records and CPR certification for each student after their acceptance into the program. Students are responsible for the cost of this service (approximately $58).

What Kind of Work Will You Do?

• Collect data, organize information, and develop patient care plan for dental hygiene services.
• Counsel patients in areas of prevention and treatment of dental diseases.
• Provide direct patient services such as removal of stains and deposits from teeth, radiographs, fluoride, sealants and local anesthetic administration under the supervision of a dentist.
• Keep accurate patient records.
• Design and implement dental health education programs in community settings.
• Provide oral health education and preventive care in public healthcare settings.

What Skills and Abilities Will You Need?

• Participate in continuing education activities to promote lifelong learning.
• Use empathy and understanding when relating to people with varied socioeconomic backgrounds and health status.
• Make decisions and work cooperatively with members of the dental team and allied health community.
• Demonstrate leadership skills through student organizations and professional association activities.
• Communicate effectively with persons of diverse backgrounds in a variety of treatment settings.
• Ability to be a self-starter and initiate and complete tasks under general supervision.
• Basic computer skills.

What Else Should I Consider about this Degree program?

• Centers for Disease Control and the Healthcare Infection Control Advisory Committee’s Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care settings-2003 is applied in all aspects of delivery of care and is available upon request.
• Medical/Dental examinations and immunizations are required.
• Take general education and basic science courses prior to program entry.
• Be aware that program costs are higher in the first and last terms.
• Students should not work more than 16 hours per week, as homework and required activities are demanding.
• Plan ahead to avoid conflicts between personal responsibilities and program demands. A support system is essential.
• Current CPR certification is required prior to program entry and must be maintained for the remainder of the program. (American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers program or Red Cross for Professional Rescuer.)
• Baccalaureate degree completion in dental hygiene is available at four-year colleges that offer dental hygiene completion and accept DMACC transfer credit.
• Applicants for licensure are asked if they have ever been charged, convicted, found guilty of, or entered a plea of guilty or no contest to a felony or misdemeanor crime. A prior criminal history, activity or record can be grounds for license or registration denial. Also, habitual use of drugs or intoxicants, or habitual intoxication or addiction to drugs can also be grounds for license or registration denial.
•  Average Starting Salary $54,000 based on 36-hour week (2014-2015 Placement Report).

Program Competencies

This Program will..

1. Determine appropriateness of prescribed dental hygiene care by reviewing data in patient dental and medical records.
2. Recommend appropriate diagnostic procedures to obtain additional patient data.
3. Participate in development and modification of dental hygiene care plans by collecting and evaluating pertinent patient information.
4. Implement dental hygiene care plans by selecting, obtaining, assembling, and applying appropriate equipment.
5. Conduct preventive and therapeutic procedures to facilitate optimum oral health for each individual patient.
6. Evaluate patient responses to dental hygiene care.
7. Make necessary modifications to preventive and therapeutic procedures and dental hygiene care plans based on patient response.
8. Explain techniques and goals of therapies to patients to promote optimum oral health.
9. Maintain complete records of consent and care provided to patients.
10. Communicate clearly and completely with patients, family members and other health care workers.
11. Protect patients and self from transmission of infectious disease.
12. Respond to medical emergencies which may occur in the dental setting.
13. Plan, implement and evaluate dental health education programs for the community.
14. Demonstrate workplace basic skills of problem-solving, interpersonal relations, leadership, time management and acceptance of responsibilities.
15. Provide comprehensive dental hygiene care for all patients without discrimination.
16. Recognize and uphold the laws and regulations governing the profession in the state of Iowa.
17.  Demonstrate professionalism as stated in the code of Professional Ethics for the dental hygienist.
18.  Commit to continued learning and professional development.

Nondiscrimination Statement

DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:

Agriculture, National & Environmental Services /Architecture, Engineering, and Construction/Arts, Design, and Visual communications/Business, Management, and Marketing/Education, Public, and Human Services/Health Science/Hospitality and Culinary/Information Technology/Manufacturing/Transportation & Logistics

Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in nor allow discrimination covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities, employment practices, hiring practices or the provision of services, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (in employment), disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status of a person. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedure. Complaint forms may be obtained from the Campus Provost’s office, the Academic Deans’ office, the Judicial Officer, or the EEO/AA Officer, Human Resources. ADA questions and concerns may be directed to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 6, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6857, sgbittner@dmacc.edu.  Title IX questions and concerns may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 1, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6216, title9@dmacc.edu.  Question or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone 312/730-1560, tax 312/730-1576..

Legal references: Iowa Code §§ 216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S. C. §§ 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S. C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S. C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.).₍₂₀₁₈₎