2024-2025 Course Catalog
Dental Hygiene, AAS
Location(s):
Ankeny
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 Return to: Ankeny Campus Programs
The Dental Hygiene curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for positions in general and specialty dental offices, hospitals, schools, public health agencies and industrial agencies.
Students are trained in educational methods and preventive clinical services that qualify them as dental health educators and competent clinicians. Emphasis is placed on the correlation between prevention, education and the clinical phases of dental hygiene practice, and on basic and social sciences.
The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council of Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.
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Program Entry Requirements
- Complete an application for admission.
- Attend a Dental Hygiene program information session.
- Provide proof of high school graduation or GED completion.
- Complete required ACCUPLACER Next Gen testing, obtaining satisfactory scores in Reading (248 or above) and Writing (254 or above) or ACT scores in Reading (19 or above) and English (19 or above).
- Complete BIO 164 - Essentials Anatomy/Physiology , OR BOTH BIO 168 -Anatomy & Physiology I and BIO 173 - Anatomy & Physiology II ;with a grade of “C” (not C-) or better.
- Complete CHM 122 - Intro to General Chemistry with a grade of “C” (not C-) or better. NOTE: The course has a prerequisite that can be satisfied through ALEKS, SAT, or ACT testing.
- Complete BIO 186 - Microbiology with a grade of “C” (not C-) or better.
When transferring equivalent courses to DMACC, an official transcript must be sent to the Admissions Office as courses are completed.
Graduation Requirements
To earn a Dental Hygiene AAS degree, a student must successfully complete all dental hygiene and liberal arts support courses required in the curriculum, achieving a grade of “C” (not C-) or better in each course. In order to progress to the next semester of the Dental Hygiene program, all required courses in the current semester must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Note: Criminal background checks will be completed on each student. Criminal convictions or documented history of abuse may prevent students from participating in clinical experiences. Students who do not participate in clinical education will be unable to complete the program. Semester 1
CPR Certification Option 1 - Select 1 Course
Total Credits Required to Complete this AAS Degree - 73*
*Program total credits do not include 13 entry requirement credits. Fixed Costs
Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$193.00 per credit
The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change.
Varied Costs
| Costs |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 3 |
Semester 4 |
Semester 5 |
| Books (approximate) |
1290 |
405 |
440 |
250 |
310 |
| SADHA Dues |
65 |
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65 |
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| Uniforms/Shoes/Eyeware |
210 |
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| Lab fees |
150 |
100 |
100 |
150 |
100 |
| Instruments |
560 |
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40 |
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40 |
| Ultrasoni Scaler plus Inserts |
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1200 |
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| Magnification Loupes with Headlamp |
1400 |
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| Exams and Travel Expense |
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2000 |
| Review Courses |
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500 |
| License Fee |
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336 |
Approximate total for the program: $23,800**
**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
- Determine appropriateness of prescribed dental hygiene care by reviewing data in patient dental and medical records
- Recommend appropriate diagnostic procedures to obtain additional patient data
- Participate in development and modification of dental hygiene care plans by collecting and evaluating pertinent patient information
- Implement dental hygiene care plans by selecting, obtaining, assembling, and applying appropriate equipment
- Conduct preventive and therapeutic procedures to facilitate optimum oral health for each individual patient
- Evaluate patient responses to dental hygiene care
- Make necessary modifications to preventive and therapeutic procedures and dental hygiene care plans based on patient response
- Explain techniques and goals of therapies to patients to promote optimum oral health
- Maintain complete records of consent and care provided to patients
- Communicate clearly and completely with patients, family members and other health care workers
- Protect patients and self from transmission of infectious disease
- Respond to medical emergencies which may occur in the dental setting
- Demonstrate planning, implementing, and evaluating dental health education programs for the community
- Demonstrate workplace basic skills of problem-solving, interpersonal relations, leadership, time management, and acceptance of responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive dental hygiene care for all patients without discrimination.
- Show knowledge of by upholding the laws and regulations governing the profession in the State of Iowa
- Demonstrate professionalism as stated in the code of Professional Ethics for the Dental Hygienist
- Commit to continued learning and professional development
Nondiscrimination Statement
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, or hiring practices, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law. Lack of English language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in career and technical education programs.
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 Executive Campus Dean’s office, the Executive 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, dso@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. Questions or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczysnki Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, phone 312/730-1560, fax 312/730-1576, TDD 800-877-8339 Email OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.
DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:
Agriculture, Natural and Environmental Science
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
Arts, Design, and Visual Communication
Business, Management, and Marketing
Education, Public, and Human Services
Health Science
Hospitality and Culinary
Information Technology
Manufacturing
Transportation & Logistics
Entrance requirements for specific programs can be found at Academic Pathway website.(2024)
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Return to: Ankeny Campus Programs
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