Dental Hygiene, A.A.A.S.

GRCC Program:

Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences

The dental hygienist—the preventive specialist—fills a key position on the dental health team. Graduates of the associate’s degree curriculum may assume a variety of major roles in the prevention of dental disease.

Dental hygiene practice includes obtaining clients’ medical and dental histories, conducting extraoral and intraoral examinations, performing diagnostic procedures, providing complete oral prophylaxis (scaling and polishing teeth), and placing pit and fissure sealants.

The dental hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.  The commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.  The Commission on Dental Accreditiation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.

Graduates will be eligible to take national and regional board examinations to qualify for licensure as Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs). Requirements for licensure as an RDH in the State of Michigan are stated in the Michigan Public Health Code, Public Act 368 of 1978. The new applicant for licensure is required to complete a criminal background check as part of the State of Michigan application process. Applicants will be asked about felony convictions, misdemeanor convictions resulting in imprisonment, and convictions for possession of controlled substances (including those involving alcohol related to motor vehicle violations). Previous convictions may prevent the applicant from receiving a license.

Dental hygienists work in private and group dental practices, departments of public health, hospitals, schools, clinics, veterans facilities and the armed forces. Job opportunities for trained dental hygienists are expected to be good in the years ahead.

The necessary physical functions for the student in the dental hygiene program include the following:

Mobility: In the course of performing dental hygiene duties, the dental hygienist may have to sit, stand, and reach overhead while standing or sitting.

Hearing: A dental hygienist must be able to hear faint sounds such as those generated while taking blood pressure or examining/ cleaning teeth with dental instruments.

Visual Discrimination: A dental hygienist must have sufficient vision to discern gradations of color and see details that are not readily apparent in the mouth.

Coordination and Manual Dexterity: A dental hygienist needs to possess fine and gross motor skills needed to manipulate dental instruments and equipment.

Communication Skills: A dental hygienist must be able to communicate verbally and in writing with other health care providers and with patients. Working as a dental hygienist requires the knowledge of non-verbal cmmunication through body language.

Pre-Dental Hygiene Program Requirements

In order to be eligible for admission into the Pre-Dental Hygiene portion of the program, students must:

1. Be a high school graduate or have passed the high school equivalency GED (General Educational Development) Test.
2. Have a high school and college GPA of at least 2.0
3. Take the Accuplacer test.  The student must score a minimum of a 41 on the algebra section or a 65 on the arithmetic section, and score a 74 on the reading section.
4. Successfully complete the four Pre-Dental Hygiene science courses—BI 121 , BI 122 , BI 127  and CHM 210  . Successful completion is defined as a grade of C- or better within two attempts.For the purposes of  pre- dental hygiene program requirements, a withdrawal from a course is equivalent to one attempt.  Earning a grade below C-(1.67) twice in any of the four stated science courses will require that the student withdraw from  pre-dental hygiene. This policy applies to GRCC students as well as to transfer students taking equivalent courses at other colleges or universities.
5. Complete GRCC criminal background check form and pass the criminal background check. Students should also be aware that before entering the dental hygiene program, students will be required to submit to a more extensive criminal background check in the form of being fingerprinted by GRCC Campus Police. There is a fee associated with this background check.The PDF form for this process is available on the Dental Hygiene webpage .
6. Candidates may apply for entry into the program at the end of their junior year in high school.

• The GRCC Dental Hygiene program takes a minimum of 3 years to complete. The first year is “Pre-Dental Hygiene” and includes successful completion of  the four  science courses (BI 121 , BI 122 , BI 127  and CHM 210 ).
• Students are highly encouraged to complete all of the nondental courses prior to beginning the second year. This way, scheduling is much less complex, and the student can focus all energies on the professional training part of the program.
• In order to progress through the professional sequence, students must earn a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in each DHY and DXX courses.
• Students must successfully pass each DHY and DXX courses in the sequence indicated in the first and second year of the professional curriculum.
• To be eligible for graduation from the associate degree dental hygiene program, students must earn a C- (78%) in the prescribed associate degree dental hygiene curriculum, and in each DHY and DXX course.
• In addition to tuition, fees, and books, there are additional costs for uniforms, dental instruments, etc. An estimated cost sheet for the dental hygiene program can be found at www.grcc.edu/dental-hygiene.

* Successful completion of the four science courses does not guarantee students will begin the Dental Hygiene Program the following year.

Pre-Dental Hygiene

First Year (Professional Sequence)

Second Year (Professional Sequence)

Total Credits 76

Total Dental Credits 76

Total Non-Dental Credits 35

* CH = Contact hours: The number of class hours of attendance required per week.

† These courses must be completed with a “C–” (1.67) or better prior to starting the professional sequence of the program. They may be completed prior to when they appear in the curriculum.

** These courses may be completed prior to when they appear in the Dental Hygiene curriculum.

Transfer Opportunities:

The Transfer Guide for many bachelor’s degree majors offered at Michigan colleges and universities is available at the Counseling and Career Center and online at www.grcc.edu.

Correction

DHY 114 has been added and total credits changed (corrected 1/30/2105)