Dental Hygiene - Associate in Applied Science

Occupational Title: Dental Hygienist
Flanagan Campus, Lincoln only

This program is accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611.

The dental hygienist is a licensed professional who provides primary preventive dental services to patients in a wide variety of settings. Students in this program attend lecture and laboratory classes and provide treatment in a modern, state-of-the-art dental hygiene clinic at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln. This course of study prepares students for board examinations required for dental hygiene licensure. Participation in the dental hygiene program exposes students to infectious diseases, bloodborne pathogens and ionizing radiation.

Technical Standards: The physical activity (strength) level for dental hygienist (078.361-010) is classified as “light” by the Department of Labor in The Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

Note: Many courses require prerequisites and/or testing. See course descriptions for details.

CCRI also offers a Dental Assisting certificate program, see this page for details.

General Policies

See important general policies in the beginning of this section on the performance-based Health Sciences application process, academic progress, advanced placement, background check, CPR certification, health insurance, health records, reinstatement, transportation, uniforms, and equipment.

Minimum Requirements Needed to Apply to the Dental Hygiene Program

1. CCRI application – Submit a completed CCRI Application for Enrollment. General Studies should be first choice; DHYG should be second choice.
2. High school transcript – Send an official copy of a transcript from an accredited high school or GED® certification, including date of graduation or, if the applicant holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university, the high school transcript may be waived; college transcript must indicate completion and degree awarded.
3. CCRI uses a multiple measures approach to determine admission into Health Science programs (For example: High School and GED® transcripts, SAT, ACT, HESI A2 or ACCUPLACER scores). Placement can also be determined by taking college level English and Math courses. Anyone with a degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution may have this requirement waived following submission of the official college transcript. If using ACCUPLACER, the following guidelines are used:
   • Placement testing – Complete a standardized test (ACCUPLACER) issued by CCRI's Advising Center. Students may retake the ACCUPLACER test once before completing any remedial course(s).
     • Reading comprehension test (waived for students with a Bachelor's degree or higher) Score of 80 or above in Classic ACCUPLACER is required in Reading Comprehension or score of 253 or above in Next-Generation Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension or students must complete Reading and Study Skills Program (ENGL 1002) with a grade of "B-" or better or Integrated Critical Reading and Writing (ENGL 0950) .
     • Math – Demonstrate competency by placing into Foundations of College Algebra (MATH 0101) with a test score of 75 or above for the classic ACCUPLACER algebra section, or a score of 256 or above on the Next-Generation Accuplacer is required for Math (Quantitative, Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics), or completion of Foundations of College Algebra (MATH 0101) with a grade of "C" or better. The entry course for Foundations of College Algebra (MATH 0101) is Developmental Mathematics Emporium (MATH 0095). The following courses will substitute for Foundations of College Algebra (MATH 0101): Business Mathematics (MATH 1005), Mathematics of Finance (MATH 1015), Introduction to College Mathematics (MATH 1025), Mathematics for Liberal Arts Students (MATH 1139) or (MATH 1139C), Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (MATH 1175) or (MATH 1175C), College Algebra (MATH 1200) or (MATH 1200C),  Statistical Analysis I (MATH 1240), Quantitative Business Analysis I (MATH 2077), College Trigonometry (MATH 2110), Pre-Calculus Mathematics (MATH 2111), Quantitative Business Analysis II (MATH 2138), Calculus I (MATH 2141), Calculus II (MATH 2142) or Calculus III (MATH 2243). Transfer credits can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
     • English (writing) test must show readiness to take Composition I (ENGL 1010) or applicant must have completed College Writing (ENGL 1005) with a grade of "C" or better. Composition I for Speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL) (ENGL 1300) will not substitute for Composition I (ENGL 1010).
4. Complete courses required for admission with a grade of C or better:
   • Survey of Biomedical Chemistry (CHEM 1010) (Chemistry placement testing is required prior to enrolling in Survey of Biomedical Chemistry (CHEM 1010).)
   • Introduction to Dental Health Careers (DENT 1000)
   • Human Anatomy (BIOL 1010) or Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2201)
   • Human Physiology (BIOL 1020) or Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 2202)
5. GPA – A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better for all college courses taken. All science courses must have earned a final course grade of "C" or better. If not, the science course(s) must be repeated.
   • All the above requirements must be completed satisfactorily before submission of performance-based Health Sciences application and do not guarantee acceptance to the program. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester offered must resubmit a performance-based Health Sciences application for the program and meet the current admission requirements for the application period in which they reapply. Once accepted into Dental Hygiene, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Dental Health Department.
6. Health Sciences application – Submit a completed performance-based Health Sciences application including a preadmission degree evaluation. Deadlines are listed on form.
7. BCI – Students are required to submit a background check when directed by notification from One Stop Student Services. Results of BCI may prevent admission due to clinical agencies requirements.

Program Requirements

• Students must complete all BIOL, CHEM, and Introduction to Dental Health Careers (DENT 1000) with a grade of C or better.
• A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better is required at the end of each semester to proceed in the program.
• General education courses in the Dental Hygiene curriculum may be taken prior to the semester recommended. Introductory Microbiology (BIOL 2210) must be taken prior to or during the second semester.
• Program faculty reserve the right to dismiss any student from the program or refuse reinstatement based on academic, clinical or professional performance.
• All science courses must be completed with a grade of C or better or the course(s) must be repeated.
• Students must complete all DHYG and DENT courses with a grade of C+ or better.

Readmission

Any student who leaves the program for any reason may apply for readmission in a subsequent year. Such application must be made by letter to the program director and must be received by Oct. 15 or February 1st  preceding the semester for which readmission is sought. Consideration for possible readmission will be by concurrence of the Dental Hygiene Readmittance Committee and the program director who will review each request individually. There is no guarantee that a student will be readmitted to the Dental Hygiene program.

A student may be readmitted to the Dental Hygiene program only once and must comply with the recommendations of the Dental Hygiene Readmittance Committee and the program director.

These recommendations may include but are not limited to:

• reinstatement on a space available basis;
• reinstatement that may include repeating any previously completed clinical courses;
• reinstatement that may include repeating or auditing any previously completed didactic courses;
• denial of reinstatement with no further consideration for readmission.