Dental Hygiene, Associate of Applied Science

Dental Hygienists are licensed primary health care professionals, health care educators and clinicians who provide preventive, educational and therapeutic services supporting total health for the control of oral diseases and the promotion of oral health. Employment opportunities exist in private practices, health care agencies, hospitals, sales, government research programs and in dental hygiene education programs. Upon successful completion of this curriculum, the graduate may take national and regional board examinations and apply for licensure.

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Program Admission Requirements

Application may be submitted after meeting requirements listed below. Health Careers Enrollment Center 216-987-4247 for comprehensive admissions information and application packet.

• High School Diploma/GED
• Completion of the following courses with a grade of "C" or higher:

• GPA required: 3.0 admission requirements, 2.75 overall
• 20 hour observation/work experience. 16 hours in a dental setting that employs a Registered Dental Hygienist. 4 hours must be in the Dental Hygiene Clinic at the Metropolitan Campus. Please call 216-987-4413 to schedule appointment. Please refer to the form in the application packet.

Other Information

• 22 students accepted per year.
• All science courses must have been completed within five (5) years of admission to the program.
• ENG-1010 College Composition I , ENG-101H Honors College Composition I , PSY-1010 General Psychology , PSY-101H Honors General Psychology  and one (1) science course may each be repeated once to improve a grade. A “W” grade counts as an attempt.
• Successful completion of Tri-C authorized background check, fingerprinting and BCI records search is required. http://www.tri-c.edu/programs/health-careers/background-check-information-bci.html.
• Overall GPA must not fall below 2.75 while awaiting matriculation into the Dental Hygiene program.
• Non-native English speaking applicants:  Admission into Cuyahoga Community College is premised on a complete and accurate initial application to the College, including, if applicable, proof of English Language Proficiency Requirements for admission as indicated on the English Language Proficiency Requirements for Admissions to the College, and available on the web at: http://www.tri-c.edu/get-started/international-students/english-language-proficiency-requirements-for-admission.html
  To be accepted into any selective admission programs, students must successfully complete English as a Second Language (ESL) course/s, as referenced above,  if deemed necessary by the College at the time of enrollment.  Admission is conditioned upon achieving the necessary grade point average (GPA), English language proficiency requirements and any specific pre-requisite courses, and by meeting program accreditation or licensing requirements as evidenced in the Program Handbook for the specific program.

Program Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

1. Act responsibly toward self, peers, faculty and clients.
2. Demonstrate critical thinking and decision-making skills in all aspects of client care.
3. Communicate verbally and in writing to clients, colleagues and other professionals.
4. Integrate the Code of Ethics for Dental Hygienists with evidence of skills in ethical reasoning.
5. Incorporate professional integrity and continued growth into all aspects of dental hygiene care.
6. Determine the validity of oral health services in various segments of the community using evidence-based methods.
7. Demonstrate the ability to promote oral health in the global community.
8. Recognize the need and follow protocol indicated for medical emergencies that occur in an oral health care environment.
9. Accurately collect, analyze and document current and historical data on the systemic/oral health status of a variety of clients that impacts the delivery of dental hygiene care.
10. Utilize all the information gleaned through the assessment process and develop a comprehensive dental hygiene diagnosis incorporating current research.
11. Devise a client-centered dental hygiene care plan that is evidence-based.
12. Apply appropriate treatment modalities and communicate oral health education concepts that will culminate in achieving the dental hygiene care plan.
13. In partnership with the client, determine if the implementation phase was effective in achieving the goals outlined in the comprehensive dental hygiene care plan and modify when indicated.
14. In partnership with the client, ensure that documentation is complete and accurate of all collected data, treatment planned and provided, recommendations and other information relevant to client care and treatment.

 Suggested Semester Sequence

¹

CHEM-1010 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry and CHEM-1020 Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry may be taken in place of BIO-1100 Introduction to Biological Chemistry.

²

MATH-1240 Contemporary Mathematics taken prior to Fall 2024 will be accepted to meet the mathematics requirement for this program.  MATH-1410 Elementary Probability and Statistics I recommended for students planning to transfer.

³

DIET-1200 Basic Nutrition will be accepted in place of DIET-1220 Nutrition for Dental Hygiene.

⁴

 Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all required courses to earn the AAS in Dental Hygiene.

MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement.  These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016.  Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.