Associate of Applied Science | 89 credits minimum, including prerequisites

Allied Health Division
Jordan Campus JHS 059
Program Office HTC 133B
Program Information 801-957-6200
Program Website
Academic and Career Advising
Academic Advisor Jordan Campus, JHS 047, 801-957- 6215
Health Sciences Admissions JHS 065, 801-957-6363

Program Faculty
Assistant Professors - Renee Mendenhall, RDH, MBA, and Jeanie Allen, RDH, BS

Program Description
The Dental Hygiene Program offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree which prepares graduates to practice entry level dental hygiene. Dental hygienists provide preventive and therapeutic health care services including oral health assessment & education, pit & fissure sealants, fluoride treatments, oral prophylaxis and advanced periodontal therapy; in addition to public dental health services.

Upon administrative approval, second-year SLCC dental hygiene students are eligible to take examinations required for licensure in all fifty states, including the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and state or regional clinical examinations, such as the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB).

Career Opportunities
Dental hygienists may secure employment in a variety of settings, including private dental offices and clinics, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, public health facilities and other government agencies. Due to the unique nature of the profession, dental hygienists enjoy a flexible work schedule ideal for balancing career and lifestyle needs.

Transfer & Articulation Information
Courses transfer as electives.  For articulation information, please see the Dental Hygiene program advisor.

Estimated Cost for Students
Tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx
Estimated $20,000; not including pre-requisite courses.

Estimated Time to Completion
Core Program requires two academic years, Summers are not included. Additional time is required to complete prerequisites and AAS Gen Ed requirements. Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.

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PROGRAM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

1. Be admitted to SLCC as a matriculated student.  See http://www.slcc.edu/apply/index.aspx
2. High School Graduate or equivalent
3. For transfer credit, please see Transfer & Articulation Information
4. Complete placement exam, or submit current SAT/ACT test scores, if MATH and ENGL course work have not been transferred to SLCC (required before you are able to register for classes that have MATH and ENGL courses as prerequisites). See: http://www.slcc.edu/testing/
5. AP scores of 3 or higher for a prerequisite course will be considered for admission into the program; however, this does not guarantee acceptance into the program.  Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.

6. Prerequisite courses can be in progress when submitting an application.  Final grades will be assessed at the end of the Spring semester and your acceptance into the program will be based on grades meeting the program’s selection requirements and available seats. Students with complete applications (all prerequisite courses complete with required grades, and all other documentation completed) by the application deadline date will receive priority acceptance/denial to the program.

*All BIOL and CHEM courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C+ or better
*All other prerequisite courses listed below must be completed with a minimum grade of C or better
*All science (BIOL/CHEM) prerequisites must have been completed within the last five years

PREREQUISITES

BIOL 2060 - Microbiology 
BIOL 2065 - Microbiology Lab 
BIOL 2320 - Human Anatomy 
BIOL 2325 - Human Anatomy Lab 
BIOL 2420 - Human Physiology 
BIOL 2425 - Human Physiology Lab 
CHEM 1110 - Elementary Chemistry 
CHEM 1115 - Elementary Chemistry Lab 
ENGL 1010 - Intro to Writing (EN) 
MATH 1010 - Intermediate Algebra (QS) 
COMM 1010 - Elements of Effective Communication (CM) 
HLTH 1020 - Scientific Foundations of Human Nutrition (LS) 
SOC 1010 - Intro to Sociology (SS) 
PSY 1010 - General Psychology (SS)  or PSY 1100 Lifespan Human Growth and Development (SS)  

Note: It is the student’s responsibility to examine each course description for details of other prerequisite classes. Those prerequisites must be satisfied before the designated program prerequisite course may be taken.

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
See the Dental Hygiene webpage for essential information regarding completion of program application and additional application requirements at http://www.slcc.edu/dentalhygiene/admissions.aspx.

Pre-Admission Exam:  A minimum score of 75%  in all areas assessed  is required for consideration for admission to the program. However, this does not guarantee admission into the program. Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.

Observation Hours:  Required to be completed with a licensed Clinical Dental Hygienist (RDH) in a dental setting for a minimum of 40 hours.  Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.

Hepatitis B vaccination series:  Applicants must provide proof of a 3-dose Hepatitis B series within the last 20 years, and a positive titer.  Documentation of the first 2 doses is required for application.  Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.

CLINICAL PLACEMENT
Students accepted into the dental hygiene program must meet the same health and safety requirements that its clinical rotation facility providers require of their own employees. These facilities make the final determination regarding student acceptance for placement and may decline it based on the criminal background record, which may then preclude completion of program requirements. It is the responsibility of the applicant to seek advice regarding the status of their eligibility for clinical placement if their criminal background check discloses any areas of concern.

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Specialized Accreditation
The Dental Hygiene program at Salt Lake Community College is accredited by The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association, www.ada.org/en/coda, with “Approval without Reporting Requirements”.

Licensure Information
Graduation from the Dental Hygiene program does not guarantee the ability to obtain a Utah state license to practice as a Dental Hygienist. Licensure is the exclusive right and responsibility of each state.  In order to practice as a Dental Hygienist, students must satisfy individual state requirements, independent of SLCC graduation requirements. It is highly recommended that students consult in advance with the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), or similar agencies in other states, to find out more about eligibility for licensure.  DOPL can be reached at 801-530-6628 or at their website.

For students who plan to work as a Dental Hygienist in another state, here is one suggested website for researching state licensure requirements: License Finder sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. If you have difficulty finding the licensure requirements for your state, please contact your academic advisor or SLCC’s state authorization coordinator for help. 

Program Student Learning Outcomes	Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
	1 - Substantive Knowledge 2 - Communicate Effectively 3 - Develop Quantitative Literacy 4 - Think Critically 5 - Civic Engagement and/or Working Professionally 6 - Work Professionally and Constructively 7 - Develop Computer and Information Literacy
Initiate and participate in community oral health programs.	2, 4, 5, 6
Successfully complete the National Board Dental Examinations and regional/state dental hygiene licensure board examinations.	1, 2, 3,4, 5
Utilize the Dental Hygiene Process of Care (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation) to positively affect the oral health status and behavior of individuals and groups.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Communicate effectively with patients, peers & faculty in both verbal and written forms.	1, 2, 3, 6, 7
Utilize critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision-making.	1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7