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
Health Sciences Admissions 801-957-6363
Program Website
Academic and Career Advising
Program Faculty
Associate Professor - Renee Mendenhall, Program Coordinator/Faculty
Assistant Professor - Kristen Hall, Clinical Coordinator/Faculty
Assistant Professor - Sandra Wilkie, Clinical Coordinator/Faculty
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
Please see the Dental Hygiene program advisor. Call 801-957-6215 for an appointment.
Estimated Cost for Students
Tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx
Course Fees: $2,500
Prerequisites: $3,903
Prerequisite Text Books: $1,400
Dental Hygiene Instrument Kit: $5,500
Program Text Books: $1,250
Clinic attire (scrubs): $250
Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA): $230
Board and licensing exams:
National Board Dental Hygiene Exam: $700
Local Anesthesia Written Exam: $120
Clinical Board Exam: $1,150
Total Expense: $24,809
Estimated Time to Completion
Core Program requires two academic years. Students will follow the program semester schedule. Summers are not included. Additional time is required to complete prerequisites and AAS Gen Ed requirements. Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.
PROGRAM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
- Be admitted to SLCC as a matriculated student. See http://www.slcc.edu/apply/index.aspx.
- High School Graduate or equivalent
- For transfer credit, submit OFFICIAL, SEALED transcripts for ALL colleges and universities where prerequisite course work has been completed. Send to: SLCC Office of the Registrar and Academic Records, 4600 South Redwood Road, P.O. Box 30808, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0808
- Also, a request to have an OFFICIAL evaluation of student’s transcript(s) must be submitted to the SLCC Transfer Evaluation Office. The form is located at: http://www.slcc.edu/transcriptevaluation/. This process may take 4-6 weeks and must be completed before a student’s application will be considered.
- Complete SLCC 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: www.slcc.edu/testing.
DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM SELECTIVE ADMISSONS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
• Program course prerequisites are as follows (Courses listed below (or equivalent transfer credit, AP or CLEP)) BIOL 2060/2026, BIOL 2320/2325, BIOL 2420/2425, CHEM 1110 & CHEM 1115 must be completed within the past five years and require a C+ grade or better. The remaining prerequisite courses require a C grade or better. AP Credit: 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 program academic advisor with questions.
Note: Prerequisite courses may still be in progress when you submit your application. Your application will not be considered complete and therefore no acceptance/denial will be determined until after the grades for the prerequisite courses have been posted. Your final grades will be assessed at the end of the semester and your acceptance into the program will be based on your grades meeting the program’s selection requirements.
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
• HESI Pre-admission exam - A minimum score of 70% is required for the Critical Thinking portion of the test. A minimum score of 75% is required in all other areas 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 Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) in a dental setting for a minimum of 40 hours (http://www.slcc.edu/dentalhygiene/admissions.aspx). Please see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor.
• See the Dental Hygiene webpage for essential information regarding completion of application and additional requirements at http://www.slcc.edu/dentalhygiene/index.aspx. Completion of the prerequisites allow students to apply to the program. Application submission does not guarantee admission to the program. Students should see the Dental Hygiene academic advisor for further information.
DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Once admitted into the program, students may be required to complete the following to receive a full offer toward matriculation.
1. Immunizations
2. Background Check
3. Drug Screening
4. American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR certification
*Please note: Additional conditions may need to be met depending on program, please see program website for details.
It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Utah State dental licensing board (Division of Professional Licensing—DOPL) and seek advice regarding eligibility for certification and requirements needed to progress in this profession if the criminal background check discloses issues of concern.
Specialized Accreditation
The SLCC Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), 211 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611.
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 |
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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 |
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Initiate and participate in community oral health programs.
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2, 4, 5, 6
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Successfully complete the National Board Dental Examinations and regional/state dental hygiene licensure board examinations.
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1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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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.
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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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Communicate effectively with patients, peers & faculty in both verbal and written forms.
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1, 2, 3, 6, 7
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Utilize critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision-making.
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1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
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