Dental Hygiene, Associate in Science

This program prepares students for careers as dental hygienists. Dental hygienists focus on preventing and treating oral diseases - both to protect teeth and gums and also to protect patients' total health. The primary career setting is private dental practice; however, careers in public health sales, management and education are available. Graduates are prepared for national, state, or regional board exams required for a license to practice. Graduates are eligible to receive certification in expanded functions recognized by the Florida Board of Dentistry.

The dental hygienist is a licensed preventive oral health professional who provides education, clinical, and therapeutic services to the public. In order to become prepared to perform these services, the dental hygienist requires an extensive educational background. Dental hygiene courses include oral health education and preventive counseling, patient management, clinical dental hygiene, community dental heath, ethical aspects of dental hygiene practice and the dental sciences.

Students have extensive supervised instruction in pre-clinical and clinical practice providing services to patients. Services include evaluation of patients' dental health, removal of deposits from above and below the gum line, application of preventative agents such as clorhexidine and antibiotics, instruction of patients on oral health matters including nutrition counseling, exposure and development of dental radiographs.

Admission to the Dental Hygiene program is limited. Visit the program page for more details and how to apply or call (321) 433-7575.

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
General Education Courses
BSCC 1010	General Biology 1	4
ENC 1101	Composition 1	3
PSY 2012	General Psychology 1	3
SYG 2000	Introduction to Sociology	3
Humanities Core Requirement		3
Mathematics Core Requirement		3
Social/Behavioral Science/Core-Civic Literacy Requirement		3
Major Courses
DEH 1130	Oral Histology and Embryology	2
DEH 1800	Dental Hygiene 1	2
DEH 1802	Dental Hygiene 2	2
DEH 2300	Pharmacology and Pain Control	2
DEH 2400	General and Oral Pathology	2
DEH 2701	Community Dental Health 1	2
DEH 2804	Dental Hygiene 3	2
DEH 2806	Dental Hygiene 4	2
DEHC 1003	Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene	3
DEHC 2602	Periodontology	2
DEHL 1800	Dental Hygiene Clinic 1	3
DEHL 1802	Dental Hygiene Clinic 2	2
DEHL 2300	Pharmacology and Pain Control Laboratory	1
DEHL 2702	Community Dental Health 2	1
DEHL 2804	Dental Hygiene Clinic 3	3
DEHL 2806	Dental Hygiene Clinic 4	4
DES 1020	Head, Neck, and Dental Anatomy	2
DES 1200	Dental Radiography	2
DES 1502	Dental Office Management	1
DES 1600	Dental Office Emergencies	1
DES 1800	Introduction to Clinical Procedures	2
DES 1840	Preventive Dentistry	2
DES 2100	Dental Materials	2
DESC 2832	Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliaries	2
DESL 1020	Head, Neck, and Dental Anatomy Laboratory	1
DESL 1200	Dental Radiography Laboratory	1
DESL 1800	Introduction to Clinical Procedures Laboratory	1
DESL 1840	Preventive Dentistry Laboratory	1
DESL 2100	Dental Materials Laboratory	1
Support Courses: 12 Credits		12
BSCC 2093	Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
BSCC 2094	Human Anatomy and Physiology 2
MCBC 2010	Microbiology for Health Sciences
Total Credit Hours		88

Note: A grade of "C" or higher is necessary in each major course for progression and graduation.

Learning Outcomes: Dental Hygiene A.S.

1. Provide dental hygiene care for periodontally involved patients
   • Supports Core Ability: Think Critically and Solve Problems
2. Implement community based oral health program
   •  Supports Core Ability: Work Cooperatively
3. Interpret ethical, legal and regulatory concepts
   • Supports Core Ability: Model Ethical and Civic Responsibility