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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Major: 3831
Effective Term: 2023 Fall   

Award: AAS
Total Credits: 96-115.5
CIP Code: 51.0602

Instructional Council: Allied Health and Dental Health Professions
GPA: 3.25
SOC Code: Upon completion of this program, students may pursue a career as:
29-1292.00 Dental Hygienists


Description: The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene degree prepares students to become primary care oral health professionals. A licensed dental hygienist may provide education, assessment, diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic services, research, and administrative services that support overall health through the promotion of optimal oral health. Hygienists may be employed in general or specialty dental practice in private or public healthcare settings. The program also prepares students for university transfer.

The dental hygiene program offers a rigorous, intensive, science-based curriculum. Students will provide services in clinical settings and will develop a commitment to the community through offsite educational and enrichment experiences serving diverse populations. Successful students will develop and demonstrate critical thinking, as well as ethical and professional behaviors required by the field.

Applicants should possess hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, attention to detail, and the ability to persevere through a rigorous academic and clinical full-time program workload. Students in an MCCCD Dental Hygiene program will be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases. The program strictly adheres to established policies and procedures regarding infection control as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Dental Association, the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (211 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611-2637; (312) 440-4653) grants accreditation to the Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, and Mesa Community College programs. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. Graduates are eligible for board examinations and licensure in all fifty states.

Learning Outcomes
1. Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations, and regulations in the provision of oral health care. (DHE117, DHE120, DHE125, DHE132, DHE133, DHE201, DHE202, DHE212, DHE213, DHE219, DHE227, DHE232, DHE233, HCC/RES109, [HU]).
2. Systematically assess comprehensive data on the general and oral health needs of patients from diverse populations. (DHE110, DHE112, DHE115, DHE119, DHE120, DHE121, DHE125, DHE127, DHE132, DHE133, DHE201, DHE202, DHE212, DHE213, DHE225, DHE227, DHE232, DHE233, BIO156, BIO181, BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, CHM130, CHM130LL, CHM130AA, CHM151, CHM151LL, CHM151AA, CHM152, CHM152LL, CHM152AA, CHM230, CHM230LL, CHM230AA, CHM235, CHM235LL, CHM235AA, CHM236, CHM236LL, CHM236AA, [CS], [FYC], [MA], [SB], (CRE)).
3. Use critical decision making to interpret data and create a dental hygiene diagnosis. (DHE110, DHE112, DHE115, DHE117, DHE119, DHE121, DHE125, DHE127, DHE132, DHE133, DHE201, DHE202, DHE212, DHE213, DHE225, DHE227, DHE232, DHE233, BIO156, BIO181, BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, CHM130, CHM130LL, CHM130AA, CHM151, CHM151LL, CHM151AA, CHM152, CHM152LL, CHM152AA, CHM230, CHM230LL, CHM230AA, CHM235, CHM235LL, CHM235AA, CHM236, CHM236LL, CHM236AA, [CS], [HU], [MA], [SB], (CRE)).
4. Design and present a patient-centered dental hygiene care plan utilizing evidence-based research and professional standards. (DHE132,DHE133,DHE212, DHE213, DHE232, DHE233, BIO156, BIO181, BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, CHM130, CHM130LL, CHM130AA, CHM151, CHM151LL, CHM151AA, CHM152, CHM152LL, CHM152AA, CHM230, CHM230LL, CHM230AA, CHM235, CHM235LL, CHM235AA, CHM236, CHM236LL, CHM236AA, [FYC], [HU],(CRE))
5. Implement comprehensive dental hygiene services to achieve and maintain patients optimal health. (DHE133, DHE213, DHE233).
6. Evaluate the outcome of dental hygiene care during active and maintenance treatment phases and refer to appropriate healthcare providers if indicated. (DHE213, DHE233, BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, CHM130, CHM130LL, CHM130AA, CHM151, CHM151LL, CHM151AA, CHM152, CHM152LL, CHM152AA, CHM230, CHM230LL, CHM230AA, CHM235, CHM235LL, CHM235AA, CHM236, CHM236LL, CHM236AA, [FYC], (CRE)).
7. Record accurate, consistent, and complete documentation throughout the process of care. (DHE120, DHE133, DHE213, DHE233, BIO156, BIO181, BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, CHM130, CHM130LL, CHM130AA, CHM151, CHM151LL, CHM151AA, CHM152, CHM152LL, CHM152AA, CHM230, CHM230LL, CHM230AA, CHM235, CHM235LL, CHM235AA, CHM236, CHM236LL, CHM236AA, [FYC], [HU]).
8. Employ effective interpersonal communication with patients, families, and the healthcare team in a culturally competent, ethical, and professional manner. (DHE133, DHE213, DHE229, DHE233, [FYC], [HU], [SB], (COM)).
9. Practice professional and ethical behaviors as accepted by healthcare professionals. (DHE110, DHE112, DHE115, DHE117, DHE119, DHE120, DHE121, DHE125, DHE127, DHE132, DHE133, DHE201, DHE202, DHE212, DHE213, DHE219, DHE225, DHE227, DHE229, DHE232, DHE233, BIO156, BIO181, BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, CHM130, CHM130LL, CHM130AA, CHM151, CHM151LL, CHM151AA, CHM152, CHM152LL, CHM152AA, CHM230, CHM230LL, CHM230AA, CHM235, CHM235LL, CHM235AA, CHM236, CHM236LL, CHM236AA, [HU], [SB], (COM), (CRE)).
10. Demonstrate self-assessment and self-regulation strategies for lifelong learning. (DHE110, DHE112, DHE115, DHE117, DHE119, DHE120, DHE121, DHE125, DHE127, DHE132, DHE133, DHE201, DHE202, DHE212, DHE213, DHE219, DHE225, DHE227, DHE229, DHE232, DHE233, BIO156, BIO181, BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, [HU], [SB], (COM), (CRE)).
11. Advocate for healthy communities through the provision of community-based preventive and therapeutic oral healthcare services. (DHE229, [SB], (COM)).
Program Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Students must complete the Basic Science courses with a GPA of 3.5 or better and General Education courses with a GPA of 3.25 or better as indicated in the Program Prerequisites.
Basic Science courses must have been completed within the last five years upon application submission or as determined by the Dental Health Professions Instructional Council.
Students must earn a grade of 75% or better in the Required Courses area within the core program.
Students should consult with an advisor prior to applying to the program.

For students pursuing a Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) or to complete an AGEC-A: MHL155 and PHI213 are recommended for the Humanities, Arts and Design area for a total of 6 credits in this area.
COM225 with the [L] designation is recommended for the Oral Communication area. PSY101 and SOC101 are recommended for the Social Behavioral area.
MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142, MAT145 or MAT146 or higher level is required for the Mathematics area.
An additional course, MAT206 or PSY230 or PSY230WL, is required to meet the Computer/Statistics area.

Note: Total credits to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene through NAU as part of the CEP program are 124-129. Some of the courses listed in the prerequisites area are for students pursuing the CEP, and thus are not counted as part of the AAS total program credits.




Required Courses
+ DHE110 Pharmacology 3
+ DHE112 Oral Pathology 3
+ DHE115 Emergency Medicine 2
+ DHE117 Dental Radiography 2
+ DHE119 Head and Neck Anatomy 3
+ DHE120 Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene 6
+ DHE121 Dental Anatomy, Embryology and Histology 2
+ DHE125 Dental Radiography Laboratory 1
+ DHE127 Prevention of Dental Disease 3
+ DHE132 Dental Hygiene Theory I 3
+ DHE133 Dental Hygiene Clinic I 3
+ DHE201 Dental Materials 2
+ DHE202 Dental Materials Laboratory 1
+ DHE212 Dental Hygiene Theory II 2
+ DHE213 Dental Hygiene Clinic II 5
+ DHE219 Practice Management 2
+ DHE225 Periodontics 3
+ DHE227 Dental Anesthesia 2
+ DHE229 Community Oral Health 3
+ DHE232 Dental Hygiene Theory III 2
+ DHE233 Dental Hygiene Clinic III 5

FYE101 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1) OR
FYE103 Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success (3) 1-3
Credits: 59-61

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: May 23, 2023

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.