This program prepares individuals to clean teeth, apply preventive materials, provide oral health education and treatment counselling to patients, identify oral pathologies and injuries, and manage dental hygiene practices. This includes instruction in dental anatomy, microbiology, pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; cleaning equipment operation and maintenance; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counselling, office management; supervised clinical training; and professional standards.
Program prerequisites: Biology 50A, Biology 50B, Communication Studies 1, Chemistry 2A, Chemistry 2B, English 1A, Math 52, Biology 55, Kinesiology 4, Psychology 1, and Sociology 1.
Upon successful completion of this certificate program, students should be able to: Be competent in complying with the Dental Practice Act of California; Practice as a competent practitioner; complete the National and State Licensing examinations; Demonstrate behaviour based on the ethical and moral values outlined by the American Dental Hygienists Association; Perform dental hygiene services at a level that promotes patient satisfaction.
The Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene will be awarded upon completing the degree requirements, including general education and other graduation requirements.