Dental Hygiene

Associate in Applied Science (Career Program) - 81.5 Credit Hours

Program Information:
The dental hygenist works under the supervision of the dentist in dental offices and other health agencies. Duties include cleaning teeth, exposing x-rays for interpretation by dentists, giving oral health care instructions to patients, maintaining patient records and dental histories, and preparing clinical and laboratory dental tests. Additional duties may be delegated to the hygenist by the dentist in accordance with the Illinois Dental Practice Act or other applicable state practice acts. Students receive their clinical experiences in the Illinois Central College Dental Hygiene Clinic and selected agencies. Graduates are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, the examination for registration as a Dental Hygienist in Illinois, and other states.

Program Accreditation:
The dental hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Accreditation.

Admission to the Program:

Admission criteria includes: 1) graduation from high school, or equivalent; 2) academic placement test scores into READ 115 and ENGL 110; 3) 2 years high school science including chemistry; 1 year high school algebra and 1 year high school geometry with grade averages of "C" or better in each of these high school courses; 4) an ACT composite score of 18 or above (tested prior to October 28, 1989) or 20 or above (tested after October 28, 1989); 5) in the case of students not initially admissible to the program: a) completion of algebra and geometry at Illinois Central College or equivalent courses taken at other colleges, or placement test scores into MAT 108 and out of MAT 105; b) completion of chemistry at Illinois Central College or equivalent course taken at another college; c) completion of 18 or more semester hours of approved courses taken at Illinois Central College or equivalent courses at other colleges including BIOL 140, BIOL 210, CHEM 115 with at least a "C" in each of these three courses (courses numbered below 110 will not apply toward the 18-hour requirement). A physical exam and proof of required vaccinations will be required upon admission to the program.

High school recommendations include 2 years laboratory science, including chemistry; 3 years English; 1 year algebra; 1 year geometry; and keyboarding.

Recommended Course Sequence:

Fall Semester 1:
ENGL 110; BIOL 210; DHYGN 110; DHYGN 113; DHYGN 115; DHYGN 117; Humanities

Spring Semester 1:
COMM 110; FCS 110; DHYGN 111; DHYGN 131; DHYGN 133; DHYGN 135; DHYGN 137; DHYGN 139

Summer Semester 1:
DHYGN 212; DHYGN 220; DHYGN 222; DHYGN 230; DHYGN 243

Fall Semester 2:
DHYGN 210; DHYGN 226; DHYGN 228; DHYGN 231; DHYGN 244; DHYGN 245

Spring Semester 2:
SOC 110; PSY 110; DHYGN 232; DHYGN 242; DHYGN 246; DHYGN 247

Course Information:

Required General Education Courses
Course	Name	Credit
COMM 110	COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRACTICE	3
ENGL 110	COMPOSITION I	3
PSY 110	INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY	3
SOC 110	AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	3
	HUMANITIES *	3
BIOL 140	HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY * *	4
BIOL 210	MICROBIOLOGY * *	4
CHEM 115	FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY * *	4

Required Program Courses
Course	Name	Credit
DHYGN 110	DENTAL SCIENCE I * * *	3
DHYGN 111	DENTAL SCIENCE II * * *	3
DHYGN 113	FUNDAMENTALS OF DENTAL HYGIENE AND INFECTION CONTROL * * *	1.5
DHYGN 115	INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL HYGIENE * * *	1
DHYGN 117	DENTAL SPECIALTIES * * *	1
DHYGN 131	INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL HYGIENE CLINICAL APPLICATIONS * * *	2
DHYGN 133	PRECLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE * * *	2
DHYGN 135	DENTAL RADIOLOGY * * *	3
DHYGN 137	MEDICAL EMERGENCIES * * *	1
DHYGN 139	SPECIAL POPULATIONS * * *	1
DHYGN 210	COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH * * *	3
DHYGN 212	DENTAL MATERIALS * * *	2
DHYGN 220	NITROUS OXIDE ANALGESIA * * *	.5
DHYGN 222	PREVENTIVE MODALITIES * * *	3
DHYGN 226	LOCAL ANESTHETICS FOR THE DENTAL HYGIENIST * * *	1
DHYGN 228	NEW DIMENSIONS IN DENTAL HYGIENE * * *	2
DHYGN 230	DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC I * * *	2
DHYGN 231	DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC II * * *	5
DHYGN 232	DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC III * * *	4
DHYGN 242	PHARMACOLOGY FOR DENTAL HYGIENISTS * * *	2
DHYGN 243	ORAL PATHOLOGY I * * *	1
DHYGN 244	PERIODONTOLOGY * * *	2
DHYGN 245	ORAL PATHOLOGY II * * *	2
DHYGN 246	TRANSITIONS FOR THE DENTAL HYGIENIST * * *	3
DHYGN 247	OFFICE PRACTICES IN DENTISTRY * * *	1.5
FCS 110	BASIC NUTRITION * *	2

* See specific requirements for the Associate in Applied Science Degree (page 6).

** These courses must be completed within five (5) years of admission into the program.

*** Students must attain a "C" grade or better in all DHYGN preclinical and clinical courses and BIOL 140, BIOL 210, CHEM 115, and FCS 110 in order to be retained in and graduate from the program.

All Required General Education Courses may be taken prior to admission into the program.

For Program Information Contact:

Health Careers Department
Thomas Building

(309)999-4600