Dental Hygienists work with the dentist to provide comprehensive dental care to patients. A career in dental hygiene offers variety and personal satisfaction. The Rio Salado College School of Dental Hygiene provides students with the necessary education to function as an integral member of the dental team. As a dental hygienist you may provide therapeutic and preventive services with a dentist, and be involved in dental health counseling. The program blends academic and clinical coursework and requires meticulous attention to detail, ability to handle scientific material and motivation to complete multiple tasks on a time-line.

Dental hygienists generally are responsible for cleaning teeth and providing preventive dental care, as well as teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene. They examine patients’ teeth and gums and record the presence of diseases or abnormalities. They may explain the relationship between diet and oral health and educate patients how to properly brush and floss teeth. Hygienists use rotary and hand instruments, take x-rays, and may administer local anesthetics in some states.

Licensed dental hygienists can find employment in private dental offices and clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and in private businesses. The flexibility within this career allows for employment in both full and part time positions. Salary ranges vary from state to state.

The Rio Salado College School of Dental Hygiene improves the oral health of Arizona’s diverse populations by providing accessible, innovative, high-quality education, fostering ethically responsible students and faculty, while encouraging continued competency through on-going assessment and improvement.

All students interested in starting classes are strongly encouraged to work with a Rio Salado College student enrollment specialist and/or academic advisor.

The Goals of the Program:1. Prepare graduates who possess the skills and knowledge to competently, legally, and ethically assess, plan, implement, and evaluate dental hygiene services for diverse populations.

2. Provide a curriculum that facilitates instructional strategies that enhance student learning.

3. Provide graduates a learning environment that fosters a commitment to scientific inquiry, life-long learning, community service, and professional development.

R I O S A L A D O C O L L E G E

PROGRAMS

Dental HygieneAssociate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene

in Action480-377-4100www.riosalado.edu/dental

R I O S A L A D O C O L L E G E

PROGRAMAssociate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene

The Rio Salado College School of Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (ADA), 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. (www.ada.org) Graduates of the Rio Salado College School of Dental Hygiene are eligible to take written and clinical exams necessary to apply for state licensure.

Criteria for Admittance into ProgramTo be considered for admissions to the Maricopa Community Colleges Dental Hygiene program at Rio Salado College, interested applicants need to review the criteria on the following website: www.dental.maricopa.edu.

Applicants will find a combination of resources and information, in-cluding: program application; HIPAA assessment, background check and fingerprinting processes; and other frequently asked questions.

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES:

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSESENG Any approved general education course in the First Year Composition area. COM Any approved general education course in the Oral Communication area. HUM Any approved general education course in 3 cr the Humanities and Fine Arts area. (Refer to the Rio catalog for approved list)PSY101 Intro to Psychology 3 crSOC101 Intro to Sociology 3 crMAT102 Math Concepts/Applications OR equivalent 3 cr course OR satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics courseCRE101 Critical & Evaluative Reading I OR 3 cr Equivalent by assessment

BASIC SCIENCES COURSESBIO156+ Introductory Biology for Allied Health (4) OR BIO181+ General Biology (Majors) (4) OR One Year of high school biology 4 crBIO201* Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 cr BIO202* Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 crBIO205* Microbiology 4 cr

CHM138* Chemistry for Allied Health 3 crCHM138LL* Chemistry for Allied Health Laboratory 1 crHCC109+ CPR for Health Care Provider or .5 cr current CPR certification at the Health Care Provider Professional rescuer level.

DENTAL HYGIENE REQUIRED COURSES DHE110* PharmacologyDHE112* Oral PathologyDHE114* Emergency MedicineDHE119* Head and Neck AnatomyDHE120* Pre-Clinical Dental HygieneDHE122* Dental Anatomy, Embryology and HistologyDHE124* Dental RadiographyDHE125* Dental Radiography LaboratoryDHE127* Prevention of Dental DiseaseDHE132* Dental Hygiene Theory IDHE133* Dental Hygiene Clinic IDHE203* Dental MaterialsDHE204* Dental Materials LaboratoryDHE212* Dental Hygiene Theory IIDHE213* Dental Hygiene Clinic IIDHE219* Practice ManagementDHE225* PeriodonticsDHE227* Dental AnesthesiaDHE229* Community Oral HealthDHE232* Dental Hygiene Theory IIIDHE233* Dental Hygiene Clinic III

+Biology courses (BIO 156 and BIO 181) and HCC 109 may be waived by the Program Director for the student who has one year of high school biology and the current CPR certification at the health care provider or professional rescuer level from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross CPR-Health Care Provider card. (Copy of front and back of CURRENT card required to verify waiver)

*These courses listed have a prerequisite and/or corequisite.

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