Maintaining Healthy Smiles
Our Dental Hygiene program will teach you how to play a critical role as part of a dental health care team that educates and treats patients. You will provide preventative care and treatment, which may include medical and dental history review, head and neck examination, exposure of dental radiographs (x- rays), dental prophylaxis (teeth cleaning), fluoride, sealants and polishing of restorations. This is the only accredited Dental Hygiene program in Philadelphia, through which you will use state-of-the-art equipment; have access to faculty who are experts in the dental hygiene profession; benefit from supervised, hands-on experience with patients; and receive excellent preparation for taking the required exams for licensing and certification.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Careers
Find your path.
Dental Hygienist - est. salary $78,400*
**EMSI Data, 2019; Philadelphia County, PA; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Transfer Opportunities
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Courses and Completion Sequence
Summer I
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 - English Composition | 3 credits | Prerequisite for DH 115, 135, 150 and 191 Must earn a grade of “C” or better to register for ENGL 102 |
ENGL 101 |
| CIS 103 - Applied Computer Technology | 3 credits | Prerequisite for DH 115, 135, 150 and 191 | Technology Competency |
Semester 1
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| DH 115 - Oral, Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 credits | ENGL 101 and CIS 103 are prerequisites | Major Course |
| DH 135 - Dental Radiology | 3 credits | ENGL 101 and CIS 103 are prerequisites | Major Course |
| DH 150 - Dental Auxiliary Practices | 4 credits | ENGL 101 and CIS 103 are prerequisites | Major Course |
| DH 191 - Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 3 credits | ENGL 101 and CIS 103 are prerequisites | Major Course |
| BIOL 109-110 Anatomy and Physiology I & II | 4 credits | Visit the Science, Technology, & Allied Health Lab in the Library Lower Level, Room L1-LL for support Prerequisite for BIOL 110 | Natural Science |
All courses are critical course as it is a prerequisite for other DH courses. Must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses.
- This program is designed to provide students with the option of entering the workforce or transferring to a bachelor's degree program after earning their associate degree
- Make sure you discuss your first semester schedule and your educational plan with an advisor or counselor when you register
Semester 2
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 102 - The Research Paper | 3 credits | Visit the Central Learning Lab, Bonnell Building, Room B1-28, for support | ENGL 102 Information Literacy |
| BIOL 110 - Anat & Phys II | 4 credits | Prerequisite: BIOL 109 Visit the Science, Technology, & Allied Health Lab in the Library Lower Level, Room L1-LL for support | Major Course |
| DH 121 - Oral Histology and Embryology | 2 credits | Prerequisites: BIOL 109. DH 115, DH 135, DH 150 and DH 191all with a grade of "C" or better | Major Course |
| DH 165 - Nutrition and Biochemistry in Dentistry | 4 credits | Prerequisites: BIOL 109. DH 115, DH 135, DH 150 and DH 191 | Major Course |
| DH 192 - Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 3 credits |
Prerequisites: BIOL 109, ENGL 102, DH 115, DH 135, DH 150, DH 191 all with a grade "C" or better; |
Major Course |
- Don’t forget to meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
- Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
- Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
- Now is a good time to start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship— You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships
- Visit Career Connections to learn about internships and your future career possibilities
Summer 1
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYCH 101: Introduction to Psychology | 3 credits | Most transfer institutions require a psychology course. Required for accreditation |
Directed Elective |
| DH 210: Local Anesthesia | 3 credits | Prerequisites: DH 121, DH 165, DH 192 and BIOL 110 with grade of C or better. | Major Course |
Must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses
Summer 2
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology | 3 credits | Most transfer institutions require a sociology course. Meet with an academic advisor to ensure SOC 101 is the preferred elective to best meets program and/or transfer requirements | Social Science Elective Fulfills all of the Major Academic Approaches (American/Global Diversity, Interpretive Studies, and Writing Intensive) |
| BIOL 241 - Principles of Microbiology | 4 credits | Prerequisite for DH 241, DH 245, DH 247, DH 293, DH 271 and DH 294 Prerequisites: BIOL 106 or BIOL 108; BIOL 109 or BIOL 123 | Major Course |
Must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses.
Semester 3
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| DH 241 - Oral Pathology | 2 credits | Prerequisites: BIOL 110, BIOL 241, DH 121, DH 165, DH 192, ENGL 102 all with a grade of "C" or better | Major Course |
| DH 245 - Dental Pharmacology and Pain Management | 2 credits | Prerequisites: BIOL 110, BIOL 241, DH 121, DH 165, DH 192, ENGL 102 all with a grade of "C" or better | Major Course |
| DH 247 - Periodontics | 4 credits | Prerequisites: BIOL 110, BIOL 241, DH 121, DH 165, DH 192, ENGL 102 all with a grade of "C" or better | Major Course |
| DH 293 - Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 6 credits | Prerequisites: BIOL 110, BIOL 241, DH 121, DH 165, DH 192, ENGL 102 all with a grade of "C" or better | Major Course |
Must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses.
- Meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
- Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
- Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
- Start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship—You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships
Semester 4
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| DH 271 - Community Dentistry | 3 credits |
Prerequisites: BIOL 241, DH 241, DH 245, DH 247, DH 293 all with a grade of "C" or better |
Major Course |
| DH 294 - Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 6 credits |
Prerequisites: BIOL 241, DH 241, DH 245, DH 247, DH 293 all with a grade of "C" or better |
Major Course |
| FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or higher | 3 credits | Mathematics | |
| ENGL 115 - Public Speaking | 3 credits | ENGL 101 may be taken concurrently Required by accreditation | Humanities Elective |
Must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses
- If this is your final semester! Don’t forget to complete your graduation application.
- Meet with an advisor when registering for your classes
- Take advantage of our scholarship opportunities for transferring students and apply for a scholarship
Summer 1
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| DH 295 - Clinical Dental Hygiene V | 2 credits | Prerequisites: DH 271, DH 294, ENGL 115 all with a grade of "C" or better | Major Course |
Must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses.
General Education Requirements:
All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College’s general education requirements is also available.
Featured Career
Dental Hygienist
Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop x rays, or apply fluoride or sealants.
$78,400
729
in the region
+11.7%
in the region
Typical Tasks
- Record and review patient medical histories.
- Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
- Expose and develop radiographs using traditional film and digital sensors.
- Utilize dental software program for managing patient care.
- Educate patients on oral health care.
How well does it pay?
New workers generally start around $57,199. Normal pay for Dental Hygienists is $78,400 per year, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $100,557.
Program Information
Dental Hygiene
Degree Type:
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)Credits Needed to Graduate:
83