Dental Hygiene, Associate in Science
Dental Hygiene, Associate in Science
The Dental Hygiene Program prepares students for the practice of dental hygiene. A Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) is a licensed professional who is part of the dental care team, performing such services as oral examination, oral prophylaxis (scaling, root planning, soft tissue curettage and polishing the teeth), exposing and processing dental x-rays, administering local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation for pain control, applying preventive substances such as topical fluorides and dental sealants, along with instructing patients in oral disease control and nutrition.
The Dental Hygiene, Associate in Science Degree Program offers academic and clinical skills curriculum within an on-campus clinic. The student is prepared for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (written), the state practical examination, and must take the California Law & Ethics exam to gain licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist.
| Course ID | Title | Units/Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Recommendation | ||
| CAOT R803 | Computer Literacy | 0 |
| Program Prerequisite Courses | ||
| DH R001 | Pre-Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| ANAT R101 | General Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL R101 | General Biology (or equivalent) | 3 |
| or BIOL R101H | Honors: General Biology | |
| BIOL R101L | General Biology Laboratory (or equivalent) | 1 |
| CHEM R110 | Elementary Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM R112 | Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry | 5 |
| COMM R101 | Introduction to Oral Communication | 3 |
| ENGL R101 | College Composition | 4 |
| or ENGL R101H | Honors: College Composition | |
| MATH R005 | Beginning and Intermediate Algebra for Statistics and Liberal Arts | 4-6 |
| or MATH R015 | Beginning and Intermediate Algebra | |
| or MATH R105 | Introductory Statistics | |
| or MATH R105H | Honors: Introductory Statistics | |
| MICR R100 | Principles of Microbiology | 3 |
| MICR R100L | Principles of Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| PHSO R101 | Human Physiology | 5 |
| PSY R101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| or PSY R101H | Honors: General Psychology | |
| SOC R101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SOC R101H | Honors: Introduction to Sociology | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| ANTH R102 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| or ANTH R102H | Honors: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH/ETHS R114 | African American Culture and Experience | 3 |
| CHST R101 | Introduction to Chicana/o Studies | 3 |
| ECE R107 | Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| SJS/ETHS R110 | Introduction to Social Justice Studies | 3 |
| SOC R103 | Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOC/CHST R108 | Sociology of the Chicano Community | 3 |
The courses listed above are not necessarily entry-level. Oxnard College offers courses to prepare students to succeed in these prerequisites. The Dental Hygiene Program requires full-time enrollment. See a counselor for more information.
Dental Hygiene Program Admission
Upon completion of the prerequisites, students must apply for admission to the Dental Hygiene program. A minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.0 is required. All colleges ever attended must be reported. All science prerequisites must have been completed no more than 5 years prior to application to the Dental Hygiene program and must have been completed with a 3.0 GPA. Contact the program coordinator at 805-678-5823 for details on the selection process. The Dental Hygiene program requires full-time enrollment.
| Course ID | Title | Units/Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Dental Hygiene Courses | ||
| Oral Biology for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Oral Radiology for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Head and Neck Anatomy for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Dental Health Education Seminar for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Introduction to Dental Hygiene Practice | ||
| Introduction to PreClinic/Clinic for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Local Anesthesia for Nitrous Oxide for Dental Hygiene | ||
| General and Oral Pathology for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Pharmacology for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice I | ||
| Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar I | ||
| Periodontics for Dental Hygiene I | ||
| Special Patients/Geriatrics for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Nutrition in Dentistry for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Dental Materials for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar II | ||
| Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice II | ||
| Periodontics for Dental Hygiene II | ||
| Community Oral Health for Dental Hygiene I | ||
| Advanced Clinical Topics in Dental Hygiene | ||
| Practice Management for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar III | ||
| Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice III | ||
| Community Oral Health for Dental Hygiene II | ||
| Ethics and Jurisprudence for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Total Required Major Units | 55.5 | |
| Oxnard College General Education | 29 | |
| Double-Counted Units | - 16 | |
| Free Electives Required | 0 | |
| Total Required Units for A.S. Degree | 68.5 | |
To complete the Associate Degree, students must meet requirements in the major, general education, competency, units, scholarship, and residency. Refer to Earn an Associate Degree and the A.A. or A.S. Degree in Specific Majors sections of this catalog.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units/Hours | |
| DH R010 | Oral Biology for Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DH R011 | Oral Radiology for Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DH R012 | Head and Neck Anatomy for Dental Hygiene | 2.5 |
| DH R013 | Dental Health Education Seminar for Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| DH R014 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Practice | 3 |
| DH R015 | Introduction to PreClinic/Clinic for Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| Units/Hours | 14.5 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DH R020 | Local Anesthesia for Nitrous Oxide for Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| DH R021 | General and Oral Pathology for Dental Hygiene | 4 |
| DH R022 | Pharmacology for Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| DH R023 | Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice I | 3 |
| DH R024 | Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar I | 3 |
| DH R025 | Periodontics for Dental Hygiene I | 2 |
| Units/Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| DH R030 | Special Patients/Geriatrics for Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| DH R031 | Nutrition in Dentistry for Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| DH R032 | Dental Materials for Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| DH R033 | Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar II | 2 |
| DH R034 | Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice II | 4 |
| DH R035 | Periodontics for Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DH R036 | Community Oral Health for Dental Hygiene I | 2 |
| Units/Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DH R040 | Advanced Clinical Topics in Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| DH R041 | Practice Management for Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| DH R042 | Dental Hygiene Clinic Seminar III | 2 |
| DH R043 | Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice III | 4 |
| DH R044 | Community Oral Health for Dental Hygiene II | 1 |
| DH R045 | Ethics and Jurisprudence for Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| Units/Hours | 11 | |
| Total Units/Hours | 55.5 | |
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate competence in performing the common local anesthetic techniques used in the practice of dental hygiene.
- Analyze oral structures/tissues and evaluate these oral structures/tissues for pathology and treat any pathology appropriately.
- Construct dental hygiene treatment plans and employ these plans to provide comprehensive dental hygiene treatment to patients.
- Manage their fundamental roles in the dental practice
- Operate dental radiographic equipment properly and safely
- Evaluate patients’ medical/dental histories and make appropriate adjustments to their dental hygiene treatment.