Dental Hygiene, AAS

Notice:

This degree is a selective admissions program.

 

NEW REQUIREMENT ADDED TO APPLICATION PROCESS

The Dental Hygiene Program will require all applicants to take the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills exam (TEAS) as part of the application process. Please see "Things to note" under Application Information for more details about the TEAS test

Why PCC?

The PCC Dental Hygiene faculty has over 100 years combined experience in the profession. Our members have extensive experience working with a diverse patient population, are active members in their professional association and believe in continually serving the public through numerous community service projects.

The Dental Hygiene program operates a modern community clinic that offers excellent preventive dental care to the general public at substantially reduced rates. The clinic offers you the opportunity to gain extensive hands-on experience under the supervision of our excellent instructors.

Our students have a record of high success rates on licensing exams and are highly sought after in the profession.

What will I learn?

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene will prepare you to provide services to patients and educate them in all aspects of preventive dentistry. In the PCC on-campus clinic, you will provide preventive and therapeutic services for patients under the direct supervision of our highly qualified faculty.

In the traditional role of dental hygienist, training includes prophylaxis, patient data gathering for diagnosis and treatment planning, fluoride treatment, sealant application, radiographic examination and nutritional counseling. In the expanded role of the dental hygienist, training includes treatment of periodontally involved patients and treatment of handicapped, institutionalized, and other medically compromised patients. You also will learn to provide local anesthesia and administer nitrous oxide.

Because of the high level of personal and professional responsibility required of a dental hygienist, you must have integrity, maturity, individual motivation, good interpersonal skills, excellent manual dexterity, and a solid science and general studies academic background to be successful in this program. PCC’s program is firmly committed to fostering intellectual growth and to developing well-qualified dental hygienists with high professional standards and ethics.

 

Accreditation

The Program in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "Approval without reporting requirements". The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.  The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312)440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission's web address is: https://www.ada.org/en/coda. The Program is currently accredited until 2030.


Commission Policy on Third Party Comments

 

Marijuana Policy

THC (marijuana) is part of the required 10-panel drug screen prior to admittance into any Health Professions or Public Safety program at PCC. The passage of Amendment 64 in the State of Colorado, does not overrule Federal law, which states this is still an illegal substance. Students testing positive for THC (marijuana, including prescription marijuana) will not be allowed entrance or re-entrance into a Health or Public Safety program.

Certificate & Degree Offerings in Dental Hygiene:

Dental Hygiene, AAS

Award/Program Credits  92.5

 

VIEW PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS >

Local Anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Mini-Certificate

Award/Program Credits  3

 

VIEW PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS >

Dental Hygiene, BAS

Award/Program Credits  27

 

VIEW PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS >

Program Information

Location
Pueblo Campus
Pathway
Health Professions
Awards
AAS
Course Availability
Day
Program Start
Fall