Dental Hygiene Program

Program Mission & Philosophy

The purpose of the dental hygiene program is to educate students who will influence the total health of the community by positively impacting the oral health status of individuals.

We believe that the program should provide a foundation for the student to reach his/her greatest potential in the profession of dental hygiene so that he/she may achieve a sense of dignity, value and personal worth in the community and in the work-world regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity.

Introduction

The Dental Hygiene Program provides education and experience, to prepare graduates for licensing as dental hygienists. Accepted students will begin each fall semester and continue for two years. Dental Hygiene classes are conducted at the National City Higher Education Center. Transportation is the individual student's responsibility. Students generally have classes five (5) days per week.

General Description

A dental hygienist is a licensed, preventive oral health professional who provides educational, clinical, and therapeutic services to the public in a variety of settings. As the preventive specialist of the dental healthcare team, the hygienist promotes and maintains oral wellness. Procedures include yet are not limited to oral health assessments, taking x-rays, dental health education, removal of soft and hard deposits from teeth, and adjunct therapeutic services such as sealants, fluorides, and antimicrobials.

NOTICE: All students in the dental hygiene program recruit patients for their learning experiences. Patients can be family and friends yet must go through the screening process. The program has a strong foundation of patients as well, and continues to promote free services to the community. Courses that require or may require patient experiences include: DH 108, DH 109, DH 112, DH 118, DH 122, and DH 202.