Dental Hygiene: AAS

Associate in Applied Science | 73 credit hours minimum

Area of Interest: Health Professions

Program Website

Academic Advising

Program Description:

The dental hygiene program is a 2-year, full time program that begins each fall and is designed to prepare students for licensure and employment in the State of Missouri.  The program includes a general education component as well as a concentration in dental hygiene.  Graduates of this program may transfer to a four-year college or university to obtain a bachelor of science degree.  Acceptance of credits earned is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Students in this program get real life hands on experience at the public dental hygiene clinic at the Forest Park campus.  The teaching environment covers classroom work, laboratory experience and actual clinical practice.  While enrolled in this program, students will learn how to conduct patient assessments, perform dental diagnostic tests including radiographs, administer local anesthesia, instruct patients in dental disease control procedures, scaling and polishing procedures for the removal of hard and soft deposits, dental health procedures and more.  Persons interested in this program should enjoy working with people from all age groups. An interest in biology and the health sciences is important. Good eye/hand coordination and attention to detail is necessary.

Graduates are qualified for positions as dental hygienists and may serve as clinical practitioners in general or specialty dental practice, or as educators, researchers, administrators, managers, program developers, consultants or dental product sales representatives. Employment is available in the military, health maintenance organizations, community health agencies, private industry, and abroad with the Peace Corps or World Health Organization. This program has many prerequisites based on professional standards. See an advisor for further information.

Dental Hygiene Program Prerequisites

These prerequisites must be satisfied prior to entry into the program. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required in these four science prerequisite courses.  In addition, current CPR Basic Life Support with AED certification is required when starting the program and must be maintained throughout the course of the program.

Locations. This program is offered in its entirety at Forest Park. 

Licensure. This program meets the educational requirements for state licensure in the following states: Missouri, Illinois, Alaska, and South Dakota. Students interested in pursuing licensure in a different state should contact the program coordinator for more information.

Cost of Attendance.  For more information on cost of attendance visit MoSCORES. 

Program Career and Salary Information.  Pursuant to Missouri HB 1606 (2018), information regarding the number of credit hours, program length, employment rate, wage data, and graduates employed in careers related to their program of study at St. Louis Community College can be found at the following URL: https://scorecard.mo.gov/scorecard/. Search using School / Program “St. Louis Community College” and choose the degree or credential type of interest. 

The following limitations to the data apply: Information provided is based on the most recent cohorts available. Typically, most recent cohorts for wage and completion data are six years prior to the current academic year. Time to complete a program of study varies depending on the number of credit hours students earn per semester.

Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.   

At the completion of the program, students are expected to:

1. apply an ethical code to behavior and decision-making in all aspects of the practice of dental hygiene, demonstrating integrity and honesty.
2. ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the patient/client for all dental hygiene encounters and accuracy of patient records.
3. provide care that is humane, empathetic and caring for all individuals and communities without discrimination.
4. comply with state and federal laws while providing the legal spectrum of dental hygiene care services.
5. take responsible dental hygiene actions using evidence-based dental hygiene interventions.
6. communicate professional knowledge effectively with diverse populations, both orally and in writing.
7. sustain lifelong learning and continuous self-assessment in order to provide contemporary clinical care and facilitate professional growth.
8. advance the profession through leadership, service activities and affiliation with professional organizations.
9. promote the values of the dental hygiene profession to the public, and to other health care professionals and organizations.
10. identify and evaluate opportunities for pursuing alternative dental hygiene career/practice pathways in non-traditional settings.
11. promote the values of oral and general health to the public and empower individuals/populations to accept responsibility for health by adopting and adhering to self-care regimens.
12. identify the oral health needs, and risk factors, of individuals/populations and facilitate the development of care strategies appropriate for their value/belief systems.
13. provide screening, referral and educational services that allow and encourage patients/clients to access the resources of the health care system.
14. identify services and agencies that promote oral health in order to facilitate access to care.
15. assess, plan implement and evaluate community-based oral-health programs.
16. provide oral health services in a variety of delivery settings within a community.
17. evaluate financing of the health care delivery system and its impact on access to oral health care.
18. obtain, review and update complete histories recognizing multicultural differences in populations.
19. recognize medications and health conditions that require modifications in treatment.
20. identify the patient/client at risk for a medical emergency, and be prepared to prevent, or manage such emergencies.
21. accurately perform a comprehensive dental hygiene examination, analyze and interpret assessment data, and formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis congruent with the diagnosis of the dentist and other health professionals.
22. identify the need for radiographic examination, expose and produce radiographs of diagnostic quality.
23. identify dental and/or medical risk factors that require dental hygiene interventions.
24. establish a sequential plan of education, preventive, and therapeutic care based on the dental hygiene diagnosis, using an evidence-based approach.
25. prioritize oral health goals in a thorough case presentation and obtain informed consent.
26. communicate the dental hygiene care plan to the dentist and other collaborative health care team members to determine its appropriateness with the overall plan for total oral health care.
27. evaluate and implement accepted methods of disease prevention transmission.
28. manage pain and anxiety using accepted clinical and behavior management methods.
29. perform basic scaling and advanced periodontal debridement procedures without causing trauma to hard and soft tissues.
30. select and administer appropriate preventive and/or therapeutic agents, providing pre- and post- treatment strategies.
31. review and incorporate work environment procedures to minimize the incidence of occupational hazards.
32. determine the outcomes of dental hygiene interventions and maintenance programs using appropriate Indices and evaluation methods.
33. evaluate patient/client satisfaction with care received and oral health status achieved.

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

Program of Study

Requirements and Prerequisites

In order to be admitted into the program, you must meet all of the program requirements. Official transcripts from high school, GED certification, and all other colleges must be mailed to the Registrar’s office (hand-carried and faxed transcripts are not accepted). Upon acceptance to STLCC, students will need to specifically apply to the dental hygiene program. It is highly recommended that students meet with an STLCC dental hygiene program academic advisor to complete an academic plan prior to applying for the program.

• Acceptance into the dental hygiene program has three requirements:
  • Cumulative GPA: Students must maintain regular student status and a cumulative 2.5 GPA.
  • Science Prerequisite GPA: Four science prerequisite courses must be completed prior to filling out the dental hygiene program application. A minimum of a 3.0 GPA is required for these four science courses: Microbiology (BIO 203); Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 207); Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO 208); and Fundamentals of Chemistry (CHM 101) with a minimum grade of C or better in each course within five years prior to admission. Science prerequisite courses may be retaken one time for a maximum total of two attempts.
  • Observation Hours: Students must complete a total of 20 hours observing dental hygienists in private practice in a minimum of two offices, three preferred. This is to be documented on practice letterhead (date, number of hours spent observing and signature of dentist or dental hygienist). Professional attire is required with no visible tattoos or body piercings; no jeans; only closed-toe shoes.
• Program Notification of Acceptance: Admission acceptance and reservation forms are mailed twice yearly; fall and spring semesters. Students are notified if they will start the program the following academic year, or if they are placed on a waitlist. Placement on the entry list and waitlist are determined by the date and time of application, which is maintained on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once an application is made, students are required to inform the program director of any changes to their address, email or phone number.
• Students entering the program: Prior to starting the program in the fall semester, students will receive a packet of information and directions in March; students are required to complete CPR Basic Life Support (BLS) with an automated external defibrillator (AED) certification, a background check, and a physical exam at their own expense. Students are advised not to do any of this until they receive their packet with specific instructions.
• Students must purchase their own uniforms, equipment, and supplies prior to the start of the program. The program director will distribute a list of specific items with costs at orientation, which takes place in June. Students can expect the cost of the items to be approximately $2,000 for the first semester. Over the next year, approximately another $4,000 in expenses are incurred in addition to books and fees.
• Graduates of the dental hygiene program are eligible to sit for the clinical and national board exams as well as apply for state licensure. Licensure applications include questions regarding criminal history, drug addictions and require a Social Security number. Discovery of relevant criminal history or false information may result in denial of the student’s application, conditioned licensure or the filing of disciplinary action against the applicant.

Dental Hygiene Program Requirements Checklist

Academic Plan 

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2024, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements.  Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.