The Dental Hygiene program teaches students how to provide comprehensive oral health care services in a variety of clinical and professional settings from private practices, hospitals and health departments to colleges, dental-related businesses and health maintenance organizations. Through dental hygiene courses, students will learn how to monitor a patient's dental health history, examine teeth and oral structures including tissues, conduct an oral cancer screening, plan and complete dental hygiene treatments and control of disease and educate and promote overall health.
The program consists of five semesters in length. A minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average is required. The Student Handbook outlines everything you need to know to attend COD.
Upon successful completion and passing of the National Dental Hygiene Examination and Regional Board Examination, students are eligible to apply for mandatory state licensure.
The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and affiliated with the American Dental Hygienists' Association.
In order to apply, you must follow specific admission criteria before being admitted into the program and follow the admission checklist located in the Dental Hygiene application packet.
First Step to Apply - Attend an Information Session
Orientation
After you have been accepted into the program, information regarding a mandatory 2-part orientation will be sent to you. Both parts are mandatory for admissions into the dental hygiene program.
Part One: Zoom May Meeting
Due date for the following will be discussed at the Zoom meeting:
- All health requirements including Castle Branch Chart review to be completed. Do not begin until instructed to do so.
- Background check ordered and results available
- Drug test ordered and results available
All submissions made to the college and college processes regarding admissions to the dental hygiene program MUST be submitted early so all decisions surrounding your continued admissions to the dental hygiene program can be completed.
If the deadline for the above is not met for any reason, your position will automatically be forfeited and the next student on the alternate list will be contacted. The deadline of the above is firm.
Part Two: On Campus July Meeting
Check back for further information on the July meeting.
Determine Your Path
A dental hygiene career offers opportunities to help people through clinical, educational and therapeutic services in order to prevent disease and promote good health.
You want to attend a credible college that stands out from the rest. At COD, you'll discover:
- Small class sizes that ensure students receive personalized attention.
- Dedicated instructors with years of professional experience.
- Instruction utilizing the Dental Hygiene Clinic which consists of state-of-the-art equipment used in modern dental offices.
- The opportunity to treat real patients before graduating and finding employment.
- An excellent pass rate for national and regional board examinations.
- Affordable programs to help students achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining a savings account.
Dental Hygiene, A.A.S.
The Dental Hygiene degree prepares its graduates to provide comprehensive oral health care services in a variety of settings. Prior to completion of the dental hygiene program, students are eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene written examination and the Northeast Regional Clinical Board Examination and pass with a 75 percent on each exam. Upon successful completion of the program and passing of the National Dental Hygiene Examination and Regional Board Examination, graduates will be eligible to apply for mandatory state licensure. This degree requires 82 credits in program requirements and general education in the courses listed below.
The Dental Hygiene Clinic at College of DuPage provides state-of-the-art educational facility and hands-on experience to students while also providing dental hygiene services to the community. Dental Hygiene students are supervised by licensed dental hygiene faculty and clinical dentists.
If a patient presents with dental disease or medical conditions beyond the scope of our clinic resources and treatment abilities, a proper referral will be given to the patient. Our primary goal is education of our students and providing them with learning opportunities that fit within the realm of the dental hygiene program curriculum.
Again, a referral will be given to a patient when the patient’s necessary care is beyond our scope of practice so their dental disease can continue to be treated elsewhere. All new patients will be screened via the phone to determine if the patient fits within our scope of practice. If a patient qualifies to be treated in the COD Dental Hygiene Clinic, the patient must be aware that multiple 3-hour appointments will be required.
COD Stories
"I want to not only provide the best oral health care but also listen and advocate for my patients’ well-being." - Bethany Vang
Bethany's COD StoryCOD Stories
"Through hands-on experiences in clinical rotations, I gained practical skills and valuable real-world experience. The supportive learning environment, including tutoring and academic advising, helped me overcome challenges and set academic goals." - Vraj Patel
Vraj's COD StoryGet Started Today
The first step to getting started in the Dental Hygiene program is to read the Dental Hygiene application packet. The packet contains an admission checklist that you will need to follow in order to be eligible for admission.
Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree or certificate that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.
- Provide a comprehensive curriculum to prepare individuals for employment in the dental hygiene profession.
- Prepare student to meet the current and emerging standards of care as dental hygiene professionals.
- Provide comprehensive oral health care services in a variety of settings to the residents of DuPage community.
- Motivate students to qualify for and succeed in further educational endeavors.
- Implement curricula to prepare students to successfully pass the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination.
- Implement curricula to prepare graduates to successfully obtain licensure in the State in which they will practice dental hygiene.
- Cultivate an educational atmosphere that prepares students to work successfully in a multicultural diverse environment.
Dental Hygiene Program graduates will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of written and oral communication
- Reveal the ability to properly and completely document and record findings and treatments properly and completely in patient records.
- Demonstrate the ability to determine appropriate treatment protocol for patients
- Show evidence of having knowledge of the structures of the head and neck and dental anatomy relating to the proper treatment of a patient
- Demonstrate knowledge of dental hygiene sciences relating to patient assessment, patient treatment, and patient evaluation
- Show knowledge of the prevention of disease transmission and the use of proper infection control policies and procedures
- Show the use of caries preventive materials such as fluoride and sealants
- Present knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of dental materials
- Demonstrate knowledge of radiation sciences including radiation physics, biology, radiation protection
- Demonstrate the ability to expose, process and interpret dental radiographs
- Demonstrate the ability to incorporate the principles of nutrition and biochemistry into dental hygiene patient care.
- Demonstrate the ability to carry out critical steps in the prevention, preparation, early recognition and/or appropriate management of common medical emergencies seen in the dental office.
- Show evidence of having knowledge of periodontal anatomy and the physiology and etiology of periodontal disease.
- Demonstrate the clinical procedures associated with the management of periodontal disease and maintenance of periodontal health.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the necessary research methodologies and statistical analysis needed in the dental hygiene clinical setting.
- Demonstrate the ability to create, implement and evaluate a dental health care program in the community.
- Show evidence of knowledge of the classifications and varieties of common drugs used by potential dental patients along with knowing the pharmacologic effects and adverse reactions
- Demonstrate the ability to administer local anesthetic properly.
- Exhibit knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of local and general anesthetic agents and their use.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the professional role as health care provider and member of the dental team.
College of DuPage partners with several four-year institutions to help students seamlessly complete a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Students can connect with Transfer Services for personalized guidance on transfer opportunities.
For more information about Transfer Pathways, visit the College of DuPage Catalog. The pathway outlines a typical two-year course plan for completing an AA or AS degree before transferring to a four-year program. Course requirements vary by institution, so consult your faculty or academic advisor for specific guidance.
Articulation Agreements
College of DuPage maintains transfer agreements with many colleges and universities to ensure a smooth transition toward a bachelor’s degree. These agreements often include a defined course sequence. Students should regularly meet with a faculty member or the Counseling and Advising office to stay on track.- Concordia University Chicago, AAS in Dental Hygiene to BA in Healthcare Management
- Lewis University, AAS in Dental Hygiene to BS in Dental Hygiene
- Northern Illinois University, AAS in Dental Hygiene to BS in Health Sciences
Transfer Guides
Beyond articulation agreements and guaranteed admission programs, College of DuPage courses transfer to many other institutions. Transfer Guides help students select COD courses that meet prerequisites for specific majors and include details such as contact information, major requirements, general education requirements, and transfer policies.Career Information
Explore careers based on your interest, location and salary range or view top occupations by income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your frequently asked questions regarding the Dental Hygiene program.
We strongly advise applicants take as many or all of the general education requirements due to the rigorous schedule of the program. English 1101 is a prerequisite course; however, it is not calculated into the minimum 12 point science merit evaluation. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the deadline date of each year.
All applicants MUST take the HESI A2 Examination prior to application to the program. Applicants are only allowed to take the examination twice per application year. If you score above 50 percent in all five categories of the test, you should not need to retake the test. HESI testing must be completed within five years of applying to the program in order for it to be valid for application purposes.
Students accepted into the program are not exempt from any courses within the Dental Hygiene program. Any applicant who applies to the program and has not taken the prerequisite science courses within five years of application to the program must retake these courses. Due to U.S. accrediting guidelines from the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, no dental coursework can be transferred to the Dental Hygiene program.
