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This program is eligible for the Kansas Promise Scholarship. See if you qualify.

Be on the front line of patient care. After just two years of rigorous education, you can be a licensed dental hygienist responsible for providing educational, clinical and therapeutic oral healthcare services.

This selective admission program curriculum is strategically designed to build on your knowledge and skills from the first semester to the last.

What will I learn in JCCC's Dental Hygiene program?

Dental Hygiene is a vital part of oral health, which makes the role of dental hygienist important. Start the path of becoming a dental hygienist at Johnson County Community College. Our Dental Hygiene courses will teach you the skills to be successful in this field.

Throughout the two-year program, you’ll learn how to:

  • Perform a complete oral assessment
  • Detect oral disease
  • Educate patients on prevention and treatment options
  • Administer local anesthesia injections
  • Provide comprehensive oral healthcare to your patients

Here’s what you can expect from our Dental Hygiene program’s lectures, labs, clinics and coursework:

  • First semester: Learn foundational skills and practice your Dental Hygiene techniques on classmates.
  • Second semester: Treat patients from the community in JCCC’s Dental Hygiene Clinic.
  • Third semester: Refine skills and incorporate more science-related coursework into each clinical situation. Learn how to give local anesthesia (LA) in the LA course and lab. LA Injections are practiced on both manikins and peers. Treat patients both in the JCCC Dental Hygiene Clinic and JCCC’s Oral Health on Wheels mobile dental unit.
  • Fourth semester: The skills and information you’ve learned will help you prepare for the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam (NBDHE) and other licensure exams.

This 79-credit-hour program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. After completing all of the credit requirements, you will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene.

Why JCCC's Dental Hygiene program?

We are proud to be the only accredited dental hygiene program in Johnson County, Kansas. Excellence is our No. 1 goal. Here’s proof:

  • Our students are prepared: We boast a 96.4 percent first-time pass rate on the NBDHE and clinical licensure exams. You’ll receive a quality education with a wide range of varied experiences to prepare you for clinical practice.
  • You’ll participate in service-learning: As part of JCCC’s commitment to community, you’ll participate in 20 hours of volunteer service to further the student experience with professional community service.
  • You’ll get expanded learning: As a member of JCCC’s Student American Dental Hygienists Association you’ll be up to date on industry hot topics and new technology.

In lectures and clinical settings, licensed dentists and hygienists are ready to assist as you experience:

  • Hands-on training with patients in JCCC's state of the art Dental Hygiene Clinic, where you will practice providing comprehensive oral healthcare including local anesthesia, using the latest technology.
  • A rotation in JCCC’s Oral Health on Wheels, where you will team up with classmates to deliver oral healthcare to underserved communities.
  • One-on-one attention from your instructors, who provide personalized education with a four-to-one student/professor ratio in clinical teaching.
  • Professors with extensive practice experience, because all full-time faculty have at least a master’s degree and are excited to instruct students about the latest developments in dentistry.
This is a selective admission program. See admission requirements
Expand your career opportunities with a bachelor’s degree.

According to the United States Department of Labor, dental hygienists make an average of $72,000 each year. The field is ranked as one of the fastest growing healthcare occupations. This means job security and demand for qualified professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth rate of 19 percent—more than double the national average—for the occupation of dental hygienist.

With a license, you can work directly with the patient as a key team member of a professional dental team. If you choose to continue your education, your credits will transfer to bachelor’s degree-completion programs at University of Missouri-Kansas City and Wichita State University.

Perks to being a dental hygienist include:

  • Flexible schedules: full-time, part-time and weekend work are all in high demand
  • Competitive salary: reliable staff are paid well
  • Job stability: this career path is ranked as one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S.
  • People-oriented atmosphere: help people and work in a comfortable, friendly environment
  • Advancement opportunities: go on to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree and specialize in higher level care, research or teaching

Multiple career options are available. With an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree, you could qualify for positions at different levels in:

  • Clinic settings: private practices, community centers, hospitals and prison facilities
  • Corporate offices: sales representatives, product researchers and corporate educators
  • Public health agencies and education: government or nonprofit organizations, local health departments and teaching

Download the Dental Hygiene Program Outlook (PDF) for employment projections and salary information.


Need help with career decisions? Visit the Career Development Center.

The cost of going to college can drastically impact your ability to succeed. At Johnson County Community College, we want our students to be able to afford a program that they love. That’s why we’re constantly working to make tuition more affordable for you.

Here’s what JCCC has to offer:

Textbook and other supply costs vary depending on your courses.

There are several things to consider when budgeting for college. Visit our Cost of Attendance page for detailed information.

Resources and Tools at JCCC

Being a student at JCCC means you have access to a range of services and resources to help you succeed. We offer professional tutoring and small, personalized class sizes. When you attend Johnson County Community College, your education truly matters.

The cost of going to school can be daunting. Fortunately, our Financial Aid office is here to help you through the process. Our counselors can help you find ways to fund your schooling, including scholarships and student loans, both of which can help to reduce the cost of your tuition every semester.

If you need help discovering what your passion will be post-graduation, our Career Development Center and Academic Counseling services are great support tools.

You can also further your education by transferring to a four-year school. JCCC is here to help make the transition to another college program easy and stress-free.