Our two-year, selective admission Dental Hygiene program provides real world experience to prepare you for clinical practice.
You are welcome here!
The Dental Hygiene Program and its Dental Hygiene Clinic are diverse, inclusive, accepting, welcoming safe spaces for everyone.
What will you learn in JCCC's Dental Hygiene program?
Our Dental Hygiene courses will teach you the skills to be successful in this field. 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
The program’s curriculum is designed to build on your knowledge and skills from the first semester to the last. 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.
Explore transfer options for a bachelor’s degree.
High success, excellent outcomes
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.
- Participate in service-learning through 20 hours of volunteer service to further the student experience with professional community service.
- Expanded learning: As a member of JCCC’s Student American Dental Hygienists Association you’ll stay up to date on industry hot topics and new technology.
This 79-credit-hour program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. After completing all credit requirements, you will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene.
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 provide 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.
- Personalized attention from your instructors, 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.
The outlook is bright for skilled dental hygienists
According to the United States Department of Labor, dental hygienists make an average of $72,000 each year.
With a license, you can work directly with the patient as a key team member of a professional dental team.
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
Find employment projections and salary information at the Power BI Post Graduate Report.
Visit the Career Development Center for assistance with career decisions.
Need help with homework? No problem!
JCCC offers free tutoring and course assistance. Visit the Academic Resource Center on the first floor of the Library.
Contact Info
Carrie Hanson, Director
Phone: 913-469-8500, ext. 2582
Location: SCI 210
Email: carriehanson@jccc.edu
