Dental Hygiene - Associate in Applied Science

The Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene degree prepares students to provide direct patient care in the detection and prevention of oral diseases under the supervision of a dentist, as required by law. The dental hygienist's major role is as an educator and includes designing dental hygiene treatment and education for patients on an individual basis. Graduates of this program will be qualified to evaluate patient medical histories, take and record blood pressure, chart conditions of periodontal disease and decay for diagnosis by the dentist, conduct oral-cancer screening examinations, educate the patient on the latest techniques of oral home care, and perform a thorough cleaning of the patients' teeth. A dental hygienist is also qualified to apply sealants and fluoride for the prevention of decay, to expose and develop radiographs, and to provide nutritional counseling for dental patients.

Students in the Dental Hygiene program receive their education in a state-of-the-art Dental Clinic on the Grand Strand campus, under the direct supervision of licensed dentists and hygienists. Graduates are eligible to take national and state board examinations. After successful completion of these examinations, graduates will be licensed and recognized as a Registered Dental Hygienist.

Admissions Information

Specific Admission Requirements for Program

This is a Top Qualified program with a limited number of available seats.  It has additional requirements beyond those of HGTC’s General Admission policy.  Every applicant will be reviewed on a weighted application, but all will not be selected.  Detailed information is shown below.

Getting Started with Dental Hygiene

Program Information

Course Sequence and Progression Requirements

Once enrolled in the Limited Access Dental Hygiene program (Phase II), to progress students must receive a minimum grade of "C" or better on all Dental Hygiene General Education courses** AND all DHG-prefixed courses. Grades below "C" are considered course failures. Failure of one Dental Hygiene (DHG) course will result in the student being dropped from the curriculum with eligibility for readmission the next time the course is offered. Readmission will be on a space available basis and the student will also be required to meet all admission requirements for readmission.

The Dental Hygiene Program does not currently accept advanced placement students.

Student Resources

• Dental Hygiene Checklist for Admissions FALL

• Student Program Manual
• Clinical Policies Manual
• Cost of Attendance
• A.A.S. Dental Hygiene Program Specific Cost

Forms

• Clinical Requirements
• Background Check
• Observation Form

For more information, contact:
Michelle Meeker  - (843) 839-1091

For more information about Health Science Admissions visit: www.hgtc.edu/healthscience

Accreditation Status

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: https://coda.ada.org/en.

For more information about HGTC's accreditations, click here.

Program Mission, Goals, and Outcomes

Mission

“The Horry-Georgetown Technical College Dental Hygiene program believes that the dental hygienist is an extremely important member of the dental health team who makes a significant contribution to the total health care of all people.  Through the use of state-of-the-art technology in lecture and clinical instruction, it is the mission of this program to provide the student with a well-rounded general education as well as an evidenced-based professional education.  In so doing, the student will be prepared for his/her role as a successful dental hygienist, as well as an enlightened and contributing citizen to the community. 

It is the aim of the dental hygiene program faculty to create a supportive environment in which the student will develop self-confidence, expertise in clinical skills and the desire to learn to become a successful, dedicated healthcare provider.  Through the use of problem solving, planned experiences, goal setting, and self-assessment, the graduate is expected to become a purposeful, critically thinking, and self-directed member of the profession, able to make pivotal judgments in both personal and professional roles.” 

GOAL 1. The dental hygiene student will demonstrate knowledge in the fundamental components of the Dental Hygiene curriculum.  

1.1  Demonstrate working knowledge of the general education component of the curriculum.

• Display effective interpersonal, written, and communication skills with individuals and groups from diverse cultural populations.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrate technology literacy.
• Demonstrate quantitative reasoning. 

1.2  Demonstrate a working knowledge of the biomedical sciences and their relationship to total body health. 

1.3  Demonstrate essential knowledge of the dental sciences focusing on oral health and disease to effectively apply the dental hygiene process of care and prevention methodologies to all patients. 

GOAL 2. The dental hygiene student will demonstrate competency in the clinical and interpersonal skills necessary for the provision of evidenced based comprehensive preventive, educational, and ethical dental hygiene services within a diverse patient population. 

2.1  The student will demonstrate core values in ethics, skills, and knowledge in relationship to the dental hygiene process of care (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation). 

GOAL 3. The dental hygiene student will exhibit attributes of professional growth and development.  

3.1 Continuously perform self-assessment for life-long learning and professional growth. 

GOAL 4. The dental hygiene student/graduate will participate in community service activities promoting oral health initiatives. 

4.1 Advance dental hygiene and the dental profession through service activities and affiliations with professional organizations. 

Program Effectiveness

View Program Effectiveness

Program Disclosure Statement

Applicants to the Dental Hygiene program should be aware a current, unrestricted license or certification may be required to practice in the state in which you intend to reside/practice. Each state is unique in its licensure requirements. Students are encouraged to reach out to the program chair for more information and assistance with understanding professional licensure.

Career Outlook & Employment Opportunities

Dental hygienists have excellent career opportunities with work schedules that can be flexible, whether you are employed full-time or part-time. Financial rewards are excellent and the work is challenging. Career opportunities are available in the following settings:

• Private dental practices
• Hospitals
• Health-insurance companies
• Dental-hygiene educational institution
• Public health departments
• Industrial clinics
• Research facilities

For more information about careers, visit O*Net Online for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Career Services for more employment, career, and professional development resources.

 

Required Courses and Sample Schedules

*Students interested in transferring to a senior institution to complete a bachelor's degree may elect to take the following courses:  MAT 110 for MAT 101, and CHM 110 for CHM 105.  It is the responsibility of students who plan to transfer, to verify the transferability of credits and other transfer issues with the receiving institution prior to enrolling in classes at HGTC.

**The Reach Act was passed in 2021 by the General Assembly.  To satisfy the Reach Act, those students intending to transfer are recommended to take HIS 201 as their Humanities/Social Science course selection.