Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygienist

Curriculum

Direct to Work

Offered in the Classroom

AAS Associate of Applied Science Degree | CODA Accredited | 62 Credits

Programs of Study

Dental Hygiene Clinic Information and Forms for Patients

The dental hygiene program at the Community College of Denver (CCD) was established in 1996. Located on the Lowry campus of CCD, it is one of the most highly rated programs in the state. Students are educated to become preventive oral health professionals who provide educational, clinical, and therapeutic services in dentistry. Dental hygienists perform procedures such as oral prophylaxis, application of preventive agents, exposure of dental radiographs, patient education, and nutritional counseling.

Check out the events calendar for upcoming program advising and information sessions.

Career opportunities for hygienists are available in a variety of settings, including:

private dental practices,
community dental health clinics,
public schools,
clinical and basic science research laboratories,
state and federal health facilities, and
management positions.

To practice dental hygiene, licensure by national and state examination is required.

The Dental Hygiene Program at CCD is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

In compliance with the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA): The dental hygiene program at Community College of Denver 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
312.440.4653
ADA.org
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2678

Learn more & apply!

Program Goals

The goal of the dental hygiene program at Community College of Denver is to prepare students to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care to a culturally and socioeconomically diverse patient population and to enhance the patient's oral health and total wellness.

CCD dental hygiene graduates will demonstrate ethical and professional behavior in all aspects of their profession.
CCD dental hygiene graduates will employ the Dental Hygiene Process of Care, principles of dental hygiene diagnosis, and treatment planning to meet the needs of a diverse patient population.
CCD dental hygiene graduates will promote the oral and general health of the patient through the competent provision of dental hygiene knowledge and skills.
CCD dental hygiene graduates will initiate, assume responsibility for, and deliver health promotion and disease prevention activities to a culturally and socio-economically diverse population in a variety of settings.
CCD dental hygiene graduates will pursue life-long learning, self-evaluation, and evidence-based decision-making through the application of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
CCD dental hygiene program graduates will successfully complete written and clinical board examinations necessary for dental hygiene licensure.

Accreditation

The Commission on Dental Accreditation
312.440.4653
ADA.org
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2678

Course & Program Fees

Dental hygiene students should begin planning early with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to meet their educational goals and needs. The Dental Hygiene program uses a variety of resources including online resources to limit costs to students in the program.

For information regarding CCD’s Tuition and Fees, please refer to the information on tuition rates per credit hour. Dental hygiene is a specialty program and tuition rates per credit hour are listed under that heading. For information on CCD student fees, refer to CCD Student Fees. Please note tuition, fees, supply and program costs are an estimate and subject to change without notice.

It is also important to consider that dental hygiene students will pay additional course fees for the following courses and items.

Course Fees

Course	Description	Fee
DEH 100, DEH 101, DEH 102, DEH 103, DEH 104, DEH 111, DEH 116, DEH 122, DEH 123, DEH 126, DEH 132, DEH 133, DEH 138, DEH 150, DEH 153, DEH 170, DEH 171, DEH 204, DEH 213, DEH 221, DEH 225, DEH 242, DEH 268, DEH 270, DEH 271, DEH 282, DEH 285	High-cost course fee	$7.85 (per credit hour)
DEH 101	Dental Kits	$3,500.00 (flat)
DEH 102, DEH 170, DEH 171, DEH 270, DEH 271	Dental Hygiene/Lab Use Fee	$53.00 (flat)
DEH 102, DEH 270	Malpractice Insurance Non-EMT	$9.00 (flat)

Additional Program Costs include

Costs are subject to change without notice. The fees listed are estimates only. Variations may occur without being posted on this website. This information is meant for planning purposes only.

YEAR 1
SUPPLIES	Books	$700
	Magnifying Loupes (estimate only)	$1,200 - $1,500
	Student Kit*	$3,500
OTHER	Clinic Usage Fee, Malpractice Insurance (estimated fall/spring semester)	$400
	Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (SCADHA)	$65
	Uniforms (scrubs, lab coats, stethoscope, and other related items)	$300

*The student kit and uniforms will be ordered during the summer semester. Do not purchase these items on your own as the dental hygiene program has already made the necessary arrangements. The student kit and clinic scrubs should last throughout the course of study.

YEAR 2
SUPPLIES	Books	$350
OTHER	Clinic Usage Fee, Malpractice Insurance (estimated summer/fall/spring semester charge)	$800
	Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (SCADHA)	$65
	Board Fees: National and Regional	$1,900

Financial Aid Eligibility

The Dental Hygiene program is eligible for federal financial aid.

Please connect with the Financial Aid office to discover how you can afford college. Our dedicated staff and support services help you wade through all the legal language and get you past the first hurdle to completing your educational goals.

In addition, CCD has $1,000,000 available in scholarships. Apply at CCD.edu/Scholarships.

Four-Year Transfer Agreements

The A.A.S. degree seamlessly transfers to CCD's Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Dental Hygiene program. The BAS is a degree completion program which allows licensed dental hygienists who have graduated from an A.S. or A.A.S. program to expand their career opportunities.

To learn more about CCD’s B.A.S. in Dental Hygiene program visit the CCD BAS Program page.

Internships & Service Learning Opportunities

Students enrolled in the A.A.S. dental hygiene program will experience enrichment rotations in different community dental clinics in the Denver metro and surrounding areas. Students visiting these enrichment sites, as required by the program for course credit, must comply with all federal, state, local and facility regulations to ensure their health and safety as well as those other health providers and patients that they will be working with during the enrichment experience.

Job Outlook & Salary Information

What Can I Do with My Major?

Dental hygienists are licensed preventive oral health professionals who provide educational, clinical, and therapeutic services in dentistry. They can be employed in a variety of settings once they have been licensed through national and state examinations.

Learn more about this career path by visiting CCD's Career and Transfer Center.

How Much Can I Expect to Earn?

After you have completed the dental hygiene program at CCD (64 credits) and required prerequisites (28 credits), CCD dental hygiene graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and are ready to take the licensure exams to become a registered dental hygienist. This opens the door for to work in a private dental practice, community dental health clinic, public school, clinical or basic science research laboratory, state or federal health facility, or in a management position with an entry wage of $35 to $45 per hour.

In May 2020, the median annual wage for dental hygienists was listed at $77,090 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.