Dental Hygiene - Associate in Science (AS) (3416)
Are you looking for a career in dentistry that provides flexible work hours and varied employment opportunities? Do you enjoy one-on-one interactions with individuals where you can use education to improve their health?
If you're passionate about helping others achieve better oral health, we want to help you turn that passion into a rewarding career as a dental hygienist. A dental hygienist is a vital member of the dental health team as this person provides preventive dental services and oral health education to patients.
All students interested in this program must begin in the Pre-Health Professions Program. Then, students may apply for admission into this program once they meet the requirements to apply. Students will discuss these admission requirements as part of their advising process.
Jump to career information below!
By earning an Associate in Science (AS) in dental hygiene, you will be prepared to enter the workforce as a dental hygienist. You will be able to work in private offices or public health clinics.
You may be suited for this program and career if you:
- Are a compassionate person with strong interpersonal skills
- Have good hand-eye coordination and solid technical skills
- Are detail-oriented with a passion for ongoing learning
- Have the ability to function in a fast-paced healthcare environment
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Our dental hygiene program contains coursework that covers:
- Preventive dental services and oral health education to clients
- Patient assessment that includes their health history, vital signs, head, neck, and radiographic examination, oral cancer screening, and dental and periodontal charting.
- Treatment planning
- Patient education
- Administering local anesthesia
- Removing deposits and stains from teeth
- Applying chemotherapeutic agents
- Placing dental sealants
As you complete our program, you will:
- Utilize the dental hygiene process of care (assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation) in the provision of comprehensive treatment to all clients without discrimination
- Demonstrate accountability in dental hygiene practice
- Apply the roles of dental hygiene to various practice settings - demonstrating competence, ethical behaviors and professionalism
- Participate as an integral member of the dental health team providing expertise in the area of preventive health care
- Perform to the level of competency specified by the faculty, the state board of dental examiners, employers, and those oral health services legally approved for a dental hygienist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other states and territories
- Value a commitment to professional organizations and life-long learning
Our program is selective, which means your admission into HACC does not guarantee admission into the program. Before you begin the clinical portion of our program, you must complete and pay for the following tests and complete other criteria:
- Background checks
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
- Drug and alcohol screens
- Physical examination and immunizations
Pennsylvania Dental Law #216 states that the State Board of Dentistry may refuse to license a person who has a crime or misdemeanor conviction involving a morally corrupt act or a felony.
Please visit the health careers section of our website or email us for more information on the program admission requirements.
Our program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), which is a specialized body recognized by the US Department of Education.
- View Third Party Comments here (pdf)
- Learn why accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) matters (pdf)
- View summaries of every course at HACC by browsing our class schedules database.
- Review our program guide (pdf) to view a list of required courses, recommended course sequencing and program competencies.
Affordably YOURS, our two-year degree program is a transfer program. We designed our programs to be flexible enough to transfer to a wide variety of four-year colleges and universities with no loss of credit. If your intended transfer school participates in Pennsylvania’s statewide college credit transfer system, you will be able to begin at the junior level. Our programs also transfer well to schools outside of the statewide system. However, each individual college has its own unique program. We encourage you to select a four-year school as soon as possible. This will allow you to learn the transfer college’s program requirements so you can take the proper classes at HACC.
| Pennsylvania College of Technology: | Dental Hygiene (A.S.) (pdf) |
| Saint Francis University - Francis Worldwide: | Dental Hygiene (A.S.) (pdf) |
You may complete the entire program only at our Harrisburg Campus provided you take some of your required coursework through multiple modalities (e.g. Blended, Online and/or Remote Learning). Clinical rotations are assigned within 85 miles of the Harrisburg Campus.
Yes! Thanks to the HACC Foundation, scholarships are available. Please visit hacc.edu/scholarships to learn how you can apply.
We offer courses in the spring, summer and fall, and you can apply anytime. When enrolling into the Dental Hygiene Program, you must first enroll into the Pre-Health Professions AS degree. Therefore, please use the program code 3150 on your application and then select the Dental Hygiene concentration.
Future students, we are excited to connect with you and answer your questions. Please choose the option that works best for you to meet with us.
Current HACC students, please contact our Advising Department with any questions.
Meet Kristianna: Wants to Bring Joy!
“HACC has just been a great experience because the staff and everyone are so welcoming and warming and they just encourage you to pursue your dreams.”