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Girl getting dental x-rays

Dental Hygiene, A.S.

Program Snapshot
Academic CredentialAssociate in Science (AS)
Total Credit Hours88
Average Time to Complete2 yrs.
Academic PathwayHealth Sciences
AdvisorMiranda Stewart
Assistant Professor, Health Sciences
850.747.3244
mstewart@gulfcoast.edu

Academic Program SpecialistAlyssa Evans
850.913.3311
Health SciencesGCSC@gulfcoast.edu

Visit the Dental Programs Website

Complete the program application

Visit my faculty page

ACCESS THE PROGRAM ROADMAP

Dental Hygiene, A.S.

Do You Know What a Person's Mouth Reveals About Them? Do You Want to be a Part of Promoting Good Health?

Besides helping someone have a more beautiful smile and fresher breath, a dental hygienist is often the first person encountered in a dental office who may note potential health problems just by looking into a person's mouth!

Inflammation in the mouth may signal inflammation in other parts of the body, including the cardiovascular system; periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease often go hand-in-hand.  A close look into your mouth by a dental hygienist or a dentist may reveal diabetes or pre-diabetes, auto immune disorders, nutritional imbalance, thyroid disorder, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, oral cancer, or a number of other health-related issues.

Program Information General Information Program Goals Accreditation Career Opportunities Duties and Responsibilities
Student in the Dental Clinic

Dental Hygiene Course Requirements

ENC1101, English I
Select One:
Visual & Performing Arts
Philosophy/Religion
Literature 
Select One:
MAC1105, College Algebra 
MAC2311, Calculus with Analytical Geometry I 
MGF1106, Mathematics for Liberal Arts 
MGF1107, Survey of Mathematics 
STA2023, Statistics 
BSC2085, Anatomy and Physiology I
PSY2012, Psychology
POS2041, American National Government or AMH2020, United States History II and demonstrate Civic Literacy Competency
SYG2000, Sociology
BSC2085L, Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
BSC2086, Anatomy and Physiology II
BSC2086L, Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
MCB2004, Microbiology
MCB2004L, Microbiology Lab
HUN1201, Principles of Nutrition
SPC1608, Introduction to Public Speaking
DES1000, Dental Anatomy
DES1010, Head and Neck Anatomy
DES1100C, Dental Materials
DES1200, Dental Radiology I
DES1200L, Dental Radiology I Lab
DES1201, Dental Radiology II
DES1201L, Dental Radiology II Lab
DES1832, Expanded Functions
DES1832L, Expanded Functions Lab
DEH1002, Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene
DEH1002L, Dental Hygiene Pre-Clinical Procedures
DEH1130, Oral Histology and Embryology
DEH1400, Oral Pathology
DEH1800, Dental Hygiene I
DEH1800L, Dental Hygiene Clinical I
DEH1802, Dental Hygiene II
DEH1802L, Dental Hygiene Clinical II
DEH2300, Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist
DEH2602, Periodontology
DEH2702, Community Dental Health
DEH2702L, Community Dental Health Lab
DEH2804, Dental Hygiene III
DEH2804L, Dental Hygiene Clinical III
DEH2806, Dental Hygiene IV
DEH2806L, Dental Hygiene Clinical IV

Dental Hygiene Information

Role of the Dental Hygienist

The Dental Hygienist is a licensed member of the dental health team, dedicated to helping patients maintain good oral health and preventing dental disease. Although the tasks performed by a hygienist vary from state to state, the primary functions are:

  • Remove calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) above and below the gum line
  • Assess and chart the teeth and oral structures
  • Expose, process and label dental radiographs
  • Provide oral hygiene instructions
  • Provide dietary analysis and counseling services

Educational Requirements

The two-year college curriculum is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the licensure and employment needs of the student.  The curriculum includes content in general education, biomedical sciences, dental sciences, and dental hygiene science.  APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE AS MANY OF THE GENERAL EDUCATIONAL COURSES AS POSSIBLE PRIOR TO ACCEPTANCE INTO THE DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM.  Refer to the general education sequence for the specific requirements.

Who is Eligible for the Program?
If you are a high school graduate, you can apply to this program. If you have earned credits from a regionally accredited college or university, you may have a head start at Gulf Coast State College.
Why Choose Gulf Coast State College to Earn Your Degree?
You'll get a great education with one of the lowest tuition rates in the state. With small class sizes and professors who care, you'll get the personal attention you deserve. More than 90% of our graduates would recommend Gulf Coast State College to others.
Lisa the Dental Hygienist
The faculty at Gulf Coast State College are like family to me now. I learned so much about Dental Hygiene from them. The clinical experiences during the program gave me the skills I needed to become a Registered Dental Hygienist!
- Lisa
Registered Dental Hygienist in a private dental practice

Are you ready to get Started ?

How to apply to the Dental Hygiene Program

To apply to the dental hygiene degree program, you’ll need to complete two applications: the general admission application to Gulf Coast State College and an application to the Division of Health Sciences on the Panama City campus.

Consult the Dental Hygiene division webpage and the Gulf Coast State College Catalog more information about the Dental Hygiene Program.

Apply to Gulf Coast

Complete the Dental Hygiene Application

Apply for Financial Aid & Scholarships

There are many options available to help you pay for college. Find out more about  scholarships and financial aid at Gulf Coast State College.

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

Register for Classes

Check out the class registration dates and plan your schedule today.

REGISTER

Gulf Coast State College does not discriminate against any person in its programs, activities, policies or procedures on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, marital status, religion, age, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. All questions or inquiries regarding compliance with laws relating to non-discrimination and all complaints regarding sexual misconduct or discrimination, may be directed to Lee Wood, Executive Director, Human Resources/Title II/504/Title IX Coordinator and Employment Equity Officer, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. US Highway 98, Panama City, FL 32401.