Dental hygienists are licensed to provide educational, therapeutic, and preventive services to children and adults in a variety of treatment settings. This program is designed to prepare students to provide delegated services consisting of scaling and polishing natural and restored teeth; exposing, processing, and mounting dental radiographs; providing preventive services and planning educational experiences for individuals and groups. The American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation approves the curriculum, which includes both general educational and professional dental hygiene courses. Satisfactorily completing all program requirements qualifies students to apply for the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination and individual State Board Exams for licensure.
Although the dental hygiene courses are sequential and begin only during the fall semester, students may begin and complete the required general education courses during any semester. The professional curriculum runs five consecutive semesters, including one summer session.
This program of study requires special admission as explained below. Contact the Dental Hygiene Department on Dunwoody Campus for additional information and an application. All professional courses are only offered during the day.
Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program
This program requires special admission. The Dental Hygiene sequence of professional courses (DHYG) starts only in the fall semester, and enrollment is limited. Official notification of acceptance to the program is confirmed by the Department of Dental Hygiene. Admission requirements include the following:
- Acceptance to Georgia Perimeter College
- Satisfaction of all Learning Support requirements
- Additional requirements as defined by the Department of Dental Hygiene
Contact the Dental Hygiene office at (770) 274-5130 for additional information
SPECIAL NOTE: The grading scale for all Dental Hygiene courses is:
A 92 - 100
B 82 - 91
C 75 - 81
D 0 - 74
All Dental Hygiene courses must be completed with a grade of 75 or above to continue in the Dental Hygiene curriculum.
Readmission for Dental Hygiene
Only students who leave the Dental Hygiene program for non-academic reasons may be considered for re-admission/re-entry into the program. The student must initiate a request for re-entry by submitting a letter to the Department Chair for Dental Hygiene within one year of his or her exit from the program. Contact the Dental Hygiene Department Chair for additional information.
Dental Hygiene
General Education and Professional Curriculum
General Education for Dental Hygiene 37 hours
BIOL 1611 & BIOL 1611L (a, b, c) Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 hours
BIOL 1612 & BIOL 1612L (a, b) Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 hours
BIOL 1913 & BIOL 1913L (d) Microbiology 4 hours
CHEM 1152 & CHEM 1152L (e) Survey of Chemistry II 4 hours
COMM 1201* Public Speaking 3 hours
ENGL 1101* English Composition I 3 hours
HIST 2111* United States History I 3 hours
or
HIST 2112* United States History II 3 hours
POLS 1101* American Government 3 hours
PSYC 1101* Introduction to General Psychology 3 hours
SOCI 1101* Introduction to Sociology 3 hours
Elective from Core Area C (Humanities/Fine Arts)
3 hours
NOTES:
* Or Honors version
(a) These biology courses must be completed before acceptance into the program.
(b) These biology courses cannot be used in Area D for any program of study. However, they are required courses in Area F for an AS in Health & Physical Education.
(c) The prerequisites for BIOL 1611 and BIOL 1611L are CHEM 1151 & CHEM 1151L or CHEM 1211, CHEM 1211L, CHEM 1212, and CHEM 1212L, each with a "C" or better; or satisfactory performance on a departmental placement exam, which does not give credit for CHEM 1151.
(d) BIOL 1913 & BIOL 1913L can be used for Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and other Health Science programs. These courses cannot be used in Area D or Area F for any other program of study.
(e) The prerequisites for CHEM 1152 are CHEM 1151 & CHEM 1151L or CHEM 1212 & CHEM 1212L, each with a "C" or better.
Required courses by term:
Fall
DHYG 1901 Dental Hygiene I 3 hoursDHYG 1911 Clinical Dental Hygiene I 2 hours
DHYG 1921K Dental Tissues 4 hours
DHYG 1923K Dental Radiology 2 hours
Spring
DHYG 1904 Process of Care and Medical Emergencies 1 hoursDHYG 1905 Dental Hygiene II 2 hours
DHYG 1914 Periodontics for the Dental Hygienist 2 hours
DHYG 1915 Clinical Dental Hygiene II 2 hours
DHYG 1916 Oral Pathology 2 hours
DHYG 1929 Dental Pharmacology & Anesthesiology 2 hours
Summer
DHYG 1906 Dental Hygiene III 1 hourDHYG 1917 Clinical Dental Hygiene III 1 hours
DHYG 1928K Dental Materials 2 hour
Fall
DHYG 2907 Dental Hygiene IV 2 hoursDHYG 2909 Clinical Dental Hygiene IV 4 hours
DHYG 2924 Public Health I 2 hours
Spring
DHYG 2908 Dental Hygiene V 1 hourDHYG 2912 Clinical Dental Hygiene V 4 hours
DHYG 2925 Public Health II 1 hours
NOTE:
(a) Students are advised that if they are accepted into Dental Hygiene, the required curriculum in several of the semesters does not contain enough hours to meet requirements for financial aid or health insurance. Plan accordingly.
Effective Spring 2011
