AIM HIGH DENTAL HYGIENE

PROGRAM MANUAL
PHILOSOPHY
The philosophy of the Aim High Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate (BSDH)
Program is committed to the education and development of oral health
professionals who strive for academic excellence, who will contribute service to the
global community, and who maintain high ethical standards in their personal and
professional lives 1. The Aim High Dental Hygiene Program is dedicated in achieving
Aim High's philosophy and objectives by offering our students the opportunity to
reach their highest potential 2 as life-long, critical thinkers. Additionally, the Aim
High Dental Hygiene Program is committed to upholding the standards as outlined
by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) by providing quality education
to our students that will enable them to become productive, self-sufficient,
professional dental hygienists.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Aim High Dental Hygiene Program is to propel students
into becoming intellectual, technical, ethical, culturally sensitive, globally
responsible healthcare professionals. We encourage dental hygienists to employ
evidence based decision making and to exemplify life-long learning skills that will
benefit not only their patients, but to their own growing knowledge of oral
healthcare 1. This program will encourage our students to overcome their personal
and professional challenges that ultimately facilitates strength in character, selfesteem, and ability to face obstacles.

SELECTED CONCEPTUAL MODELS

The competent dental hygienist will employ evidence-based decision making
skills using a Professional Concept Model. Students are evaluated on their ability to
treat and answer their patients' oral health questions through utilization of
evidence-based decision making skills throughout the program. Students are
expected to sustain competent research skills and strive for their patient's optimal
care throughout their professional careers. Students of the Aim High Dental Hygiene
Program will graduate as competent clinicians, oral health educators, and
responsible healthcare professionals who upholds ethical values and the highest
standards of care.

PROGRAM GOALS
The goals of the Aim High Dental Hygiene Program are designed to prepare
the Dental Hygiene student upon graduation:
1. To foster dental hygienists who are culturally sensitive and possess
humanistic values to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care in a
variety of dental health care settings to individuals of diverse
backgrounds. 1, 3, 4
2. To assume responsibility in providing patient-centered 4 education
about oral health wellness and disease prevention within their scope of
practice. 3
3. To compel individuals who exemplify moral and ethical values to be
effective participants in an increasingly complex, interdisciplinary
health care system. 1
4. To instill a commitment to contribute actively in the advancement of
the dental hygiene profession through continued education, advanced
education, and addressing challenges faced by the profession. 3, 4

PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
1. Dental Hygiene Process of Care: Dental hygiene graduates must
demonstrate competency in assessing oral health care needs, providing
comprehensive dental hygiene care, and educating diverse populations.

a. Graduates will be competent in providing comprehensive dental

hygiene care to all of the following populations: pediatric, adolescent,
medically compromised, culturally diverse, geriatric, and periodontally
involved.
2. Health Education Strategies: Dental hygiene graduates will identify
health education strategies for oral health promotion and disease prevention
for diverse populations. 3
a. Graduates must develop effective communication skills and interact
with diverse populations, healthcare professionals, classmates, and
faculty.
b. Graduates will be competent in organizing dental educational material
in the form of printed material, technology education, and oral
presentations.
3. Legal & Ethical Principles: Dental hygiene graduates must be competent
in dental hygiene principles within their scope of practice. 3

a. Graduates will be competent in explaining the Core Values as outlined

by the Code of Ethics.
b. Graduates will understand the legal obligations, regulations and
consequences related to the dental hygiene profession.
4. Professional Advancement: Dental hygiene graduates will identify current
challenges, current / pending legislations, and current events related to the
dental hygiene profession.
a. Graduates will understand dental hygiene issues in current events and
use evidence based decision making skills to learn about resolutions
and obstacles.

COURSE WORK
GENERAL EDUCATION / DENTAL HYGIENE PREREQUISITES
COURSE
NUMBER
ENGL 1A
ENGL 1B
MATH 20
COMM 10
BIOL 40A

COURSE TITLE
ENGLISH COMPOSITION
ENGLISH COMPOSITION
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
PUBLIC SPEAKING *

UNITS
EARNED
3
3
4
3
5

HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY FOR

HEALTH CARE

BIOL 40B

5
HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY FOR
HEALTH CARE

BIOL 40C

BIOL 45
CHEM 30A
CHEM 30B
NUTR 8
PSYC 1
SOCI 1
DHYN 101
ALHS 110

5
HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY FOR
HEALTH CARE
INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY
GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR HEALTH
SCIENCES
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FOR HEALTH
SCIENCES
NUTRITION FOR HEALTH SCIENCES
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL HYGIENE
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
TOTAL UNITS:

5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
57

* alternative communication courses may be used in substitution, contact dental

hygiene program for list of acceptable courses.
DENTAL HYGIENE CURRICULUM MAJOR COURSEWORK
FIRST QUARTER
COURSE
NUMBER
DHYN 100
DHYN 110A
DHYN 102
DHYN 111
DHYN 130

COURSE TITLE
HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY
DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY
HISTOLOGY / EMBRYOLOGY
ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION
PRE-CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE
TOTA QUARTER UNITS:

UNITS
EARNED
2
2
3
2
3
12

SECOND QUARTER
COURSE
NUMBER
DHYN 220
DHYN 201
DHYN 215
DHYN 110B
DHYN 240A
DHYN 260

COURSE TITLE
MEDICAL AND DENTAL EMERGENCIES
DENTAL ANATOMY
DENTAL HYGIENE PROCESS OF CARE
DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY
PRE-CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE
PHARMACOLOGY
TOTAL QUARTER UNITS:

UNITS
EARNED
1
3
3
1
3
2
13

THIRD QUARTER
COURSE
NUMBER
DHYN 110B
DHYN 240A
DHYN 250A
DHYN 255A
DHYN 260

FOURTH QUARTER

COURSE TITLE
DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY
DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC
PERIODONTICS
ORAL PATHOLOGY
PHARMACOLOGY
TOTAL QUARTER UNITS:

UNITS
EARNED
1
5
3
3
2
14

COURSE
NUMBER

COURSE TITLE

UNITS
EARNED

DHYN 240B

DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC

DHYN 225

LOCAL ANESTHESIA AND PAIN

MANAGEMENT
TOTAL SEMESTER UNITS:

2
10

FIFTH QUARTER
COURSE
NUMBER
DHYN 212
DHYN 229

COURSE TITLE
DENTAL MATERIALS

UNITS
EARNED
1

ETHICS AND JURISPRUDENCE

DHYN 245B
DHYN 250B
DHYN 253
DHYN 240C

COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH

PERIODONTICS
SPECIAL NEEDS PATIENTS
DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC
TOTAL SEMESTER UNITS:

3
3
1
5
15

SIXTH QUARTER
COURSE
NUMBER

COURSE TITLE

UNITS
EARNED

DHYN 268
DHYN 245B

RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH

DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC

3
8
3

DHYN 240C
DHYN 270

DENTAL HYGIENE CAPSTONE

TOTAL SEMESTER UNITS:

16

SEVENTH QUARTER
COURSE
NUMBER

COURSE TITLE

UNITS
EARNED

DHYN 229
DHYN 240C
DHYN 270

ETHICS AND JURISPRUDENCE

DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC
DENTAL HYGIENE CAPSTONE
TOTAL SEMESTER UNITS:

2
8
3
13

REFERENCES
1

Eastern Washington University Dental Hygiene Catalog 2014-2015, Website:

http://www.ewu.edu/Documents/Records%20and%20Registration/catalog/DNHY
%2014-15%20Catalog.pdf
2

Chabot College Dental Hygiene Program Manual 2016:

http://www.chabotcollege.edu/DHYG/docs/2016DHmanual_rev06292015.pdf
3

Foothill College Dental Hygiene Program Website:

http://www.foothill.edu/bio/programs/dentalh/
4

University of Pacific Dental Hygiene Program Website:

http://www.pacific.edu/Admission/Undergraduate/Applying/Dental-Hygiene.html