Dental Hygiene Program

AAS in Dental Hygiene

• Degree offered: Associate in Applied Science
• Locations: Forest Park
• Hours to complete: 73
• Program contact name: Maggie Malench
• Program contact email: stlcc-dentalhygiene@stlcc.edu
• Accreditation:
  The program in dental hygiene 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 can be contacted at 1-312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: ada.org/coda 
• This program meets the educational requirements for state licensure in the following states: Missouri, Illinois, Alaska and South Dakota. Students interested in pursuing licensure in a different state should contact the program coordinator for more information.
• Please note: 
  Dental professionals may be at risk for exposure to numerous workplace hazards. These hazards include but are not limited to the spectrum of blood borne pathogens, infectious diseases, pharmaceuticals and other chemical agents, human factors, ergonomic hazards, noise, vibration and workplace violence. Read more about this risk.

Cost of Attendance

Prior to starting the program:

• Background check and Compliance Tracker - $100
• CPR Certification (AHA Basic Life Support) - $ 75

First Year; Fall Semester: ($5,264)

• Scrubs, shoes and socks - $400
• First semester instrument, equipment and supply kits A, B, C and D - $2,000
• Books - $1,000
• In-district tuition fall and spring semester for a total of 16 credits - $1,864

First Year; Spring Semester: ($5,829)

• Second semester instrument, equipment and supply kits E, F and G - $1,800
• Replaceable supplies - $200
• Books - $500
• Loupes with headlamp - $1,400
• In-district tuition fall and spring semester for a total of 16 credits - $1,864
• Mandatory American Dental Hygiene Association student membership - $65

Second Year: (7,048)

• Advanced Instrumentation Kit and disposable supplies - $1,000
• Books - $400
• In-district tuition, summer, fall and spring semesters for total a of 26 credits - $3,728
• Mandatory American Dental Hygiene Association student membership - $65
• Spring semester second year has degree culmination and testing expenses.
• They are approximately as follows:
• Pin purchase - $50
• National Boards Dental Hygiene Exam application fee - $450
• CRDTS application fee (clinical boards) - $995
• Missouri Dental Board Juris Prudence Exam fee - $155
• License application fee (varies by state) average fee - $200
• Transcript fee per request (needed for licensure) - $5

TOTAL = $18,141

(Please note that the tuition calculation above is based on in-district rate of $122 per credit hour. Out-of-district tuition is $171 per credit hour, out-of-state tuition is $223 per credit hour, and international is $243 per credit hour. All fees are subject to change.)

Program Outcomes

Requirements and Prerequisites 

In order to be admitted into the program, you must meet all of the program requirements. Official transcripts from high school, GED certification, and all other colleges must be mailed to the Registrar’s office (hand-carried and faxed transcripts are not accepted). Upon acceptance to STLCC, students will need to specifically apply to the dental hygiene program. It is highly recommended that students meet with an STLCC dental hygiene program academic advisor to complete an academic plan prior to applying for the program. 

• Acceptance into the dental hygiene program has three requirements:
• Cumulative GPA: Students must maintain regular student status and a cumulative 2.5 GPA.
• Science Prerequisite GPA: Four science prerequisite courses must be completed prior to filling out the dental hygiene program application. A minimum of a 3.0 GPA is required for these four science courses: Microbiology (BIO 203); Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 207); Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO 208); and Fundamentals of Chemistry (CHM 101) with a minimum grade of C or better in each course within five years prior to admission. Science prerequisite courses may be retaken one time for a maximum total of two attempts.
• Observation Hours: Students must complete a total of 20 hours observing dental hygienists in private practice in a minimum of two offices, three preferred. This is to be documented on practice letterhead (date, number of hours spent observing and signature of dentist or dental hygienist). Professional attire is required with no visible tattoos or body piercings; no jeans; only closed-toe shoes.
• Program Notification of Acceptance: Admission acceptance and reservation forms are mailed twice yearly; fall and spring semesters. Students are notified if they will start the program the following academic year, or if they are placed on a waitlist. Placement on the entry list and waitlist are determined by the date and time of application, which is maintained on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once an application is made, students are required to inform the program director of any changes to their address, email or phone number.
• Students entering the program: Prior to starting the program in the fall semester, students will receive a packet of information and directions in March; students are required to complete CPR Basic Life Support (BLS) with an automated external defibrillator (AED) certification, a background check, and a physical exam at their own expense. Students are advised not to do any of this until they receive their packet with specific instructions.
• Students must purchase their own uniforms, equipment, and supplies prior to the start of the program. The program director will distribute a list of specific items with costs at orientation, which takes place in June. Students can expect the cost of the items to be approximately $2,000 for the first semester. Over the next year, approximately another $4,000 in expenses are incurred in addition to books and fees.
• Graduates of the dental hygiene program are eligible to sit for the clinical and national board exams as well as apply for state licensure. Licensure applications include questions regarding criminal history, drug addictions and require a Social Security number. Discovery of relevant criminal history or false information may result in denial of the student’s application, conditioned licensure or the filing of disciplinary action against the applicant. 

Review the Dental Hygiene Program Requirements Checklist