Dental Hygiene, AS

This web page provides an overview of the program and a survey of program highlights. Thank you for visiting our site. We look forward to serving your educational goals.

The Dental Hygiene Program is a limited access program. A selective admissions policy with specific selection criteria is utilized in order to select the most qualified applicants. The strength of the applicant pool varies from year to year, with the highest qualified applicants receiving first consideration. It is the applicant’s responsibility to inquire about these specific admission and selection criteria and to ensure that all required documents are received on campus prior to the published deadline as published in the Dental Hygiene Program Information Packet.

Program Information

One class of sixteen students is selected each year.  Students not selected are encouraged to successfully complete all general education courses while reapplying to the program for the next year.  Students should receive advising and counseling regarding their status and recommended courses.  The Dental Hygiene Program is a rigorous, full-time program that requires commitment and hard work.  For a portion of their laboratory learning experiences it is necessary for students to practice on each other.  If for any medical or dental reason a student is unable to participate, it will be the student’s responsibility to provide a patient for each of those sessions.

Dental Transfer Policy

Applicants who are currently enrolled in another Dental Hygiene Program and wish to investigate transferring to a GCSC Dental Program must: 1) meet all current admission requirements, 2) apply at least two months prior to the expected date of enrollment, 3) notify the Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator in writing, stating anticipated entry date and reason for transfer, 4) provide evidence of successful completion of previous core dental courses from an American Dental Association accredited program, and 5) provide a letter from the Program Chair stating that the student is in good academic and clinical standing and is eligible to return to the Dental Hygiene Program they wish to transfer from. Acceptance of any transfer student will be dependent upon available resources. 

Transferability of GCSC Dental Hygiene courses to another institution will be dependent upon the acceptance of the receiving institution. 

Occupational Safety and Health Briefing:

The Dental Programs at Gulf Coast State College have an obligation to maintain standards of health care and professionalism that are ethically and legally correct and that are consistent with the public's expectations of the health professions. In accordance with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, a Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan has been developed for the Dental Programs at Gulf Coast State College.  These guidelines are established and practiced by all dental health personnel (faculty, staff and students) while as an employee, volunteer or student with the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene program. These specific guidelines and other Dental Program policies are available for review in the Dental Programs Manual.

Infectious Disease Notification:

Students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program are at risk for exposure to blood and body fluids, and the potential does exist for transmission of blood-borne and other infectious diseases during patient care activities. If you contract a blood borne infectious disease during your enrollment, appropriate health care experts will be consulted about your ability to continue to treat patients. Each applicant may view the Dental Hygiene Program Policies on Bloodborne and Infectious Diseases upon request. The Dental Faculty will discuss or answer any questions that an applicant may have concerning these policies.