A Champion for Health
Take a breath. Flex your hands. You are ready for the challenge.
Dental hygienists are champions for their patients’ health. They teach their patients about caring for teeth and the connection between oral health and the whole body.
To become this champion, you need:
- Fine motor skills
- A meticulous mindset
- Great study habits
Expert Guidance.
Our instructors are experts who take pride in your success. You’ll get one-on-one mentorship and precise technical feedback tailored to your goals.
Award Type
Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Department
Department of Dental Hygiene
Required Credit Hours
73-74
Proven Success
100%
All 2023 graduates licensed graduates have gained full employment
92%
of 2023 graduates passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam
100%
of 2023 graduates passed the ADEX Clinical Exam
Science & Technique
From your first classes in anatomy to your later classes in pharmacology, build a foundation in science to support your effective clinical technique. Every course, lab and lesson drives toward the four key learning outcomes:
- Effective communication
- Problem-solving skills
- Gathering and using information well
- Technical competence in Dental Hygiene
Champion Communicator
As a dental professional, you need great skills in communication and motivation. That’s why your coursework includes psychology and writing classes to prepare you for real-world challenges.
Career Outcomes
Picture yourself at graduation: You know science and people. You have over 600 clinical hours of hands-on experience. You’ve worked under licensed faculty in the Owens community clinic. You are ready. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologists exam.
Every dental hygienist will shape their own career path. What will yours look like?
Explore the employment data to understand trends in our area.
In Their Words
“Now it’s like my biggest passion, being able to educate individuals. Not just clean their teeth but give them the why we should do these things to keep your mouth healthy.”
Derek Koster, Dental Hygiene, ’25
Competitive Admission
We can admit only 30 students each year because Dental Hygiene is a “Selective Health” program. This means you apply to Owens first, then to Dental Hygiene. To select our next class, we give you points based on your academic record.
Point System
First, we look at your grade point average (GPA). Next, we award bonus points for most Dental Hygiene general education course earning a C or better. If you haven’t taken enough of those courses, we look only at your high school GPA. General education courses can be taken before you’re admitted to the program.
If you choose a different program at Owens, these general education courses may count toward it as well. Work with your advisor early and often if you are considering multiple programs. See how the points work.
Accreditation
The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status July 2021 for 7-year period (through 2029). The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (800) 232-6108 or at 401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3300, Chicago, IL 60611-4250. The Commission’s web address is: https://coda.ada.org/.