Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygienists change lives one smile at a time! Choose a career path in which the future is literally in your hands. 

In the process of earning your Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Dental Hygiene Degree, you will gain practical skills, knowledge and confidence to make a lasting and positive impact on the lives of your patients.

About the Program

Earn your Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene at CBC!

The Dental Hygiene program demands full-time classroom and clinical commitment and spans eight quarters total:

• Seven quarters dedicated to dental hygiene (DHYG) instruction

• One additional quarter for online 300-level bachelor courses, taken the summer before commencing the on-site DHYG courses.

At the CBC Dental Hygiene Program, our clinic serves both new and longstanding patients, offering a dynamic environment for hands-on experience. However, it's essential to understand that graduating requires fulfilling specific patient requirements and clinical assessments. Consequently, students are in charge of their schedules, including booking appointments and communicating with patients. While the program provides a foundational patient pool, students must be proactive in managing their patient interactions; the dental hygiene program does not solely oversee student scheduling.

The educational objective of the program is to prepare students who, upon graduation and successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and Regional Board exams in Local Anesthesia, Restorative and Clinical Dental Hygiene, will be able to apply for licensure and practice Dental Hygiene. This program has limited enrollment.

Accreditation

The CBC Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Information Sessions

Information Sessions are offered regularly throughout the year to give you an opportunity to meet the Director of Dental Hygiene, Counseling and Financial Aid. Information is provided regarding required prerequisites, the application process, and progression through the curriculum. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask specific questions about the program.

Information sessions are scheduled for one hour and are free and open to anyone interested in a CBC Health Sciences program.

Program Costs

The Dental Hygiene program at CBC requires an expenditure of approximately $37,000 for tuition, books, uniforms, supplies and equipment during the two-year program. These figures are estimates and subject to change. Approximately $7,000 will be needed prior to the beginning of the first quarter. Upon graduation, students must take the NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam) and a Regional board exam that includes Clinical boards on Local Anesthesia, Restorative (placing fillings on a typodont) and a Clinical board on a patient. These costs are in addition to the quoted cost of the program and are the responsibility of the student. Successful completion of these exams are required for licensure.

Dental Hygiene Clinic

The Dental Hygiene program offers low cost dental care to adults, teens and children in our community. Procedures are performed by students in the program and are supervised by local dentists and also registered dental hygienists who are faculty members in the program.

Dental Hygiene Clinic

Patient Care Fund

Support the Patient Care Fund

Your support enables CBC Dental Hygiene students to provide non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) to those in need in our community. In order for the students to provide comprehensive inital periodontal therapy for one patient, it costs our clinic $312. The Patient Care Fund provides funds to cover the cost of four quadrants (full mouth) of NSPT, re-evaluation, and one periodontal maintenance cleaning.  This service provides vital training to our students while making a real and tangible difference in the lives of our patients.

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Application Process

Students must complete an application each year to be considered for entry into this program.

The next opportunity to apply for the Dental Hygiene program will be November 1, 2024, to February 26, 2025.

Prerequisite Courses

All prerequisite courses require a minimum GPA of  2.0 or higher. Science courses, specifically, must have been completed within the last seven years and require an accumulated GPA of 2.6 or higher.

If a student must retake a prerequisite course to achieve a higher grade, only two courses may be retaken (one time) to be applied towards admission to the program.

General Education courses include:
 • ENGL& 101 English Composition OR
    ENGL& 102 Composition II OR
    ENGL& 235 Technical Writing
 • MATH& 146 Introduction to Stats
 • SOC& 101 Intro to Sociology
 • PSYC& 100 General Psychology
 • PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology OR
    PSYC 201 Social Psychology
 • NUTR& 101 Nutrition

AND
Select 10 credits from the following:
 • CMST& 101 Introduction to Communication 
    Studies
 • CMST& 220 Public Speaking
 • CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communication
 • CMST 260 Multicultural Communication

The science courses include:
 • BIOL& 241 Human A&P 1 w/Lab
 • BIOL& 242 Human A&P 2 w/Lab
 • BIOL& 260 Microbiology w/Lab

AND
Select 5 credits from the following:
 • CHEM& 121 Intro to Chemistry w/Lab OR
 • CHEM& 140 Gen. Chemistry Prep w/Lab  OR     
 • CHEM& 161 General Chemistry I w/Lab

AND
Select 5 credits from the following:
 • CHEM& 122 Intro to Organic Chemistry w/Lab OR
 • CHEM& 131 Intro to Organic Chemistry w/Lab
          
Courses with different numbers than the ones listed above will not automatically be substituted for these courses. You must check with Admissions. If they contain different content, they will not be accepted as substitutes for these listed courses.

Advanced Placement Scores

Advanced Placement scores from CollegeBoard may be submitted to CBC for evaluation of credit/courses. Select AP exam scores are considered for admissions and entrance points.

Chemistry:
Prerequisite: CHEM& 121 or CHEM& 161
AP Exam Score - 3, 4, or 5

English: Language and Composition            
Prerequisite: ENGL& 101
AP Exam Score - 4 or 5

Statistics:
Prerequisite: MATH& 146
AP Exam Score - 3, 4, or 5

Dental Hygiene Application

The Dental Hygiene program at Columbia Basin College participates in ADEA DHCAS  (ADEA Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service) for the programs application cycle. Applicants will apply via ADEA DHCAS to provide the program with accurate, streamlined and uniform data. The application cycle will open November 1, 2024, and remain open until February 26, 2025. For an application to be considered, it must achieve a VERIFIED status in ADEA/DHCAS by 11:59 PM EST on February 26, 2025. Applications in an IN PROGRESS, RECEIVED or COMPLETE status on March 1, 2025, will not be valid for the 2024-2025 cycle.

The Dental Hygiene program strongly recommends beginning the application process early in the application cycle.

Application

DHCAS Application Instructions:
Instructions

Instructions on How to Submit Transcripts in DHCAS:
Submit Transcripts

ADEA DHCAS Student Support
Please contact 617-612-2095 or email dhcasinfo@dhcas.org.


DHCAS requires 1-2 weeks processing time for transcripts. Be sure that transcripts arrive no later than February 14, 2024. Transcripts submitted after February 28, 2024, will not be accepted.

Full admission points are awarded for courses completed through Fall quarter 2023. Admission points for enrollment will be granted for Winter quarter of 2024.  Uncompleted prerequisites need to be finalized by the end of Spring Quarter of the year you are applying for. For instance, if applying for Fall 2024, ensure that all coursework is completed by the end of Spring quarter 2024.

Below are options to receive additional application points:

  • Veterans (include copy of DD-214 or proof of current service)
  • Associate or Bachelor's Degree
  • Successful completion of CHEM 123 with a grade of 2.6 or higher
  • Volunteer hours
  • Tri-Tech Dental Assisting Certificate of Completion
  • Home Health Aid Certificate (RHS students)

Testing for Admission

The TEAS exam is required with your application. A minimum TEAS score of 60% must be achieved to be considered for admission to the Dental Hygiene program.

For the Fall 2024 application, applicants can take the TEAS exam within the 2023-2024 testing window. Specifically, at CBC, the testing periods are from November 2023 to February 2024. Results from the TEAS exam conducted between November 2022 - February 2023 and November 2023 - February 2024 are acceptable for submission.

The submitted TEAS exam must be taken through the CBC Assessment Center. Please call the Assessment Center at 509-542-4860 for scheduling information. Comprehensive information for applicants who attend CBC or live outside of this area is available.

Forms for Application

  • Print and upload the Completion Plan For CBC Dental Hygiene Program and include with your online application (required).
  • Print and upload the Volunteer Hours for CBC Dental Hygiene Form and include with your online application (optional for extra points).
  • Print and upload Tri-Tech Skills Center Dental Assisting Program completion certificate and include with your online application (optional for extra points)
  • Print and upload Home Health Aid Certificate (RHS students) and include with your online application (optional for extra points)

ALTA Language Testing (for additional points)

Students with a second language are invited to take proficiency tests through ALTA Language Services. The tests are administered through the CBC Assessment Center. The categories of testing are Listening and Speaking as well as Reading Comprehension. Two points are given for the successful completion of each test. For more ALTA Language information please contact the Assessment Center at 509-542-4860.

Accepted Applicants

Students accepted into the CBC Dental Hygiene program will receive a confirmation email by the end of April 2025 along with information on two mandatory online courses that need to be taken Summer quarter 2025. There will be a required orientation session during the same period.

Compliance with required immunization records and a national background check, provided by the college-approved vendor, must be completed and submitted before the first day of Dental Hygiene classes. Details of these requirements will be provided at orientation. In addition, there will be information regarding a mandatory Suicide Prevention Training for Healthcare Professionals course and the American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR training.

Informed Applicant

Individuals engaged in the provision of dental hygiene services may encounter exposure to blood borne pathogens (BBP) and airborne viruses, potentially resulting in human disease.  The Dental Hygiene program adheres to the practice of Standard Precautions as defined by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). This adherence ensures the implementation of measures to minimize health risks to students, patients, staff, and visitors. Standard Precautions are essential for all facility personnel, faculty, and students who, in their regular duties, might expect contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials containing organisms such as HIV, HBV and HBC.

The program uses guidelines set by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to determine the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for faculty and students in the clinical setting. Strict adherence to these guidelines aims to reduce the risk of exposure to BBP and airborne viruses.

Accepted students will act as mock patients alongside student partners during their two-year tenure in the Dental Hygiene program.

Washington State Credentialing

Education
Applicants for dental hygiene credentials must graduate from a dental hygiene program accredited through the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 

Expanded Function Education
Applicants must complete expanded function education through the applicant's ADA CODA-accredited dental hygiene program or from a secretary of health-approved program. Expanded function education is required in anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and restorative.

Dental Hygiene National Board Examination
Applicants must successfully complete the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam.

Clinical Examinations
Applicants must successfully complete approved clinical examinations in basic hygiene, anesthesia, and restorative.

Washington State Drug and Law Examination
Applicants must successfully complete the Washington State Drug and Law exam.

Professional Licensure Outside of Washington State

Each state, the District of Columbia and the U.S. protectorates vary in what professions they require to be licensed and the educational requirements for those licenses. It’s important to understand whether the degree or certificate you obtain from CBC will meet the educational eligibility requirements for a license in the state in which you plan to practice.

View educational licensure requirements by state.

National Background Search & Drug Screen Requirement

As part of the admission requirements for Health Science programs, accepted applicants must successfully pass a criminal background check and drug screen prior to working with patients in clinical areas. The background check and drug screen are paid by the student and administered through a third party company, CastleBranch. In addition to the background check required by CBC, each clinical facility reserves the right to conduct its own criminal background check prior to allowing a student to enter its health care facilities for clinical participation.

Certain criminal convictions, pending charges or negative actions may automatically disqualify a person from having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles and children. Clinical facilities reserve the right to accept or decline a student’s placement in its facility.     

Dental Hygiene Program Outcomes

  • 1. Professional Skills

    Students will be able to:

    • Provide quality preventive, therapeutic, and restorative therapy as allowed by the state practice act. (Supports CBC learning outcome 6)
    • Meet the dental hygiene competencies as outlined in the Columbia Basin College Dental Hygiene Handbook with entry-level competency. (Supports CBC learning outcome 6)
    • Utilize knowledge, skills, and evidence-based practice in the provision of customized patient-centered dental hygiene care. (Supports CBC learning outcome 5, 6)
    • Identify the oral health education needs of patients across the lifespan; developing and implementing an oral health care plan utilizing basic principles of teaching/learning.
    • Adhere to ethical behavior and follow the Code of Ethics for Dental Hygienists

  • 2. Communications and Interpersonal Skills

    Students will be able to:

    • Communicate effectively while exhibiting cultural awareness with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team. (Supports learning outcome 3, 4)
    • Demonstrate a professional demeanor and respect for the values and beliefs of patients. (Supports CBC learning outcome 5)
      Exhibit accountability, professional responsibility, and reliability when providing oral health care.

  • 3. Research Skills

    Students will be able to:

    • Utilize knowledge of research methods and critically evaluate research to promote and foster optimal health. (Supports CBC learning outcomes 1, 2)

The dental hygienist plays an integral role in assisting individuals and groups in achieving and maintaining optimal oral health. They also provide educational, clinical and consultative services. Other professional roles of the dental hygienist include:

  • Clinician: private dental practice, community clinics, hospitals, prison facilities and schools/colleges
  • Corporate: sales rep, product research, corporate educators and administrators
  • Public Health: rural or inner city community clinics, head start programs, school sealant programs
  • Researcher: colleges and universities, corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations
  • Educator: clinical, classroom and corporate instructors/educators, program director
  • Administrator: clinical director, program directors, research administrator, corporate sales
  • Entrepreneur: product development, employment service, independent clinical practice, professional speaker, consulting business

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