Dental Hygiene

The goal of the Cypress College Dental Hygiene Program is to provide the student with the educational opportunity to attain:

• dental hygiene process of care knowledge, skills and values
• a professional relationship with the community in which they serve
• a relationship amongst allied health care team
• professional knowledgeable of and compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, Law and Ethics, Dental Hygiene Board of California, and local regulatory guidelines
• professional sensitivity to the autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence principles of ethical practice

The goal of the Cypress College Dental Hygiene Program is to provide the student with the educational opportunity to attain:

• dental hygiene process of care knowledge, skills and values
• a professional relationship with the community in which they serve
• a relationship amongst allied health care team
• professional knowledgeable of and compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, Law and Ethics, Dental Hygiene Board of California, and local regulatory guidelines
• professional sensitivity to the autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence principles of ethical practice

• Perform the dental hygiene process
• Understand diagnostic digital imaging and skills to interpret dental radiographs using DEXIS
• Prevent blood-borne diseases in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Ohio State Dental Board (OSDB).
• Review patient health histories, noting contraindications and other health concerns as needed
• Perform intra/extraoral evaluation, periodontal assessment, treatment assessment, and CAMBRA
• Use gentle instrumentation for optimal removal of plaque, tartar, and bacteria above and below the gum line
• Treat gingivitis and periodontitis with advanced instrumentation skills using Air-Flow, cavitron, piezo, and hand scaling of periodontal patients
• Administer local anesthetic agents and nitrous oxide
• Perform whitening procedures and fabricate whitening trays
• Provide and adequately apply cavity prevention agents such as fluoride and sealants
• Instruct patients in personalized homecare techniques
• Utilize Dentrix software to set up appointments

• Apply to Cypress College to obtain a Cypress College student ID#. The email address used on the Cypress College application will be used within your Health Science Application and for all email interactions between the college faculty and staff, clinical sites, and any other program related email interactions. 
• High School graduation or passing of the General Education Development tests (GED) or passing of high school proficiency. 
• Minimum of 17 years of age to apply. Must be 18 years of age to start the program. 
• A minimum of a 2.5 GPA in ALL college work attempted and a 3.0 GPA in the science prerequisites. Official transcript from all colleges is required. 
• Evidence of “good” physical and mental health as determined by medical examination upon admission to the program and prior to program enrollment. 
• All science courses must be completed prior to application.
• All General Education courses must be completed prior to application. All courses listed within the General Education B.2 and C must be completed prior to application. Exception for Spring 2025 only – only two (2) courses from B.2 and C combined can be in progress at the time of application and must be completed with a grade of “C” or better by the end of spring semester during the application period. 
• All applicants accepted to the program are required to attend a mandatory orientation. 
• Students must demonstrate by laboratory testing and medical examination no contagious disease, such as: active Tuberculosis, or Hepatitis carrier with e antigen. Attendance in the dental hygiene program’s laboratory and clinical courses would be denied based upon CDC regulations and invasive exposure-prone procedures. Please discuss health concerns with a Health Science counselor before application.
  

The following courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” and an over-all GPA of 2.5. Once a passing grade is achieved, courses may not be repeated for a higher grade. 

All accepted applicants are required to pass DH 100C Introduction to Dental Hygiene. Failure to pass DH 100C prohibits future applications. 

Science Prerequisites: Must be completed within five years at the time of application, and with an overall GPA of 3.0. All sciences must be taken in-person or hybrid (lab must be in-person).

• CHEM 101C – Chemistry for Health Science Majors I – 4.0 units 
• CHEM 201C – Chemistry for Health Science Majors II – 4.5 units 
• BIOL 220C – Medical Microbiology – 4.0 units 
• BIOL 231C – General Human Anatomy – 4.0 units 
• BIOL 241C – General Human Physiology – 4.0 units
  

General Education Prerequisites: Beginning January 1, 2026, all general education prerequisites must be completed at the time of application. (See exception in Minimum Standards to Apply.) The following courses must be completed at the time of application with a minimum grade of “C” or better.  

• PSY 101C – Introduction to Psychology – 3.0 units 
• COMM 100C – Human Communication – 3.0 units 
• SOC 101C – Introduction to Sociology – 3.0 units 
• ENGL 100C/ENGL 101C/ESL 110C – College Writing – 4.0 units 
• Math – College Level Math meeting GE requirement (MATH 120 C highly recommended) – 4.0 units 
• HRC 100C – Nutrition (meets PE requirement) – 3.0 units
  OR 
• BIO 107C – Nutrition and World Food Issues – 3.0 units 
• Ethnic Studies (formerly known as Social Justice, Equity and Sustainability or as Cultural Diversity) – 3.0 units 
  

General Education and Graduation Requirements 

The following additional courses are required for the Associate degree and must be completed by the time of application. (See exception in Minimum Standards to Apply.) All general education courses must be completed with a “C” or better. Please refer to the Cypress College Catalog for current Native General Education requirements. 

• Arts and Humanities 
• Arts (minimum 3 units) 
• Humanities (minimum 3 units) 
• Physical Activity/Health (1-3 units)  

The following additional courses are required for the bachelor’s degree and must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Please refer to the Cypress College IGETC or CSU GE Breadth requirements. May be waived based on completion of a bachelor degree at an accredited institution in the U.S.

• Critical Thinking (minimum 3 units)
• Add, Humanities (PHIL 100 highly recommended)
• Add, One additional Arts or Humanities course (if completing CSU GE Breadth requirement; minimum 3 units)

• Before the application opens online, review and follow the required instructions on the Checklist and Sample Application on the Dental Hygiene home page. 
• Apply to Cypress College to obtain a Cypress College student ID#.  
• Once a Cypress College Student ID# has been received, submit required official transcripts from other colleges to Cypress College Admissions and Records. Admission and Records will not accept transcripts opened prior to submission, PDF documents sent from a student, unofficial transcripts, or a Cypress College transcript. 

• Digitally (directly from school to school) – send to incomingtranscripts@cypresscollege.edu Attn: Transcripts. You can choose Cypress College if that is an option when ordering. 

• Through mail (unofficial if opened) –
  Cypress College
  Admissions and Records – Transcripts
  9200 Valley View St.
  Cypress, CA  90630 

• Application must be completed online during the month of February. Application deadline.  
• Notification letters are emailed out no later than May 1.  
• Log into the online Health Science Application using myGateway credentials. Submit needed documents following the instructions within the online Health Science application. 
• Determination of acceptance is based upon the selection criteria.
  

Students for the DH program are selected using the system listed below. No other criteria are used for selection. 

Ranking will be based on: 

• GPA of Science prerequisite courses 
• GPA of General Education courses used within application will be used in the event there is a tie in GPA of Science prerequisite courses. 
• Application Reference Number (determined by date and time of electronically submitted application) will be used in the event there is a tie in GPA of General Education courses. 
• Acceptance is based on a confirmation response by the deadline stated in the notification letter from the applicant selected and followed by mandatory attendance at an orientation. 
• F-1 visa students will not be accepted for admission into any program when applications by qualified U.S. citizens exceed space available (AP 5012 1.4.). 

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: Students will be required to pass a formal background check before placement in affiliated hospitals/clinics. During the learning process, students are required to perform dental hygiene process of care on each other. 

Curriculum 

Semester I 

DH 101C – Dental Anatomy & Morphology – 2.0 units
DH 104C – Oral Health Assessment – 3.0 units
DH 105C – Oral Embryology and Histology – 2.0 units
DH 106C – Radiology Tech/Hygienists – 3.0 units
DH 109C – Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene – 5.0 units
DH 148C – Medical/Dental Emergencies – 2.0 units 

Semester I Units – 17.0

Semester II 

DH 110C – Clinical Dental Hygiene – 7 units
DH 112C – Head and Neck Anatomy – 2.0 units
DH 113C – General and Oral Pathology – 2.0 units
DH 116C – Dental Materials/Hygienists – 2.5 units
DH 125C – Perio Pathology & Therapy – 2.0 units 

Semester II Units – 15.0 

Semester III 

DH 220C – Clinical Dental Hygiene – 6.5 units
DH 240C – Community Oral Health I – 2.0 units
DH 250C – Pharmacology – 2.0 units
DH 255C – Dental Anesthesiology – 3.0 units
DH 260C – Dental Care for Special Needs – 2.0 units 

Semester III Units – 15.5

Semester IV 

DH 221C – Clinical Dental Hygiene – 6.5 units
DH 230C – Dental Specialties – 2.0 units
DH 241C – Community Oral Health II – 2.0 units
DH 245C – Dental Jurisprudence – 2.0 units 

Semester IV Units – 14.0

Elective: DH 275C or DH 276C Clinical Dental Hygiene 0.5 unit (Summer Session) 

A student must attain a minimum of a “C” in all required courses to continue in the program.

The Dental Hygiene Program offers four certificates upon completion of the program. 

• Radiology Safety Certificate 
• Dental Hygiene Pit and Fissure Sealant Certificate 
• Ultrasonic Scaling and Coronal Polishing Certificate 
• Administration of Local Anesthesia, Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen Analgesia and Periodontal Soft Tissue Curettage Certificate  

(1) successfully pass written and clinical Board Examination and Law and Ethics Examination, and (2) have no criminal record, or the board must determine that a past criminal record poses no threat to the public health, safety, or welfare. Finger printing is required and checked through the Department of Justice and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The applicant must report on the Application for Licensure, any convictions, or pleas of nolo contendere, even if the conviction was dismissed. Making a false statement on an application, regarding a past conviction, is cause for denial of a license, regardless of the nature of the crime or how long ago it occurred.  

The North Orange County Community College District, in compliance with all applicable Federal and State Laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, religion, disability, sex, or sexual orientation in any of its policies, procedures, or practices. The district is also committed to maintaining campuses that are free of harassment, drugs, and alcohol. 

Health Science Counselors
Division of Health Science
Cypress College
9200 Valley View St.
Cypress, CA  90630-5897
(714) 484-7015 

Health Science Applications Office
Health Science Building/TE3-217 
Cypress College
9200 Valley View St. 
Cypress, CA 90630-5897
healthscience@cypresscollege.edu 

• Review the program webpage for program information and all prerequisite requirements and selection criteria. 
• Attend a Health Science Workshop (optional, but strongly recommended). 
• Speak with a Health Science Counselor for any questions or concerns regarding application (optional). 
• Apply to Cypress College as a general student and obtain a myGateway Student ID #. Example @01234567. It can take up to 5 business days. Applying to a Health Science program is a separate application. 
• Review the myGateway instructions on the Cypress College website.
  

• Obtain unofficial Cypress College and Fullerton College transcripts if any attempted/completed/in progress coursework exists. A current copy, in PDF format, will be required to be uploaded within the online Health Science application during each application period. Within myGateway, click on WebStar, open the Student Records folder, click on View Unofficial Web Transcript, on the unofficial transcript click on the wording “Click here to print this page” and print the file as a PDF document. Do not take screenshots, the entire unofficial transcript must be provided. 
• Send all official transcripts from other colleges to Cypress College Admission and Records. Admission and Records will not accept transcripts opened prior to submission, PDF documents sent from a student, unofficial transcripts, or a Cypress College official transcript. Allow 5 or more business days for transcripts to be processed. All transcripts must be submitted and processed by the official transcript due date. 

• To digitally send a transcript (directly from school to school), use –
  incomingtranscripts@cypresscollege.edu
  or choose Cypress College (if the option is provided during the ordering process) 
• To mail official transcripts to Cypress College use this address – 
  Cypress College
  Admission and Records -Transcripts
  9200 Valley View St.
  Cypress, CA 90630 

NOTE – If you sent official transcripts to Cypress College before being provided a Cypress College or Fullerton College student id# (same # is used for both colleges), you must contact Cypress College Admission and Records and request for your transcript to be uploaded to your id# in the transcript database. 

It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the most current transcript when applying/reapplying to a program. 

• Applicants must submit a new and more current transcript if they …
  • had coursework in progress during the semester previously applied 
  • attempted and/or completed coursework after the last time applied 
  • have current coursework in progress (must list college on application, but can provide unofficial transcript for the in-progress coursework only.  Any prior attempted and/or completed coursework must be on an official transcript.) 
  • did not provide an official transcript when previously applied (excluding Cypress and Fullerton College) 
  • Cypress and Fullerton unofficial transcripts must be uploaded within the online application each application period 
• Applicants do not need to submit a transcript again if…
  • have already submitted an official transcript AND NO changes have occurred to that transcript.  
  • See above list of changes that require a new transcript.
    

• Log into the online Health Science Application using myGateway credentials (8-digit student I.D., also called a “banner I.D.”, and an accompanying password). 
• Fill in the Health Science online application for the program applying for.  Only one application is allowed per application period. It is the applicant’s responsibility to fill in the application fully and correctly. 
• Be prepared to upload PDF documents if needed. Current unofficial transcript(s) for Cypress and/or Fullerton College will be required to be uploaded within the online health Science if have attempted/completed/in-progress each application period. Other possible items: unofficial transcripts showing in-progress coursework, copy of High School diploma (upload high school transcript not accepted), non-enrollment letter(s), petition, etc.  Note: A high school diploma uploaded within online application each application period, or an official High School transcript sent to Admissions and Records one time OR a college degree posted on an official transcript sent to Admissions and Records is required. 
• Once completed, click the submit button.  A confirmation email will be sent containing the application number and other information. 
• Failure to provide a complete application packet will result in an ineligible application. 
• An applicant’s account will be locked once an application is submitted online.  Updates or changes can be completed during the program’s next application period.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to log into their Health Science online application prior to the official transcript due date to ensure that all required items are checked off as received. 
• Allow five (5) business days for official transcripts to be checked off within the Health Science online application AFTER Cypress College Admissions and Records has received the official transcript.  
• If the transcript processing time has passed and an item has not been checked off within the Health Science online application, it is the applicant’s responsibility to contact Cypress College Admission and Records to confirm that the most current version of the official transcript was received AND uploaded to the Cypress College transcript database. 
• Any required items not checked off within the Health Science online application after the official transcript due date will not be updated. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  

• The Health Science Applications Office will contact all applicants with a notification letter email no later than May 1.  Please do not contact the college for a status update before to the notification letter date unless instructed to do so by the Health Science staff or faculty. 
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the Health Science Applications Office by May 2 if a notification letter email was not received.  Deadline to respond is about 3 business days.  Failure to respond to an Accepted and Alternate status notification letter email will result in the application being marked as declined and will be removed from the roster. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  
• Applicants can view their status and application comments by logging into their Health Science Application. 
• Ineligible applications – It is the applicant’s responsibility to inquire about the reason their application was ineligible and correct any errors during the next application period. 
• If an applicant would like to discuss the application once applicants have received the notification letter, please contact a Health Science Counselor during business hours: Health Science Express Counseling-Cranium Café Lobby, or call (714) 484-7015 for appointment (if available) or Counselor hours of availability for virtual “walk-ins.”
  

Eligibility to apply (all must be Yes) 

• Overall GPA of 2.5 in all college classes taken? 
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in Science Prerequisites? 
• At minimum three (3) science prerequisite courses are completed prior to application? Beginning spring 2023, all science prerequisite courses must be completed prior to application. Beginning spring 2024, all science prerequisite courses must be completed prior to application.  
• At minimum five (5) general education courses are completed prior to application? Beginning spring 2023, all science prerequisite courses must be completed prior to application. Beginning spring 2024, all general education prerequisite courses must be completed prior to application. 
• All general education courses will be completed by the end of the spring semester of the year applying? Beginning spring 2023, all science prerequisite courses must be completed prior to application. Beginning spring 2024, all science and program general education prerequisite courses must be completed prior to application. 
  

List ALL Colleges and Universities with coursework attempted, completed, or in progress, regardless if they apply to the program. Includes dual-enrollment/special admit (courses completed during elementary school, middle school, or high school), or distance learning. List full college name on application. DO NOT list districts or abbreviations. Accepted abbreviations are UC for University of California and CSU for California State University. Accepted examples: UC Irvine, CSU Long Beach. 

Program Science Prerequisites 

Be prepared to list the following for each course: Subject & Course # (as seen on the transcript – not the CRN #), School, Units, Grade, Term, and Year. 

• CHEM 101C – Chemistry for Health Science Majors I   
• CHEM 201C – Chemistry for Health Science Majors II  
• BIOL 220C – Medical Microbiology   
• BIOL 231C – General Human Anatomy  
• BIOL 241C – General Human Physiology
  

Program General Education Prerequisites 

Be prepared to list the following for each course: Subject & Course # (as seen on the transcript – not the CRN #), School, Units, Grade, Term, and Year. 

See CC Native GE requirements for options. 

• PSY 101C – Introduction to Psychology  
• COMM 100C – Human Communication  
• SOC 101C – Introduction to Sociology  
• ENGL 100C or ENGL 101C or ESL 110C – College Writing  
• MATH 40C – Intermediate Algebra (or any math meeting GE) 
• HRC 100C – Nutrition OR BIO 107C – Nutrition and World Food Issues   
• Social Justice, Equity & Sustainability  
  

General Education Courses 

See CC Native GE requirements for options. 

Be prepared to list the following for each course: Subject & Course # (as seen on the transcript – not the CRN #), School, Units, Grade, Term, and Year. 

• Physical Education (Category E) – HRC 100C meets PE requirement  
• Arts (Category C1)  
• Humanities (Category C2)  
• Reading Proficiency Requirement (Category A2)