BACK TO PROGRAMSSmile Bright: Shape Your Future in Dental Hygiene at CEI!
Dental Hygienists, under the supervision of licensed dentists, focus on preventing and treating oral diseases in order to promote optimal oral health. This career path opens a variety of professional opportunities including clinical, administrative, public health, government, education and research.
Why CEI’s Dental Hygiene Program?
- Small Class Size
- Comprehensive, Affordable, High-quality Education
- Innovative, Modern, on-site Dental Clinic
- State of the Art Equipment
- Expert Instructors
Program Length:
Earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene in four full-time semesters. (Does not include pre-requisite completion time.)
Important Update: Dental Hygiene Program Applications
Thank you for your interest in our Dental Hygiene program! Please note that applications are currently not available as we are in the process of obtaining initial accreditation. We anticipate enrolling our first cohort in either Spring 2026 or Fall 2026.
We encourage you to check back regularly for updates and to stay informed about the application process.
Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to welcoming you in the future!
Student Success
Where Are Our Graduates Working?
- General Dental Practices
- Periodontal Specialist Practice
- Community Health Clinics
- Hospitals
- Research Institutions
How Much Do Our Graduates Make?
| Mean | $82,740 |
| Entry | $74,680 |
| 10th Percentile | $77,130 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,960 |
| 75th Percentile | $92,650 |
| 90th Percentile | $94,740 |
Course Curriculum
Prerequisites
| Course Prefix & Number | Course Title | Credits |
| COMM 101 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | Writing & Rhetoric I | 3 |
| BIOL 227 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 227L | Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lab | 0 |
| BIOL 228 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOL 228L | Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | 0 |
| MICR 111 | Introduction to Microbiology | 3 |
| MICR 111L | Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 101 | Introduction to Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 101L | Introduction to Chemistry Lab | 0 |
| NUTR 239 | Human Nutrition | 3 |
| GEM 3 - Choose one of the following: | ||
| MATH 143 | Precalculus I: Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 153 | Statistical Reasoning | 3 |
| GEM 6 - Choose one of the following: | ||
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| TOTAL | 31 |
Semester 1
| Course Prefix & Number | Course Title | Credits |
| DH 101 | Intro to Dental Hygiene Theory I | 2 |
| DH 101C | Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 3 |
| DH 115 | Dental Radiology | 2 |
| DH 115L | Dental Radiology Lab | 1 |
| DH 122 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 2 |
| DH 132 | Dental Anatomy, Embryology and Histology | 2 |
| DH 145 | Dental Materials | 1 |
| DH 145L | Dental Materials Lab | 1 |
| TOTAL | 14 |
Semester 2
| Course Prefix & Number | Course Title | Credits |
| DH 151 | Dental Hygiene Theory II | 3 |
| DH 151C | Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 4 |
| DH 175 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| DH 185 | Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DH 190 | Periodontology I | 3 |
| TOTAL | 16 |
Semester 3
| Course Prefix & Number | Course Title | Credits |
| DH 201 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 3 |
| DH 201C | Dental Hygiene Clinic III | 4 |
| DH 215 | Local Anesthesia | 2 |
| DH 215L | Local Anesthesia Lab | 1 |
| DH 245 | Periodontology II | 3 |
| TOTAL | 13 |
Semester 4
| Course Prefix & Number | Course Title | Credits |
| DH 251 | Dental Hygiene Theory IV | 3 |
| DH 251C | Dental Hygiene Clinic IV | 4 |
| DH 270 | Community Dental Health | 3 |
| DH 280 | Practice Management and Board Review | 2 |
| TOTAL | 12 |
Accreditation
The CEI Dental Hygiene program is currently seeking initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Updates will be posted here.