Health Careers

Dental Hygiene

Associate of Applied Science

Thank you for your interest in the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Dental Hygiene Program.

We are proud of our unique dental hygiene program, which includes one year of prerequisite coursework and two years of dental hygiene coursework. The low faculty/student clinical ratio provides students with the opportunity for an interactive learning environment.

Our on campus dental hygiene clinic, radiography labs, and classrooms provide students with the ability to work with a diversified patient population while utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and technologies. Our clinic consists of 14 dental units, 4 X-ray operatories, a sim lab, a trim lab, intraoral scanners, power scaling and air polishing equipment, and audio/visual recording systems at every unit.

In addition to our on-campus clinic, our students participate in community-based clinical experiences throughout Southwest Michigan.

If you are passionate about dental hygiene and helping people improve their quality of life, our program may be right for you!

Program Information

Health Careers applications are accepted each year April 1-15 for entrance into the FALL program at https://p2.kvcc.edu/utilities/health_careers.

For questions regarding EMT, Paramedic, Dental Hygiene, Medical Assistant Technology, and Respiratory Care please contact the Health Careers Admissions Coordinator at . For questions regarding the Nursing program please contact the Nursing Department at .

The dental hygiene program prepares students to become qualified dental hygiene practitioners. A dental hygienist's primary responsibility is to promote optimal oral health through preventive and educational services. Graduates of this program are granted an Associate's of Applied Science (AAS) degree, and are eligible to take the National Board Exam in Dental Hygiene and the Regional or State Licensing Exams.

The fully-accredited dental hygiene program is an entry-level degree program that prepares graduates to take licensure exams to become a licensed dental hygienist. Dental hygienists perform risk assessments, collect data, plan, implement, and evaluate dental hygiene care to promote the oral health of both individuals as well as groups of people. One year of high school chemistry with a grade of "C" or higher in both semesters meets the requirement for CHM 100 for this program.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements." The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission can be contacted at (312) 440-2500 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611. Guidelines to file a formal complaint against Kalamazoo Valley's Dental Hygiene Program can be found on the Commission's Webpage.