Program Overview

1. Providing and evaluating all aspects of dental hygiene services, including preventive procedures, pain control techniques, periodontal non-surgical therapies, and periodontal maintenance for children, adolescents, adults, older adults, and medically compromised patients from diverse populations.
2. Systematically collecting, assessing, recording assessment findings, diagnosing, treatment planning, implementing and evaluating the general, oral, periodontal, and psychosocial health of diverse populations.
3. Integrating behavioral, dental, and dental hygiene sciences to develop and evaluate a dental hygiene treatment plan for patients with periodontal class I, II, III, IV, and V based on accurate, current and complete assessment data, and modify treatment plan as needed to provide evidence-based treatment.
4. Recognizing and providing appropriate life support measures for medical emergencies that may be encountered in the dental hygiene practice.
5. Utilizing adjunct therapies and new technology when providing dental hygiene therapies.
6. Critical thinking and incorporating problem solving strategies while providing comprehensive patient care and management of patients.

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1. Adhering to the American Dental Hygienists' Association's Code of Ethical Conduct and applying this to established ethical, legal and regulatory concepts for the provision and/or support of dental hygiene process of care.
2. Applying self-assessment skills to facilitate life-long learning.
3. Evaluating and interpreting current scientific literature.
4. Utilizing current technology to enhance education, patient care, research and professional growth.
5. Demonstrating his/her involvement in community dental health activities and affiliations with professional organizations.
6. Interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with diverse populations.

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1. Assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating community based oral health programs, including health promotion and disease prevention activities, for different target populations and in a variety of settings.
2. Promoting the values of oral health, general health and wellness in individuals and populations identified with risk factors, and developing strategies with other healthcare providers that promote health within these individuals and populations. This includes the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with a variety of individuals, groups and health care providers by recognizing the cultural influences impacting the delivery of health services.

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• Fall semester
  • DEH-10A – Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene #1
  • DEH-11 – Principles of Dental Hygiene
  • DEH-12A – Principles of Oral Radiology
  • DEH-12B – Oral Radiology Laboratory
  • DEH-13 – Infection Control in Dentistry
  • DEH-14 – Systems Analysis of Dental Anatomy, Morphology, Histology, Embryology
  • DEH-15 – Head and Neck Anatomy
  • DEH-16 – Preventive Dentistry
  • DEH-17 – General Pathology

• Winter semester
  • DEH-10B – Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene #2
  • DEH-19 – Pain Control

• Spring semester
  • DEH-20A – Clinical Dental Hygiene #1
  • DEH-21 – Clinical Seminar #1
  • DEH-22 – Oral Radiology Interpretation
  • DEH-23 – Introduction to Periodontology
  • DEH-24 – Ethics
  • DEH-25 – Medical and Dental Emergencies
  • DEH-26 – Dental Treatment of Geriatric and Medically Compromised Patient
  • DEH-27 – Oral Pathology
  • DEH-28 – Basic and Applied Pharmacology

• Summer semester
  • DEH-20B – Clinical Dental Hygiene #2

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• Fall semester
  • DEH-30A – Clinical Dental Hygiene #3
  • DEH-31 – Clinical Seminar #3
  • DEH-32 – Dental Materials
  • DEH-33 – Periodontology
  • DEH-34 – Cultural Diversity in Healthcare
  • DEH-35 – Community Dental Health Practicum #1
  • DEH-36 – Research Methodology
  • DEH-37 – Nutrition in Dentistry

• Winter semester
  • DEH-30B – Clinical Dental Hygiene #4

• Spring semester
  • DEH-40 – Clinical Dental Hygiene #5
  • DEH-41 – Clinical Seminar #3
  • DEH-42 – Practice Management and Jurisprudence
  • DEH-43 – Advanced Periodontology
  • DEH-44 – Community Dental Health Education #2
  • DEH-45 – Community Dental Health Education Practicum #2
  • DEH-46 – Advanced Topics in Dental Hygiene

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A registered dental hygienist (RDH) is a licensed dental professional who is an integral part of a successful dental team. The RDH provides preventive, educational, and therapeutic services to patients which can include oral examinations, oral prophylaxis (scaling, root planning, soft tissue curettage and selective polishing), dental radiography, pain control (administering local anesthesia and nitrous-oxide/oxygen sedation), dental sealants, preventive and adjunct therapies, nutritional counseling and oral health education. The Dental Hygiene Program will prepare graduates to work in a variety of settings, such as private dental offices, schools, health centers, government agencies, and private industry.

Those with a baccalaureate degree or higher may also work as an educator in dental hygiene; as an administrator for community dental health programs; or a researcher in a corporate setting or university.

Bachelor and master's degree completion programs are available at colleges and universities - many online.

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• California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA)
• Tri-County Dental Hygienists' Association
• My Dental Jobs
• Dental Jobs
• Dental Post

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Currently, Moreno Valley College dental hygiene graduates are highly successful in passing the National Board Dental Hygiene examination as well as clinical board exams.

National Dental Hygiene Board Exam

Clinical Board Exam

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