Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Begin your career helping others in this in-demand, high-paying field. Earn the credentials to work in oral health right away.
Dental hygienists play a crucial role in the healthcare field by providing preventive oral care and make a positive impact on people's oral health. They educate patients regarding various health issues, diseases and infections.
AN IN-DEMAND, HIGH PAYING CAREER
Dentists are actively hiring graduates from dental hygiene programs, and in Colorado, the average starting salary for a dental hygienist exceeds $80,000 per year.
HANDS-ON TRAINING IN A WORKING CLINIC
CMC's unique program offers hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art dental hygiene skills lab and an oral health clinic. Upon successful completion of the dental hygiene program, written and clinical board examinations, graduates will be eligible for state licensure and employment.
ENROLL NOW TO BEGIN TAKING PREREQUISITES FOR SUMMER 2026
The application for Summer 2027 will be available in Spring 2026.
Enroll this fall to begin taking prerequisites so that you’ll be eligible to apply for the next cohort, beginning Summer 2026.
Please visit the TEAS Exam website and prepare to test before the December 15, 2025, dental hygiene application deadline.
Please visit the Casper Exam website and prepare to test before the December 15, 2025, dental hygiene application deadline.
Be sure to register for the exams under the CMC Dental Hygiene Program and/or CMC Allied Health Program so that your exam scores will be automatically sent to CMC as part of the application requirements.
Request Program Information
Virtual Information Sessions
Learn more about CMC's Dental Hygiene Program. Dental hygiene applicants are required to attend one session. Sessions are scheduled for 45 minutes and include Q&A.
- Friday, July 10, Noon
- Tuesday, September 15, 5pm
- Tuesday, October 20, Noon
- Tuesday, November 17, 5pm
- Friday, December 11, Noon
The Dental Hygiene (AAS) is offered at:
- Vail Valley at Edwards: Mostly in-person
Program Learning Outcomes are what we expect each student will learn while earning a degree or certificate. Meeting these learning outcomes is how we assess our performance as a college. Our learning outcomes support both important career skills and future success as a student.
Upon completing the Dental Hygiene (AAS) program, CMC students will be able to:
- Demonstrate competence in providing dental hygiene care to individuals at all stages of life and for all types of periodontal classifications.
- Apply the dental hygiene process of care (which includes assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating) to a diverse patient population.
- Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and competence in the areas of interpersonal and communication skills when working with diverse population groups.
- Demonstrate competence in applying ethical, legal and regulatory concepts in the process of providing oral health care services.
- Apply problem-solving strategies and critical-thinking skills to provide comprehensive care and management of patients.
- Participate in professional development activities while applying self-assessment skills.
- Demonstrate preparedness, both academically and clinically, to take the written and clinical board examinations necessary to attain the dental hygiene licensure.
- Apply the dental hygiene process of care in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating oral health-related programs for the public.
PROGRAM PREREQUISITES - FALL
| Prefix | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HWE | 1050 | Human Nutrition | 3 |
| BIO | 2101 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO | 1111 | Gen Biology I | 5 |
| ENG | 1021 | English Composition I | 3 |
| PSY | 1001 | General Psychology I | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 18 | ||
PROGRAM PREREQUISITES - SPRING
| Prefix | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC | 1001 | Introduction to Sociology I | 3 |
| BIO | 2102 | Human Anatomy & Phys. II | 4 |
| BIO | 2104 | Microbiology W/ Lab | 4 |
| CHE | 1011 | Intro to Chemistry | 5 |
| COM | 1150 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 19 | ||
| TOTAL PRE-REQs | 37 | ||
Dental Program starts each summer semester
SUMMER SEMESTER (Academic Year 1)
| Prefix | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEH | 1000 | Dental Hygiene Basics and Terminology | 1 |
| DEH | 1005 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 2 | ||
FALL SEMESTER (Academic Year 2)
| Prefix | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEH | 1001 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| DEH | 1002 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene Lab | 3 |
| DEH | 1003 | Dental Anatomy and Histology | 3 |
| DEH | 1004 | Dental Radiology | 3 |
| DEH | 2002 | Applied Nutrition in Dentistry | 2 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 13 | ||
SPRING SEMESTER (Academic Year 2)
| Prefix | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEH | 1011 | Dental and Medical Emergencies | 2 |
| DEH | 1022 | Periodontics I | 2 |
| DEH | 1023 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 1 |
| DEH | 1026 | Dental Materials | 2 |
| DEH | 1053 | Clinical Theory of Dental Hygiene I | 2 |
| DEH | 1070 | Clinical Practice of Dental Hygiene I | 4.5 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 13.5 | ||
SUMMER SEMESTER (Academic Year 2)
| Prefix | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEH | 1033 | Local Anesthesia | 2 |
| DEH | 1038 | Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation | 1 |
| DEH | 1050 | Dental Lasers: Theory and Practice | 1 |
| DEH | 1071 | Clinical Practice of Dental Hygiene I-A | 2 |
| DEH | 1034 | Advanced Clinical Skills | 1 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 7 | ||
FALL SEMESTER (Academic Year 3)
| Prefix | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEH | 2004 | Community Dental Health I | 2 |
| DEH | 2013 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DEH | 2042 | Periodontics II | 2 |
| DEH | 2068 | Clinical Theory of Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DEH | 2070 | Clinical Practice of Dental Hygiene II | 6 |
| DEH | 1032 | Applied Dental Pharmacology | 2 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 17 | ||
SPRING SEMESTER (Academic Year 3)
| Prefix | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEH | 2021 | Ethics and Practice Management | 2 |
| DEH | 2025 | Community Dental Health II: Field Experience | 1 |
| DEH | 2071 | Clinical Practice of Dental Hygiene III | 6 |
| DEH | 2082 | Periodontics III | 1 |
| DEH | 2085 | Clinical Theory of Dental Hygiene III | 2 |
| DEH | 2059 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Theory | 2 |
| DEH | 2066 | National Boards Review | 2 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14 | ||
You must be selected for admission dental hygiene program at CMC.
The application for Summer 2027 will be available in Spring 2026.
Dental Hygiene Application Deadline: December 18
Both a Colorado Mountain College general admissions application and a supplemental dental hygiene application are required for admission to the dental hygiene program.
Download/view the CMC Dental Hygiene Admissions Information Packet
Students must be selected for admission to enroll in this program. Colorado Mountain College admits the best qualified candidates to the dental hygiene program each summer.
Application Questions?
Samantha Mosher
Admissions Representative for Health Sciences Programs
970-947-8353
smosher4@coloradomtn.edu
Licensed dental hygienists enjoy vibrant careers in the following arenas:
- Clinician
- Corporate
- Public Health
- Researcher
- Educator
- Administrator
- Entrepreneur
The demand for dental hygienists is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental hygienists is projected to increase by 20% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
This growth is driven by increased awareness of oral health, an aging population, and greater emphasis on preventive dental care.
The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “initial accreditation”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. Learn more about the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
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Dental Hygiene Program News
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CMC Dental Hygiene graduate celebrates her journey
Silvia Vicuña did exactly that — enrolling in CMC’s brand-new dental hygiene program the same semester her daughter left for college.
Now, Silvia is one of nine graduates from CMC Vail Valley at Edwards’ first-ever dental hygiene cohort — a group that achieved a 100% national board pass rate. After 15 years as a dental assistant in Summit County, she’s already been offered a position as a hygienist at Dillon Family Dental. Read more: CMC Dental Hygiene graduate celebrates her journey
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CMC Vail Valley at Edwards graduates first dental hygienists
A new cohort of locally trained dental hygienists is ready to join the workforce now that they are graduating from Colorado Mountain College. Read more: CMC Vail Valley at Edwards graduates first dental hygienists