Dental Hygiene Program
Delivery Options:
In-Person
Delivery Type:
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Program Length:
5 Semesters
Why Pursue Dental Hygiene?
Becoming a dental hygienist offers you the chance to make a real impact on people’s health by providing essential oral care and education. Enjoy a rewarding and stable career with flexible hours and competitive salaries. Plus, work in a variety of settings, from private practices to public health clinics, ensuring every day is both fulfilling and diverse.
Graduates are Prepared to:
- Apply a professional code of ethics, assume responsibility for actions and decide care on scientific theories and research.
- Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations and regulations in oral health care.
- Use critical thinking to identify oral health care strategies, determine dental hygiene diagnoses and consider risk factors and systemic influences.
- Use evidence-based decision-making to evaluate technology and treatment, providing quality, cost-effective care and services.
- Perform continuous self-assessment for lifelong learning and professional growth, accessing networks for career advancement.
- Communicate effectively with diverse individuals, acknowledging and appreciating diversity without discrimination.
- Promote dental hygiene profession values and overall health through service-based activities and community involvement.
- Apply quality assurance mechanisms to ensure health and safety standards in patient care.
- Collaborate with patients and other health care providers to create individualized, patient-centered care plans, considering unique needs and cultural sensitivity.
- Collect, analyze and document diagnostic data on patient health, ensuring complete and accurate records of oral health services.
How to apply to the dental Hygiene program
Step 1
Step 1. Complete all prerequisites with at least a C grade and be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA in prerequisite coursework of 2.5.
Step 2
Step 2: Collect official transcripts if all prerequisites were not taken at Great Falls College
Step 3
Step 3. Be admitted to Great Falls College and have a complete admissions file before applying to the program.
- New to Great Falls College? Apply here
- Continuing student at Great Falls College? Your admissions file is already complete.
Step 4
Step 4. Submit the program application
Application opens March 3 (delayed from Feb. 15) and application packets are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be postmarked on or before June 16 to meet the priority deadline to get into the Dental Hygiene program for the upcoming semester. Only complete application packets will be processed, so do not send items separately.
Types of Courses
| DENT 101 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene/Preclinic |
| DENT 105 | Professional Issues/Ethics in Dental I |
| DENT 223 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory II |
| DENT 240 | Local Anesthesia/Nitrous Oxide Theory and Lab |
Career Opportunities
Prior to enrollment, students should review the Great Falls College MSU State Authorization (NC-SARA) webpage Accreditation – Great Falls College to determine whether this program meets the licensing requirements in a specific state. All states accept the national written board exam dental hygiene students take at the end of this Program. It is important to note that all states determine their own requirements regarding clinical board tests accepted for licensure
Graduates of the dental hygiene program are qualified to work in various dental practice settings, including general dentistry, periodontal, pediatric, public health and orthodontics. With the required hours of experience and continued education, some graduates choose to apply for a Montana Limited Access Permit that allows dental hygienists to work in rural settings and meet the needs of underserved populations throughout our beautiful state.
It's been hard. Definitely hard. But I know it'll be worth it... The teachers are nice. They're great... and they just all bring something different that they can kind of teach us, which is nice to get all those different backgrounds. (My classmates) we're like family. We all help each other out and... we always say none of us would pass if it wasn't for the others.
Additional Program Information
Dental Clinic Site
Program Goals
Patient Care:
Provide challenging clinical experiences that encompass dental hygiene care for the child, adolescent, adult, geriatric and patients with special needs so students can demonstrate clinical care that is safe, effective and ethical.
Instruction:
Provide a comprehensive curriculum in dental hygiene that reflects current practice and incorporates a variety of health-care settings.
Research:
Incorporate evidence-based research into presentations for dental hygienists that require students to analyze and assess emerging technology and treatment modalities hygienists can integrate into their clinical practices.
Service:
Promote participation in professional organization and community service projects.
Curriculum Map & Assessment Plan
Dental Hygiene Program Assessment Plan: Program director will submit annual assessment of competencies in May using program summary document.
