Dental Hygiene

Through a unique partnership with Carl Sandburg College located in Galesburg, Illinois, students can complete some of their courses at Clinton, Muscatine or Scott Community College and transfer them to the Dental Hygiene program at Carl Sandburg College. Students attend dental hygiene courses in Galesburg and pay the Carl Sandburg in-district tuition rate for these courses. For more information, please contact:

  • Dental Assisting Instructor
    Barb Nichol
    Scott Community College
    563-441-4259

Program Description for Dental Hygiene AAS


A dental hygienist is a licensed professional with hands-on preventive healthcare responsibilities. Dental Hygienists work under the supervision of dentists in dental offices or as independent contractors in state licensed healthcare facilities. Dental hygienists examine, clean and polish teeth, note conditions of decay, disease and deviations from normal oral health. They administer local anesthetics, place temporary and permanent fillings, take impressions of teeth, give fluoride treatments, apply sealants, and take and process X-rays.

Hygienists also educate patients regarding proper oral healthcare. Necessary skills include: good judgment and decision making abilities, good hand/eye coordination and precision, manual dexterity to move small objects, visual acuity noting details in color/ shape, ability to work with people as a team member, ability to calm nervous patients, and good listening and communication skills.

The Dental Hygiene program at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) is available as a result of a very unique cooperative partnership with Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois. Our partnership with Carl Sandburg College gives you the opportunity to take many of your classes (38 credits) through EICCD. Once accepted into the Carl Sandburg College program, you will take dental hygiene related classes in Galesburg and complete clinical experiences at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in Iowa City.

Students will be notified of acceptance into the program by April 1st. A new class will begin each fall.


Award Options for Dental Hygiene AAS

  • Associate in Applied Science Degree (Degree is awarded by Carl Sandburg College)



Job Outlook for Dental Hygiene AAS


Employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow 38 percent through 2020, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This projected growth ranks dental hygienists among the fastest growing occupations, in response to increasing demand for dental care and more use of hygienists. Median annual wages of dental hygienists were $68,250 in May 2014. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,000, and the top 10 percent earned more than $93,820.

For details, please visit this link http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ new window

Course Equivalency Guides

The following courses taken at Clinton, Muscatine or Scott Community College will fulfill course requirements for admission to the Dental Hygiene Program.

BIO:114 General Biology I/A* 4
CHM:122 Introduction to General Chemistry 4

*OR BIO:168 with a minimum grade of C or BIO:186 with a minimum grade of C.

The following additional courses can also be completed at Clinton, Muscatine or Scott Community College and will fulfill course requirements of the Dental Hygiene Program.

Note that Carl Sandburg College requires a grade of C or higher in these courses.
BIO:151 Nutrition 3
BIO:168 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4
BIO:173 Human Anatomy & Physiology II 4
BIO:186 Microbiology 4
ENG:105 English Composition I 3
PSY:111 Introduction to Psychology 3
SOC:110 Introduction to Sociology 3
SPC:112 Public Speaking 3


Printable Factsheet (PDF) new window

Locations: Clinton Community College, Muscatine Community College, Scott Community College

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