Academic Experience | Dental Hygiene (AS)

The three-year associate's degree in dental hygiene includes a solid foundation in basic biology, chemistry, and anatomy, plus a wide range of career-specific courses covering subjects such as dental ethics, periodontology, and oral pathology. Practical skills are emphasized in patient communication, preventive oral care, dental radiology, pharmacology, and local anesthesia. 

The associate's degree is a “1 plus 2” program, requiring three years of study; one year of dental hygiene prerequisite courses, and two years of a full-time prescribed dental hygiene curriculum. Students learn all aspects of dental hygiene through didactic, laboratory, and clinical experiences in our state-of-the-art dental clinic.  

Starting in the fall of 2026, the AS program will no longer be accepting new students. The last graduating class of AS degree students will be in the spring of 2028. Students interested in studying dental hygiene should apply for the bachelor's degree program. 

Prerequisite Courses 

Before entering the associate's degree program, all students must complete one year of prerequisite courses. These may be taken as a full-time student at Regis (Intended Dental Hygiene/IDH) or may be transferred from another college. Upon successful completion of the prerequisite courses, students are strongly encouraged to apply for acceptance into one of the 36 slots in the dental hygiene program. They should consult with their advisor. The associate's program gives priority to students who have successfully completed the prerequisites courses at Regis College.

Two years of dental hygiene coursework is required. Graduates of the associate's program will be eligible to take the national and state examination boards required for licensure at the end of their third year at Regis College. 

Our dental program prepares students for the career of a dental hygienist by providing them with hands-on learning experiences at our state-of-the-art dental center. Our dental center provides students with the opportunity to serve the public under the supervision of dental hygiene educators and supervising staff dentists. This will ensure that students are well-equipped to enter the workforce with confidence and experience under their belts.