Dental Hygiene Questions
How long is the Dental Hygiene Program?
The Dental Hygiene Program is 2 years in length, a summer session is included and all traditional college holidays are observed.
What is the degree granted at the end of the curriculum?
Upon successful completion of the Dental Hygiene Program students are granted an Associate of Applied Science degree.
What is the schedule like?
Students are in class full time on a daytime schedule, five days a week. Each semester is slightly different, but no classes after 5:00 pm. Class and clinic preparation begin at 8:00 am.
How much does the program cost?
Including tuition, books, instruments and clinic supplies, immunizations, uniforms and board exam fees, the cost is approximately $15,000.00. Students are required to purchase scrubs to wear in any lab or clinic setting.
How do I apply?
What entrance Exam is Required?
The pre-entrance exam for dental hygiene applicants is the Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT). The test is available via online. Once the application opens on the third Wednesday in January, you will be able to register and pay for the HSRT exam. Go to Dental Hygiene Pre-Entrance HSRT for more information.
When will I be notified?
The top 32 applicants will receive an e-mail via their my.lonestar account inviting them to interview.
Is there a waiting list?
Lone Star College-Kingwood will not keep a waiting list. However, there will be an Alternate List for applicants who will be offered a place in the class if an accepted student does not enter the program.
What else is required?
Once accepted, students will need:
- Negative background check.
- All immunizations must be current including MMR, Tetnus/Diptheria (Td Adult type), Varicella, Hepatitis B series (This is a series of 3 injections that must be complete by first day of class. The series takes 6 months to complete), Negative TB skin test in the past 12 months.
- American Heart Association, BLS for healthcare providers with AED certification.
What if there is a problem with my background Check?
The applicant must contact the Texas Medical Board for Dental Hygiene to determine your licensure eligibility. A letter from them is required when you apply to the program.
Customer Service Email: http://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/criminal-history-evaluation/
How do I get a license to practice as a Registered Dental Hygienist?
You must graduate from an Accredited School of Dental Hygiene, You must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam and you must pass a Clinical Board Exam. Once you have satisfied these requirements, you may make application to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners for licensure.
The National Board Dental Hygiene Exam is given in the Spring semester of your final year in the Dental Hygiene Program. A Clinical Board Exam is given upon completion of your final year of the dental hygiene curriculum.
Do I have to take the ACT or SAT examination to be considered for admission?
The ACT or SAT examinations are not specifically required by the program or the college. You will need to meet the Student Success Initiatives (SSI) requirements for admission to the college. College Advisors will be happy to help you with this.
How many times a year will Lone Star College-Kingwood admit a new dental hygiene class?
Our program, like many of the others in the state, accepts and admits one class per year in the Fall semester.
Do I have to have prior work experience in a dental office to be considered for admission?
No, but it is helpful to do some research about the dental hygiene profession to see if the roles and responsibilities of the dental hygienist are in line with your personal goals. If you have no dental office experience it is advisable to speak to your own dentist/dental hygienist about observing in the office.
If I don't have my pre-requisite courses completed by December 31, can I still apply?
No, all prerequisite coursework must be complete in order to apply to the program.
I took Anatomy and Physiology ten years ago. Will I need to retake the course?
BIOL 2401 Anatomy & Physiology 1, BIOL 2402 Anatomy & Physiology 2 and BIOL 2420 Medical Microbiology MUST be no more than 5 years old when applying to the Dental Hygiene Program. Go to Biology Refresher Information.
If I fail a course and retake it, which grade do you consider in the application process?
The higher of the two.
How are students selected for admission?
Go to: Additional Dental Hygiene Requirements for admissions information.
What kind of grades do I need to have to be considered for the Dental Hygiene program?
The first part of the admissions process is based solely on grades:
- Prerequisite course grades (BIOL 2401 A & P 1, CHEM 1405 Intro to Chemistry, ENGL 1301 Composition & Rhetoric , SOCI 1301 Intro to Sociology)
- Grades in other general education courses(BIOL 2402 A & P 2, BIOL 2420 Medical Microbiology, PSYC 2301 General Psychology, SPCH 1318 Interpersonal Communication, PHIL 2306 Introduction to Ethics)
- Grade on the Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT)
- 2024 Dental Hygiene Application Scoring Chart.docx
Entrance into the Dental Hygiene is very competitive. It is not unusual for applicants to have a 3.4-3.6 in the pre-requisite courses and more A’s than B’s in the general education courses. The average HSRT for the entering class of 2015 was a 25.
Are Observation hours required?
Yes, 20 hours of Dental Hygiene Observations.
- 20 hours of observing a dental hygienist ONLY, NOT an Dental Assistant, Dentist, Font Desk staff, or Sterilization Assistant
- Observation hours CANNOT be completed in the current Dental Office you are employed
- Observation hours must be completed prior to the application and are valid for three years.
- Observation hours can be completed in multiple dental offices
- For each day that you observe, those days need to be on a separate line with the correct number of hours that you observed. You will have multiple sheets.
Download the Dental Hygiene Observation Hours Verification Form