Fresno City College has received approval from the California Board of Governors, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, and the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges to offer a bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene.
The upper division curriculum in dental hygiene is expected to be a two-year program. Students must complete all CSU or IGETC general education breadth requirements for certification, and all dental hygiene prerequisite courses.
It is advised that students complete the associate degree in science program in Pre-Allied Health. FCC will no longer award associate degrees in dental hygiene.
For any counseling needs, students can meet with a Health and STEM Pathways counselor.
To obtain a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree, students currently enrolled in the program for fall 2024 will need to complete general education and upper division dental hygiene courses. Students are expected to graduate in spring 2026.
The next application period is Jan. 15 to Feb.12, 2025.
Students can earn their bachelor’s degree for the same cost an associate degree in Dental Hygiene was previously.
The Dental Hygiene Clinic at FCC also offers low-cost services to students and the community.
The clinic provides various dental services, including dental hygiene therapy (cleaning) for $15, full mouth x-rays for $15, bitewing x-rays for $5, panorex x-ray for $10, sealants for $5, and interim therapeutic restorations for $7.
In the clinic, they treat between 2,000 and 3,000 patients from the public annually. “It’s just like going to the dentist,” said Joanne Pacheco, instructor and Dental Hygiene Program Director.
According to Renee Chouinard, who recently graduated from FCC with an associate degree in Dental Hygiene, this is what can be expected when going to the clinic: A standard appointment lasts two to four hours.
New patients can expect their cleaning to take multiple appointments. This includes x-rays, a comprehensive exam (which includes medical and dental history), a dental chart, and an exam from one of the staff doctors, a periodontal chart to measure gum health, a biofilm control record to assess personal oral hygiene and areas of difficulty, oral hygiene instruction, and lastly, the dental cleaning.
Students must create a chart of any hard deposits and one for soft deposits. All work from students must be assessed by an instructor for thoroughness before moving on to the actual cleaning. Completing all assessments and the full cleaning is required to receive credit.
If you experience anxiety when going to the dentist, the dental hygienist offers the option of sedation with nitrous oxide gas. They can also provide injections to reduce any pain afterward.
The clinic is accepting new patients, so make an appointment by calling 559-244-2601. For any application-related questions, contact the division office at 559-244-2604.
