Dental hygienists who enroll in two-year associate's degree programs at community colleges and technical schools often must take a selection of general education coursework before beginning or while concurrently taking their dental hygiene classes. General courses include English composition, introductory social science classes (sociology, psychology), chemistry, biology, nutrition, speech and history. Some schools may require a physical education or beginner's foreign language course as well. These courses serve as a framework for hygienists' education and are also required by traditional four-year universities if the student wants to pursue a bachelor's degree.
Although dental hygienists' work focuses on the patient's mouth, students cover many other topics during their programs, including radiography (dental hygienists may perform patient X-rays), head and neck anatomy (to ensure the patient is comfortable while lying down), pain control, the materials related to dentistry and dental science. Some schools, such as the University of North Carolina, require a course in periodontology, which covers tissue destruction in the mouth, how to manage patients with gum disease, how the disease progresses and what causes it.
Topics directly related to the dental hygienist's daily duties include preventive counseling (teaching the best way to floss, brush and keep the mouth clean to prevent cavities and gum disease), dental emergencies, patient management, community dental health and oral health education. Students learn about dental hygiene materials and why they're used. Many schools also include topics on dental hygiene theory, which may be taught as either a classroom lecture or hands-on clinical experience with fissure sealants, fluorides, cavity testing and microscopy, plus the opportunity to assist chairside.