Our CODA-accredited Dental Hygiene program prepares students for a challenging and rewarding career as a primary care oral health professional. Students participate in interactive experiences directed toward performing dental hygiene diagnosis and assessment with precision, safety and efficiency while focusing on team cooperation and personal growth.
I chose Flint Hills Technical College because of how devoted instructors and staff are
on guiding each and every student to success.
Elder
Program Options
Dental Hygiene offers an associate of applied science degree option.
The associate of applied science degree is a two-year program that contains technical and general education courses. Students will participate in planned and supervised experiences directed toward performing dental hygiene diagnosis and assessment with precision, safety and efficiency. They will demonstrate hygiene skills and integrate these skills into the total curriculum. Students will be active in team cooperation and develop personal growth toward life-long learning. Acceptance into the program is contingent upon completing the necessary prerequisite courses.
Students admitted to the FHTC Dental Programs are subject to contact with blood and/or body fluids. FHTC Dental Programs follow all OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen, Exposure Control Guidelines, and the Universal and Standard precautions throughout the pre-clinical, lab and clinical experiences.
Application Deadline and Requirements
- Fall 2021 Admissions Criteria
- Shadowing/Observation Hours Information
- Application deadline for Fall 2021 is December 15, 2020.
- All applicants are required to take the TEAS or ACT entrance exam.
- All applicants are required to submit a non-refundable $40.00 application fee within 30 days of application submission in order to have their application processed.
Associates Degree Course Requirements
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Dental Hygiene program will have mastered the skills and knowledge necessary to gain employment in dental offices for hygiene functions and management. The dental hygienist is a licensed primary care oral health professional who provides education, assessment, research, administrative, diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic services that support overall health through the promotion of optimal oral health.
Career opportunities include:
- Private Practice Dental Hygienist/Dental Assistant
- Product Sales Representative
- Dental Office Consultant
- Overseas Dental Opportunities
- Armed Services
- Education
Program Faculty
Sue Carrier
HYG 230 CLI
Sue has lived in Topeka all her life, graduating from Topeka schools. She has been in the dentistry field since 1975 completing an Associate Degree in Science in 2009 and graduated from Flint Hills Technical College in 2011 with an AAS in Dental Hygiene. Since then, Sue has been working as an RDH in private practice. She will be an adjunct faculty and assisting in clinical instruction.
Amy Coffelt
Ext Hours - Director Duties
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Amy graduated from Flint Hills Technical College Dental Assisting in 2011 and Dental Hygiene Program in 2012. She has worked in the dental field since 2003. Amy completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Emporia State University, Emporia, KS in 2010. Amy began as adjunct faculty at Flint Hills Technical College in 2015 and became full time in 2016. She is responsible for teaching Pre-Clinic, Clinic II, Embryology-Histology and Oral Anatomy, Periodontics and assist in Clinic III, Clinic IV and Local Anesthesia.
Monica Graves
Director of Dental Assisting & Instructor
Division Chair - Health & Human Services
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Monica graduated from Flint Hills Technical College, formerly known as Flint Hills Area Technical School, in 1975 as a Certified Dental Assistant. She worked in private dental practice until becoming an adjunct faculty member at FHTC in 1995. Monica began as the Dental Assisting Program Director in 1997 and continues to serve in that capacity. Monica graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1995, and a Master’s Degree in Business Education in 1997. She is responsible for teaching a variety of Dental Assisting courses as well as Dental Materials and Dental Radiology for the Dental Hygiene program.
Deb Illk
Dental Assisting Instructor
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Deb graduated from Flint Hills Technical College, formerly known as Flint Hills Area Technical School, in 1979 as a Certified Dental Assistant. Beginning in 1979, she worked in the oral surgery field as a surgical assistant and assistant practice manager. In 1991, she received her DANB certification in Dental Practice Management and served as the oral surgery practice manager from 1990 – 2008. She began teaching at FHTC in 2010 in the Dental Assisting Program. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree of Health Science from Washburn University. She is responsible for teaching several Dental Assisting courses as well as Nutrition for Oral Health for both dental assisting and dental hygiene students.
Brad Karr
General Education Instructor
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Dr. Karr graduated from Kansas State University in 1989 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1994 with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. He has taught General Science courses since 1998 and began teaching at Flint Hills Technical College in 2000. He teaches physical science, chemistry, and biology courses as well as Pharmacology and Oral Pathology for Dental Hygiene and Human Anatomy for Dental Assisting.
Katherine Morgan
Dental Hygiene Instructor
Katherine graduated from Flint Hills Technical College in Dental Assisting in 2009 and from the Dental Hygiene program in 2012. Since 2010, she has worked in an area dental office as a dental assistant, scaling assistant and dental hygienist. Katherine assists in clinical instruction.
Janice Robinett
HYG 205 Z
Janice has been in the dental field for twenty-seven plus years. After graduating in May 1990 from FHTC with a degree in Dental Assisting, she continued her education at Allen County Community College and graduated May 2007 Phi Theta Kappa with an Associate of Arts Degree. Janice completed her Dental Hygiene degree at FHTC in May 2009. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. In 2016, Janice was an FHTC Distinguished Alumni and is an adjunct faculty member while continuing to work in private practice.
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Sue has lived in Topeka all her life, graduating from Topeka schools. She has been in the dentistry field since 1975 completing an Associate Degree in Science in 2009 and graduated from Flint Hills Technical College in 2011 with an AAS in Dental Hygiene. Since then, Sue has been working as an RDH in private practice. She will be an adjunct faculty and assisting in clinical instruction.
620-341-1369
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Amy graduated from Flint Hills Technical College Dental Assisting in 2011 and Dental Hygiene Program in 2012. She has worked in the dental field since 2003. Amy completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Emporia State University, Emporia, KS in 2010. Amy began as adjunct faculty at Flint Hills Technical College in 2015 and became full time in 2016. She is responsible for teaching Pre-Clinic, Clinic II, Embryology-Histology and Oral Anatomy, Periodontics and assist in Clinic III, Clinic IV and Local Anesthesia.
620-341-1314
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Monica graduated from Flint Hills Technical College, formerly known as Flint Hills Area Technical School, in 1975 as a Certified Dental Assistant. She worked in private dental practice until becoming an adjunct faculty member at FHTC in 1995. Monica began as the Dental Assisting Program Director in 1997 and continues to serve in that capacity. Monica graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1995, and a Master’s Degree in Business Education in 1997. She is responsible for teaching a variety of Dental Assisting courses as well as Dental Materials and Dental Radiology for the Dental Hygiene program.
620-341-1395
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Deb graduated from Flint Hills Technical College, formerly known as Flint Hills Area Technical School, in 1979 as a Certified Dental Assistant. Beginning in 1979, she worked in the oral surgery field as a surgical assistant and assistant practice manager. In 1991, she received her DANB certification in Dental Practice Management and served as the oral surgery practice manager from 1990 – 2008. She began teaching at FHTC in 2010 in the Dental Assisting Program. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree of Health Science from Washburn University. She is responsible for teaching several Dental Assisting courses as well as Nutrition for Oral Health for both dental assisting and dental hygiene students.
620-341-1353
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Dr. Karr graduated from Kansas State University in 1989 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1994 with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. He has taught General Science courses since 1998 and began teaching at Flint Hills Technical College in 2000. He teaches physical science, chemistry, and biology courses as well as Pharmacology and Oral Pathology for Dental Hygiene and Human Anatomy for Dental Assisting.
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Katherine graduated from Flint Hills Technical College in Dental Assisting in 2009 and from the Dental Hygiene program in 2012. Since 2010, she has worked in an area dental office as a dental assistant, scaling assistant and dental hygienist. Katherine assists in clinical instruction.
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Janice has been in the dental field for twenty-seven plus years. After graduating in May 1990 from FHTC with a degree in Dental Assisting, she continued her education at Allen County Community College and graduated May 2007 Phi Theta Kappa with an Associate of Arts Degree. Janice completed her Dental Hygiene degree at FHTC in May 2009. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. In 2016, Janice was an FHTC Distinguished Alumni and is an adjunct faculty member while continuing to work in private practice.
Academic Partnership
Wichita State UniversityFHTC students who have graduated from the Dental Hygiene program may pursue the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree from Wichita State University to extend their education and training.
Program Information & Resources
Estimated program costs and testing criteria are available in the documents below. Visit our admissions page to learn about admissions steps and other helpful information.