Just to clear up any confusion, there are two different types of BSDH programs - one that focuses on RDH (usually an associates degree) to BSDH, and one that is strictly a BSDH and usually involves the same gen ed requirements as all other bachelors degrees from the university + the additional in-depth hygiene specific classes. I will use the program from Community College of Colorado as an example because that's where I live and is the one I looked at. A quick glance at other programs leads one to believe that the prereqs and requirements are similar, with slight variations from school to school.
Prereqs for RDH (abt 28-34 credits)
*College Math
*A&P I&II (usually requires a BIO I prereq)
*
Microbiology (usually requires a BIO I prereq)
*Intro to Chemistry (covers Gen Chem, Biochem and OChem)
*
English Comp
*Psychology
*Sociology
*Communications
The student can then apply and, if accepted, start the
RDH program (65 credits). If you click the link to see the courses, none of them would count towards prereqs for dental school. For example, the classes in bold above are prereqs for CUSD. As you can see not very many overlap. You're looking at a minimum of 3 years to get an AS and become a RDH.
Here is a
sample curriculum for a BSDH (with which I'm sure the OP is already familiar). As you can see, the science prereqs do not differ much from the RDH, although there are additional GEs (49 credits total) and a few more program-specific credits (77 credits) that round out the curriculum to achieve the necessary credit hours for a BS. Once again, although very directly correlated, *very few* of these overlap with the prereqs for dental school.
By looking at the curriculum I would estimate that someone who actually intends to apply to dental school will delay the process by abt 2 years by getting a RDH and 3 years by getting a BSDH. It's important to note that this is specifically for people who know their end goal is to become a dentist. I know some amazing hygienists who get into their careers and later decide they want to go for it and become a dentist. They are awesome because they have a very clear picture of what they are getting into, not to mention all of that amazing background experience and patient interaction. I have no doubt they will make very competitive applicants and competent dentists. But they still have to go back and take several credits worth of prereqs, take the DAT and apply just like everyone else. Like I said before, this route to the end goal is an obvious time-consuming detour.
Hope this helps somebody, especially the OP!
