Dental Hygienist Schools

Schools by State
for Dental Hygienists:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Career Highlights for
Dental Hygienists

Training generally required for this career includes: Associate degree.

Jobs and Salary
Median Salary (2008)	$66,570
Unemployment Vs. Other Jobs	Very Low
Jobs (2006)	167,000
Job Growth (2006-2016)	30.1%
Jobs (2016 forecast)	217,000

Flexibility
Working Part-Time	59%
Self-Employed	0%

Education of Current Workers
Bachelor Degree or Higher	33%
Some College	64%
High School or Less	3%

Relevant Job Titles

(Supplied by experts and industry contributors for this career category)

Dental Hygienist
Dental Nurse
Hygienist
Oral Hygienist
Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)

Information Sources

BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Dental Hygienist Job Description

Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.

To prevent disease and enhance appearance, teeth and gums must be regularly cleaned and treated. Dental hygienists are trained to properly care for and repair teeth, diagnose specific dental conditions, and educate patients about oral health.

Although responsibilities of dental hygienists vary according to state regulations, typical tasks include:

Testing for cavities and gum disease
Documenting conditions, abnormalities and treatments
Using tools and equipment to remove dental plaque
Applying treatments to seal cracks and prevent cavities
Performing procedures such as root planing to treat periodontal disease
Administering anesthetics
Preparing laboratory tests
Placing fillings and polishing restorations
Taking x-rays and developing film
Providing chair-side assistance to dentists
Instructing patients in oral hygiene and educating them on its relationship to diet

Almost half of dental hygienists work part-time, some in more than one office.

Dental Hygienist Degrees and Dental Hygienist Schools

Two-year associate's degrees for dental hygienists are offered through community colleges and vocational schools, and are considered standard for students who plan to work in private dentists' offices. These programs usually require a high school diploma or equivalent and college entrance exam scores, plus certain pre-requisite courses. Bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in dental hygiene are available through colleges and universities, and prepare students to work in teaching, research or clinical practice in public health programs.

Graduation from a program accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA)'s Commission on Dental Accreditation is a requirement for licensure in most states.

Dental Hygienist Classes

Dental hygiene students spend time in class, lab and clinical practice. Classes typically include:

anatomy and physiology
chemistry and pharmacology
microbiology and pathology
pharmacology and radiography
histology (tissue structure) and periodontology (gum diseases)
dental tools and materials
clinical dental hygiene
nutrition and preventive oral health
social and behavioral science

Good programs require substantial supervised practical experience.

Online Dental Hygienist Classes and Programs

There are quite a few online dental hygiene programs that offer degree completion. These programs offer convenience, but may not provide access to laboratories or clinical experience.

In order for graduates to qualify for licensure in most states, any program must be accredited through the ADA. Additionally, any online program should be accredited through the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Dental Hygienist Requirements

All states require that dental hygienists be licensed. In addition, most states require that dental hygienists be graduates of an ADA-accredited program and pass both a national exam and test on dental hygiene-related legal issues.

For admission to associate's degree programs, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent, provide college entrance test scores, and in some cases complete pre-requisite courses.

How to Evaluate Dental Hygienist Schools

Students comparing associate's degree programs in dental hygiene should consider asking these kinds of questions:

Accreditation and location - Is the school accredited through the ADA, and, if online, the DETC? Is it located in the state where the student plans to practice as a dental hygienist after school?
Emphasis and focus - Does the program heavily emphasize preparation for national and state exams? Does it include coursework in clinical skills that are not licensed by the school's state, but in other states where the student may wish to live and work at some point? How well does the program support the student's long term career goals?
Admission requirements - In addition to a high school diploma, does the program list prerequisite courses? Are students required to provide college entrance exam scores?
Class structure and practical experience - Does the program incorporate substantial supervised clinical practice? Are classes small enough to facilitate learning?
Tuition and financial aid - What financial aid resources, such as student loans, grants and scholarships, are made available to students through the school?
Graduate success - In recent years, how many graduates passed national and state exams upon graduating? What job placement services are offered by the school?

Relevant Schools That Respond Quickly to Info Requests Through This Site

School names link to detailed profiles. Use the Info from the School link to contact the school directly for more information. You may request information from as many schools as you like.

School	Campuses	Awards	Info
Allied College	MO	Associate	Info From School
Allied Medical & Technical Institute	PA	Diploma	Info From School
Argosy University	MN	Associate	Info From School
Baker College Campus	MI	Associate	Info From School
Lincoln College of Technology	FL	Coursework	Info From School
Missouri College	MO	Associate	Info From School
Sanford-Brown College	MO	Certificate	Info From School
Tri-State Business Institute	PA	Associate	Info From School
Western Career College	CA	Associate	Info From School

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