Dental Hygiene

Associate Degree Program¹

Program Overview

This program is built to give you the skill and knowledge to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care in a dental office, community dental clinics or public health agencies².

CLASSES START May 6, 2019*

*Class start days may vary by location or program

Get started on your education today!

Employment Projection

20% growth nationally from 2016-2026³

Employment Options

Dental Offices,
Community Dental Clinics,
Public Health Agencies

Program Length

Less than 2 years⁴

1. While some employers may not require this level of education, it can help better prepare you for the responsibilities of this role.

2. Individuals seeking to enter this career field may be subject to screenings such as, but not limited to, criminal background checks and drug/alcohol testing prior to externship, to attain occupational licensure/certification or employment, and throughout their careers.

3. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm (visited July 12, 2018).
Data reflects a projected percentage change in employment from 2016-2026 and may not reflect local economic conditions.

4. Not including breaks. Program length by weeks and admission requirements can be found here in the academic catalog.

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*Certificate is awarded from the Phoenix North campus.

Videos

What Will I Learn

A Day In The Life

How Easy Will It Be to Get a Job as a Dental Hygienist?

You love helping people improve their oral health. That passion will help you succeed as a dental hygienist. A lot of your success will depend on your commitment and hard work, but there is a growing need for dental hygienists. In fact, employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow at least 20% between 2016 and 2026⁵.  And there are some reasons for this growth, including:

Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will continue to increase the demand for preventative dental services.
Cosmetic dental services have become increasingly popular. This trend is expected to continue as technologies allow for less invasive, faster procedures.
As the large baby-boom population ages and people retain more of their original teeth than previous generations did, the need to maintain and treat those teeth will continue to drive demand for dental care.

5. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm (visited July 12, 2018).
Data reflects a projected percentage change in employment from 2016-2026 and may not reflect local economic conditions.

7%Total Projected Job Growth for All Occupations

20%Projected Dental Hygienist Job Growth⁴

Where can you work as a Dental Hygienist⁶?

Dental Offices

In a dental office, you’ll be responsible for examining gums for signs of disease. You’ll also chart conditions such as decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by the dentist, and apply fluoride or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.

Community Dental Clinics

You’ll use dental instruments to clean calculus, tartar and stains from teeth and beneath the gums. You’ll also feel and examine gums for sores and signs of disease, and record and review patient medical histories.

Public Health Agencies

As a dental hygienist in a public health agency, you’ll provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients. For example, they may explain the relationship between diet and oral health.⁷

6. Individuals seeking to enter this career field may be subject to screenings such as, but not limited to, criminal background checks and drug/alcohol testing prior to externship, to attain occupational licensure/certification or employment, and throughout their careers.

7. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm (visited July 12, 2018).

Prepare For a Career That Makes You Smile.

Having healthy teeth and gums is key to staying healthy. You know you want to help people with their smiles, which is why you’re interested in preparing for a career as a dental hygienist. In Carrington College’s Dental Hygiene program, the combination of classroom work and hands-on training can give you the skills you need to succeed as a dental hygienist. Our program is built to give you the information and experience you need to be able to:

Observe patients’ oral abnormalities and record problems
Offer periodontal therapies such as plaque or stain removal
Take oral X-rays and apply fluoride and fissure sealants
Apply dental hygiene research advances to the oral care you provide

How Does Carrington College Support Me As A Student?

We know college is a big step. But education can be the first step in building a better future. Your instructors, administrators and fellow students are there to help if you ever hit a bump in the road along the way. Carrington College offers a lot of great student support services designed to help you succeed, including:

Student Finance

From scholarships and grants to loans, we will help you understand how to search and apply for financial aid⁸.

Tutoring and Study Groups

For help with schoolwork, your instructors and Student Success Center staff are often available for tutoring or you can join in an open student study group.

Fixed Tuition Promise

How would you like to know what you’re going to pay, right from the beginning? We promise your tuition won’t change through the length of your program. It’s our commitment to you⁹.

Externships, Clinical Rotations and Fieldwork

Most programs include an opportunity to learn in the real world before you even graduate! You’ll earn impressive experience that looks great on your resume.

Career Services

After graduation, we’ll help you with your career search with everything from resume writing help to job search support to interview tips.

8. Student loans, grants and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

9. Fixed Tuition Promise is available for all Carrington College students who remain active and in good standing during the duration of their program. Students who withdraw or are withdrawn from school and are not reinstated within 180 days of their last date of attendance are subject to a tuition increase. Students who are required to repeat a course to fulfill graduation requirements are subject to additional expenses.

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