The employment rate of dental hygienists is expected to grow seven percent by 2032, faster than the average for all occupations, resulting in an average of about 16,400 job openings annually. Furthermore, dental hygienists can expect a median annual salary of $87,530, with the highest ten percent earning more than $118,400.
With several Dental Hygiene career pathways available, including Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees, candidates have plenty of ways to enter and expand this essential career.
Below, we’ll share what students can expect from a Dental Hygiene program, including the dental hygiene curriculum, clinical experience, and practical skills.
What is a Dental Hygiene program?
Dental hygienists work as part of a larger dental care team to provide education and care to patients.
Under the direction of a dentist, they:
- Clean and remove stains from teeth and gums
- Examine patients’ teeth and gums
- Inspect potential cavities
- Look for dental diseases
In order to learn these skills, dental hygienists enroll in Dental Hygiene degree programs. Dental Hygiene programs offer many different types of dental hygiene degrees, with in-person and online options, as well as continuing education dental hygiene courses for licensed dental hygienists in Dental Hygiene Postgraduate Education programs.
Note that while candidates can practice with their two-year associate’s degree, many employers and students alike prefer to obtain their bachelor’s degree, especially if they are passionate about research, teaching, and clinical practice in public or school health programs and settings.
Dental hygiene classes typically consist of classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction focusing on inorganic chemistry, dental radiology, dental public health, anesthesiology, and periodontology.
Lastly, the best Dental Hygiene degree programs prepare students to pursue licensure after graduation to practice in their state of choice and start their careers as dental hygiene professionals. States have different requirements, so students should research to understand their state’s conditions for licensure.
What dental hygiene classes will students take in a Dental Hygiene program?
The dental hygiene curriculum will typically cover various content areas, including general education, science, and career-oriented coursework. But keep in mind that academic requirements can depend on whether you decide to earn an Associate degree (ASDH) or a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH).
Dental hygiene courses in associate’s programs
For example, seventy-eight credit hour Associate Dental Hygiene degree programs prepare students to master the fundamentals of dental hygiene processes, including assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, and documentation.
In addition to general education courses, students take the following dental hygiene classes:
- Introduction to Periodontology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Oral Anatomy
- Radiology
Dental hygiene courses in bachelor’s programs
Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene degrees further the instruction in Associate Dental Hygiene degree programs by allowing students to minor in a subject area that corresponds with their interests.
In doing so, students expand their career opportunities, gain additional professional skills, and become well-rounded caregivers.
The 120 credit hour dental hygiene curriculum of a Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene includes:
- Advanced Clinical Concepts
- Dental Materials
- General and Oral Histo-Pathology
- Introduction to Counseling OR
Start your journey to success, become a dental hygienist at University of Bridgeport!
Dental hygiene courses in master’s programs
A two-year Master’s in Dental Hygiene is best suited for licensed hygienists who want to advance into education and public health leadership positions.
Students experience field site opportunities in the areas of public health, education, administration, research, and more. They will also be required to student teach and complete a master’s capstone project that is typically research-based.
Popular dental hygiene classes found in these Master’s programs include:
- Dental Hygiene Student Teaching
- Global Healthcare
- Public Health
- Statistical Reasoning
Clinical experience in Dental Hygiene programs
In addition to their dental hygiene courses, students in Dental Hygiene programs are required to complete clinical training under the direction of experienced dental hygienists and professionals.
This clinical training starts in the second year but primarily takes place during the last year of study when students are in the clinic much more and see a lot of patients.
Additionally, many Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene programs require students to complete internships, take research courses, and obtain their final general education credits.
At University of Bridgeport, for example, our students can choose internships from the following areas of focus:
- Community and hospital health clinics
- Dental product companies
- Dental research companies
- Local health departments
- Student teaching in dental hygiene and dental assisting programs
Practical Skills Development
Dental hygienists spend much of their days cleaning teeth, conducting examinations, and operating dental equipment.
For this reason, they must be highly skilled in oral care, tool operation, and patient communication.
Some of the top skills gained through a dental hygiene curriculum are:
- Communication skills
- Compassion
- Decision-making skills
- Detail-oriented skills to follow specific rules and procedures and be attentive to symptoms or issues that may arise
- Dexterity, with fine motor skills to work in tight spaces and with small equipment
- Interpersonal skills, not only with patients but also with the larger dental team
- Physical stamina and strength, especially the arms and hands
Start your career as a dental hygienist at University of Bridgeport
With a variety of flexible in-person and online degrees, the Fones School of Dental Hygiene at University of Bridgeport is ready to help you start your journey toward becoming a dental hygienist.
As the first dental hygiene school in the world, we’re ready to use our evidence-based dental hygiene curriculum to develop and increase the awareness, application, and utilization of dental hygienists in healthcare, research, and academic and community settings.
Students will need to meet the following admission requirements:
- Completed application
- Cumulative G.P.A of 2.5 or higher
- Fones School of Dental Hygiene Supplemental Application
- Personal Statement
- Proof of high school completion or its equivalent
- Successful completion of required prerequisites within seven years with a C or better: English Composition, Intermediate Algebra, Chemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology 1 & 2
- Transcripts from any colleges/universities attended
- Two recommendation forms