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DeVry University
DeVry University offers flexible scheduling and the convenience to study at any of 80+ locations, online or a combination of both. Earn a respected associate degree, bachelor's degree or master's degree from an accredited university. A career-oriented education from DeVry University will put you in a great place to begin or advance in the workplace when you graduate.
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University's Online BSN program offers you the opportunity to complete your nursing education online, without ever stepping foot on a college campus.
Penn Foster
Penn Foster offers affordable, self-paced career-focused distance education programs in fields like business, criminal justice, health services, technology, engineering, paralegal studies and more.
*Programs vary by location. Not all programs available at all locations.
Dental Hygienist Career
Consider these promising findings about dental hygenist careers from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor and Statistics:
- Dental hygiene will be one of the nation's 30 fastest growing occupations from 2000 to 2010.
- Employment of dental assistants and dental hygienists is expected to increase more than 36 percent till the end of the decade.
Obtain the training you need from one of the nation's leading accredited dental hygiene schools to establish yourself as a qualified dental hygienist.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
Dental hygienists are dental specialists that work in conjunction with a supervising dentist (often chair-side), consulting patients about proper oral hygiene, examining patient teeth for decay, and cleaning teeth and gums, among other forms of preventative dental care.
Some dental hygienist career responsibilities command higher levels of pay, such as root planning and placing and carving of filling materials. Though hygienists don't diagnose disease, they can prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret. For more information, see our dental hygienist resource page.
Becoming a Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists must be licensed by the State in which they practice. To qualify for licensure, a candidate must earn at least a two-year associate degree from one of the nation's accredited dental hygiene schools and pass both a written and clinical examination.
The American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations administers the written exam (recognized in every state), while a state or regional body supervises the clinical exam.
An associate degree generally is sufficient to begin dental hygenist careers in private practices. A bachelor's or master's degree is necessary for higher-paid positions in research, teaching, or clinical practice in a public institution and program.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation has accredited more than 250 programs in dental hygiene. Most grant degrees at the associate level. A dozen universities offer master's degree programs.