Dental hygienists instruct patients on proper oral hygiene to promote good oral health. In a clinical role, they clean, polish, and apply fluoride and other treatments. They work with members of the dental team including dentists and dental assistants. Dental hygienists in California must apply for licensure from and Dental Hygiene Board of California. Licensure requires completion of an accredited dental hygiene program, taking and pass the written and clinical licensure exam, and successful Live Scan fingerprinting.
Carrington College
Students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program at Carrington College will acquire knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care. They will develop professional communication skills with patients, colleagues, and the public and learn they ethical standards and professional behaviors for the profession. The program leads to an Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. The curriculum covers a total of 1,611 contact hours including classroom, lab, and clinical hours. Course topics include introduction to Clinical Dental Hygiene, Oral Radiology, Oral Biology, Head and Neck Anatomy, Preventative Dentistry, Dental Morphology, Local Anesthesia, Periodontics, Dental Materials, Pharmacology, Dental Specialties, Scientific Methods, Dental Hygiene Practice, Community Oral Health, and Advanced Clinical Dental Hygiene. Graduates will be prepared to take the Dental Hygiene National Board and qualify for licensure as a Dental Hygienist in California.
Program overview:
Associate Degree Dental Hygiene
Duration: 2 years
Contact hours: 1611
Prerequisites:
- Attend a personal interview and campus tour
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a health care provider CPR certification
- Complete a dental hygiene observation
- Provide verification of attending an information seminar
- Must obtain physician clearance for working in a dental clinical environment
- Provide proof of current immunizations or titers showing immunity for MMR, varicella, negative TB results, Tdap, hepatitis B, and polio
- Complete the prerequisite general education and science courses at an accredited college with a minimum grade of C
Program cost:
The program cost of $64,416 includes tuition, textbooks, uniform, and fees.
Website: https://carrington.edu/
Address: 5883 Rue Ferrari, Suite 125, San Jose CA 95138
Phone: (408) 337-3534
Foothill College
The Dental Hygiene Program at Foothill College is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The school has a solid reputation for providing the community with educated and qualified dental hygienists. Students will learn how to educate clients on the relationship between oral and systemic health, remove hard and soft dental deposits, consult with health care professionals regarding client treatment, apply dental sealants and fluoride to strengthen and protect tooth surfaces, administer local anesthetic agents, and counsel patients on healthy dietary choices and habits. Practical training will also teach them how to develop and implement dental hygiene care plans and evaluate patient outcomes. Graduates will earn the Foothill College Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene and be qualified to take the National Board Dental Hygiene and clinical licensing exam. There is a selective, competitive admissions process for the program. New students are admitted once a year.
Program overview:
Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene
Duration: 2 years (not including the two years to complete the prerequisite courses)
Contact hours: 1611
Prerequisites:
- Apply for admission to Foothill College
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Apply for admission to the Dental Hygiene program after securing admission to Foothill College
- Complete all the general education and science prerequisite courses with a grade C or better
- Must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in all college-level coursework
- Provide verification of attending an information seminar
- Must obtain physician clearance for working in a dental clinical environment
- Provide proof of current immunizations or titers showing immunity for MMR, varicella, negative TB results, Tdap, hepatitis B, and polio
Program cost:
Tuition and fees cost $9,669. Textbooks cost $1,380 and the instrument kit costs an additional $6,100.
Website: https://foothill.edu/
Address: 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Phone: 650.949.7777
Diablo Valley College
The dental hygiene program at Diablo Valley College prepares students to work as a part of the dental team. The curriculum includes classroom, clinical, and laboratory instruction as well as hands-on experiences where students will provide dental hygiene services in the DVC Dental Programs Community Clinic. Training will cover dental hygiene orientation, dental hygiene care, dental morphology, introduction to comprehensive clinical dental hygiene, infection control, periodontics for the dental hygienist, evaluation of scientific research, dental hygiene care of patients with special needs, community oral health, advanced clinical dental hygiene care, pharmacology for the dental hygienist, ethics, jurisprudence and practice management, and pathology. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and approved by the Dental Hygiene Board of California. Graduates will be eligible to take the required written and clinical licensing exams. The program is available on a daytime basis only. Enrollment is limited to 20 students.
Program overview:
Associate of Science Dental Hygiene
Duration: 2 years
Credit hours: 100
Prerequisites:
- Apply for admission to DVC
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Complete all the general education and science prerequisite courses with a grade C or better before submitting an application for admission to the Dental Hygiene program
- Must pass the orientation course DENHY-101
- Must have current CPR/BLS certification for Health Care Providers
- Must provide documentation of current immunizations/titers
- Provide proof of satisfactory TB screening
- Must provide a report from current physical examination
- Must pass a background check and certified drug test
Program cost:
Tuition costs $46 per unit for California residents. Students must also cover the cost for textbooks, uniforms, CPR certification, background check, drug screen, and physical exam.
Website: https://www.dvc.edu/
Address: 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Phone: 925-685-1230
University of the Pacific
The accelerated Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene is open to highly qualified students. The curriculum includes theory and clinical practice at community agencies. Students will be prepared to work in a clinical setting but will also be qualified to take up positions in teaching, research, administration, public health, private industry and other areas of hygiene practice. Course topics include head and neck anatomy, histology, dental anatomy, dental hygiene practice, dental radiology, oral health education, pathology, periodontics, pharmacology, pain management, local anesthesia, medical and dental emergencies, biochemistry and nutrition, special needs, community oral health, dental materials, ethics and jurisprudence, and senior project. Graduates will be eligible to take the state licensure exam.
Program overview:
Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene
Duration: 2 years
Credit hours: 100
Prerequisites:
- Apply for admission to University of Pacific
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Complete all the general education and science prerequisite courses with a grade C or better before submitting an application for admission to the Dental Hygiene program
- Provide two letters of recommendation
- Must shadow a registered dental hygienist for 20 hours so applicants will be familiar with the role of a practicing dental hygienist
- Must submit the University’s Entrance History and Physical form signed by a physician and confirming medical exam was completed within 3 months of the date of matriculation
- Must provide documentation of immunization – MMR, TB, Hepatitis B, Tdap, varivax, and influenza
Program cost:
Tuition costs $52,918 per year for full-time students. Books, fees, uniforms, and supplies will incur additional costs.
Website: https://www.pacific.edu/
Address: 155 Fifth St., San Francisco, California 94103
Phone: 209-946-2285