Dental Hygiene
Successfully complete the Dental Hygiene program at MCC and you’re eligible to take the state licensing exam. As soon as you’ve passed the exam, your career in this rewarding, stable profession begins. It’s just that simple.
The School of Dental Hygiene, one of the newest programs at MCC, offers you a rigorous, intensive, science-based program. Graduates are awarded an associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene and are eligible to take the written and clinical exams necessary to obtain a license in Arizona.
Patient care is performed at A.T. Still University's Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, located just south of the U.S. 60 and Power Road in Mesa. Lecture courses are held at the Red Mountain Campus while all laboratory and clinical coursework is completed at the ASDOH facility.
Quick Stats
- Example Titles
- Dental Hygienist
- Types of Employers
- Dental Offices
- Dental Clinics
- Hospitals
Career Profile
Most dental hygienists advance with additional education. Some advance into management positions and supervise other hygienists. Those who obtain a bachelor's or master's degree may become teachers, researchers, or administrators in dental hygiene programs. Some hygienists become dental sales representatives. The American Dental Hygienists' Association has defined a more advanced level of dental hygiene, the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner.
Dental Hygienists:
- Work with dentists, assistants, and especially patients
- Provide preventive and therapeutic services to support oral health
- Educate patients about dental care
- Wear uniforms or lab jackets as well as safety gear
- Train for two years
- Sometimes work days, evenings, and weekends
- Have a license
Available Associate Degrees and Certificates
| Degree / Certificate | Title | Required Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Associate in Applied Science (AAS) | Dental Hygiene | Required Courses |
Meet with an Advisor
Before signing up for classes, you’ll want to meet with an academic advisor. Together, you’ll lay out a program and career path that suits you best. This step is essential to your academic success, so don’t skip it, okay?
Advising for the Dental Hygiene program is available through the Applied Sciences and Technology department. You can also contact Advisement & Registration Services for general advising. Both will help you determine the exact courses you need to get the education you’re looking for.
