Do you like making a difference in the lives of others? It takes a caring, compassionate person to be a dental hygienist.

The dental hygienist is a licensed healthcare professional, oral health educator, and clinician who is an integral part of the dental team. As a registered dental hygienist, you can provide direct dental hygiene care to patients. Preventative care provided by dental hygienists may include: providing dental cleanings, applying fluoride treatments, applying sealants, exposing and developing radiographs that are used to detect oral diseases, and implementing community dental health prevention programs. Dental hygienists may also administer local anesthesia, perform oral cancer screenings, and provide therapeutic services to aid in the treatment of dental disease. As an oral health educator, the dental hygienist may also provide nutritional advice and dental health education to special populations such as geriatric, pediatric, or special-needs patients.

Sheridan College’s Dental Hygiene program is ADA (American Dental Association) accredited with expert caring faculty guiding students through a two-year course of study. The faculty all remain current in the field through continuing education and some work in the field part-time, providing a direct connection with the current practices in the dental field. The SC program continually updates all technology in order to provide current treatment techniques.

The SC Dental Program has an excellent reputation. Through this program, students earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in dental hygiene. Some students may choose to continue their education with additional upper-division classes to complete their Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Hygiene through the University of Wyoming. SC students have been very successful when taking National and Regional Board Exams. There is an ongoing demand for graduates from this great program.

Dental Hygienists have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings. These may include private dental offices, dental clinics, federal, state, or local health departments, hospitals, nursing homes, school districts, educational institutions, correctional facilities, and private industry. The variety of career opportunities and the possibility of flexible hours and schedules make dental hygiene an attractive career choice.

For more information about NWCCD:

Sheridan College
Dental Hygiene Office
307-674-6446 ext 3400
800-913-9139 ext 3400
admissions@sheridan.edu

An Associate of Appliled Science Degree

The Associate of Applied Science Degree is a two-year curriculum preceded by prerequisite coursework. This prerequisite coursework can be completed in one year, but two years is recommended.

Suggested Course of Study for A.A.S. Degree