Dental hygienists are licensed health care professionals who provide education, therapeutic and preventive services. Dental hygienists usually are employed in general dental practices or in specialty practices such as pediatric dentistry or periodontics. Hygienists also may provide services for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and public health clinics . What is the. Dental hygiene will continue to be one of the top 10 growth disciplines in the health care fields through the year 2005.
Many dental offices employ more than one hygienist, so new opportunities are always available.
Beginning a career in dental hygiene requires a minimum of two years of college. TTC's Dental Hygiene associate degree program provides academic study including general education, basic and dental sciences, and professional dental hygiene courses. Licensure is required for the dental hygienist to practice. After graduating from TTC's program, you are eligible to take the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam and individual State or Regional Board examinations for licensure. Acceptance into TTC's Allied Health Sciences programs is on a first qualified, first accepted basis.