steps to take to become a dental hygienist
1 Apply to an applied sciences associate's degree program in dental hygiene. 2  These programs are usually run by community colleges. 3  They often take 2 years and include comprehensive classroom and clinical study. 4  This is the most common path to becoming a dental hygienist.5  Apply to a 4-year university. Apply to a 4-year university. 2  Some schools provide 4-year bachelor's degrees in dental hygiene. 3  You will be required to take the general liberal arts prerequisites, as well as science and clinical dental studies.