Dental hygienists clean teeth by removing calculus, stains and plaque and provide other preventive dental care, such as taking dental x-rays and applying cavity preventive agents such as fluoride and pit and fissure sealants. In addition to examining patients’ teeth and gums and recording their findings, they teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene.

An increase in the need for dental hygienists is expected to continue in response to the growing demand for dental care and the greater substitution of hygienists for services previously performed by dentists.

The certificate in Pre-Dental Hygiene prepares students to enter the Dental Hygiene associate degree program at Midlands Technical College through an articulation agreement between the two colleges.

The Pre-Dental Hygiene certificate curriculum is Phase I of the two-phase Dental Hygiene program and consists of 37 hours of general education courses required for the Dental Hygiene curriculum.

Students who complete the Pre-Dental Hygiene certificate curriculum with a 2.5 GPA and “C” or above on all science and math courses may make application for the Pre-Dental Hygiene certificate (science and math courses must not be completed more than three years prior to completion of the certificate curriculum). Upon receiving the certificate, the student is eligible for Phase II of the Dental Hygiene program. Phase II of the Dental Hygiene program begins each fall. The student’s date of entry into Phase II is based upon the date of acceptance into Phase I. Students must be continuously enrolled to maintain their entry date. Students accepted into Phase II of the Dental Hygiene program will be expected to act as clients for classmates to practice all new skills, including infiltration anesthesia injections.