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Associate Degree

Dental Hygienist

Just the Facts

Dental Hygienist

70 Credit Associate Degree

Program Length

Two Years

Delivery Method

Face-to-Face

Career Cluster

Healthcare

Program Location

Eau Claire

Start Months

August

Bloodborne Pathogens

Students in this program should be aware of the risks associated with bloodborne pathogens.

Estimated Program Cost

Learn more about the cost of attendance.

Term 1
$ 725
Term 2
$ 3,865
Term 3
$ 3,041
Term 4
$ 2,813
Term 5
$ 3,301
Materials
$ 4,595
Books
$ 2,907
License, Certificate, or Credential
$ 1,910
Estimated Total
$23,157

Dental Hygienist Overview

A person's smile is an important feature. Those who help protect it are equally important. Earn your dental hygienist degree at CVTC. This program allows you to gain hands-on experience in the CVTC Dental Clinic as well as classroom instruction. As a dental hygienist, you will work as a member of a dental health team, focusing on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation of dental disease as well as prevention of dental disease.

You will learn how to:

  • Maintain patient records in a professional and confidential manner.
  • Assess patients for signs, symptoms, and risk factors for oral disease.
  • Diagnose dental hygiene problems.
  • Provide direct dental hygiene patient care.
  • Educate the patients on their oral health.
  • Expose x-rays for diagnoses of oral disease and collaborate with other dental professionals.
  • Utilize dental office management software.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, and prepares you to take the national, regional, and state practical exams required for your dental hygienist license.

Dental Program Accreditation

The Dental Hygienist program at Chippewa Valley Technical College is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council of Post-Secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

Check It Out

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Thursday, November 5, 20263:30 – 7 p.m.View Event Details

Earn credit for prior learning!

Do you have previous educational or work experience in the field? You could be eligible to receive credit for prior learning

Explore This Program

Career Opportunities

  • Dental Hygienist

Graduate Employers

  • Menomonie Street Dental
  • Arrowhead Family Dental
  • North Lakes Community Clinic
  • Midwest Dental
  • Lakeview Dental Clinic
  • Midwest Dental Oakwood

Graduate Outcomes

CVTC graduates are ready for the workforce. Each year, we send our graduates the Graduate Follow-Up Survey asking several questions related to employment. Here are the program outcomes and job data.

$70K yearly salary

Our recent Dental Hygienist graduates reported an average starting salary of $70,002.

100% employed

100% of our recent Dental Hygienist graduates got a job in the industry.

37 regional jobs

There are 37 job openings in the CVTC district for the Dental Hygienist industry.

Transfer Credits to Other Institutions

Should you choose to continue your education after you leave CVTC, we have agreements in place with several institutions to ensure an easy transfer.

View Transfer Options

Program Courses

These are a few of the courses you will take in this program. Courses and the recommended sequence change from year to year; once you are enrolled in a program at CVTC you will be given a recommended course sequence that outlines what courses you should take and the order in which to take them.

You may search for available courses. If you are ever unsure of what courses to take, talk to your academic advisor. If you are looking for course information for previous years, check out our past catalogs.

Here are a few of the courses you can take in the Dental Hygienist program.

Sample Courses

Dental Radiography

Prepares dental auxiliary students to operate x-ray units and expose bitewing, periapical, extral oral, and occlusal radiographs.

Dental Pharmacology

Prepares student dental hygienists to select safe and effective patient premedication, local anesthetic, chemo therapeutic, and antimicrobial agents within the scope of dental hygiene practice.

Periodontology

Students learn the current diagnoses and classification of periodontal diseases and the epidemiology and risk factors as well as the oral systemic link between oral health and the body. Students will learn how to plan treatment and provide non-surgical therapy to clinical patients.

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Student Testimonial

Best dental hygiene program and instructors in the state!

Dental Hygienist Graduate

A Program You Can Trust

Program Accreditation

CODA Accreditation Logo

The Dental Hygiene Program at CVTC is Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) which is part of the American Dental Association. View accreditation information.

Student Learning Outcomes

A Student Learning Outcome refers to the specific skills, knowledge, or abilities that students are expected to demonstrate upon successful completion of an academic program or degree.

Students will:

  • Model dental hygiene professional code of ethics
  • Counsel clients/patients to reduce health risks
  • Provide community oral health services in a variety of settings
  • Manage infection and hazard control
  • Assess data on all aspects of patient/client health using methods consistent with dental hygienist scope of practice and legal principles
  • Formulate a comprehensive dental hygiene care plan in collaboration with the client and other health professionals
  • Provide preventive and therapeutic services that promote oral health according to the needs of the patient/client
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented client/patient dental hygiene care plan
  • Provide community oral health services in a variety of settings

Program Success Data

Dental Hygienist 10-508-1

Pass Rates
 

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

1st Attempt

2st Attempt

1st Attempt

2st Attempt

1st Attempt

2st Attempt

National Dental Hygiene

78%

83%

79%

86%

87%

100%

Central Regional Dental

91%

100%

100%

N/A

100%

N/A

Graduation Rates
 

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

Graduation within 3-Years

100%

92%

86%

87%

87%

Graduate Placement
 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

Graduate Placement - Employed in a Related Field

100%

85%

89%

89%

100%

100%

Additional Admissions Resources

Admission Requirements

Each program requires specific requirements a student must meet to be considered for admissions to this program.

View Admission Requirements

Advising Tips

We have compiled helpful tips and general information for students in this program.

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