Dental hygienists are licensed healthcare professionals who work in a variety of settings. While most hygienists choose to practice in a dental office with a dentist, others work independently in a clinic or mobile/home offices. Regardless of setting, hygienists are able to perform a variety of preventive and restorative services in order to help patients achieve optimal oral health. In addition to the classroom instruction, students in the Dental Hygiene program receive hands-on experience through clinical practice in our state-of-the-art dental hygiene clinic on West Campus. The clinic is open to the general public and provides access to quality oral health care services including dental exams, cleanings, radiographs, sealants, and fluoride treatments. Services are provided by student hygienists under the direct supervision of Dental Hygiene faculty and dentists. The Dental Hygiene clinic offers a reduced fee for all patients. Appointments typically are one to three hours long. As patient safety is the primary concern, all student services are supervised by qualified Dental Hygiene faculty and licensed dentists. Those who have a compromised medical condition may be referred to their physician prior to receiving treatment. The Dental Hygiene clinic does not provide emergency or routine dental care such as fillings, crowns, extractions, root canals, dentures/partials, tooth replacement or pain management. Duplicate radiographs may be forwarded to the patient’s dentist of record upon request. If you have questions about the Dental Hygiene clinic or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact our scheduling desk at x52826. BridgeValley’s dental hygienist education is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association and prepares graduates to sit for the National Board Examinations and state licensure examinations to become a Registered Dental Hygienist. The curriculum includes a combination of science courses, technical courses in dental hygiene concepts and procedures, and extensive hands-on clinical practice at our on-campus Dental Hygiene clinic, located in the Fowler Family Southside Center campus. Students are prepared for careers as clinicians and educators in a variety of settings such as private dental practices, community health departments, educational facilities and hospitals. NCC’s two-year Dental Hygiene program is among the most respected and competitive in Pennsylvania. During the program, all pre-clinical and clinical coursework is taught on our campus, and all students participate in clinicals at the college’s on-campus Dental Hygiene clinic. This enables students to develop the skills needed to enter the professional workforce immediately after graduation. During the Fall semester, prospective Dental Hygiene students attend a DHY Information Session. Those who meet all required requirements and are selected for the DHY program will be notified by mid March of the 2023-2024 academic year. The application for the Dental Hygiene Program is now available online! The deadline to apply is January 31. The selection process for the DHY program is highly selective. Applicants must complete all application and supporting documentation by the due date. clinique hygiène dentaire
