What is Dental Hygiene school like?

What Is Required for Dental Hygiene School in Oregon?

• Answer:

  Dental hygiene schools in Oregon must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation as well as the Oregon Board of Dentistry to provide current and accurate training. Training Institutions The Oregon Board of Dentistry has accredited a total of seven dental hygiene schools. As of 2010, these institutions include Carrington College at Portland, Lane Community College, ODS College of Dental Sciences, Mt. Hood Community College, Portland Community College, Oregon Institute of Technology and Pacific University. Training Duration Dental hygienist schools in Portland offer a 2-year associate's degree in dental hygiene or a 4-year bachelor's degree in dental hygiene. An associate's degree or a bachelor's degree qualifies applicants for state licensure, according to the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Prerequisite Courses To be accepted into an Oregon dental hygienist training program, applicants must have completed several prerequisite courses. Prerequisite coursework may vary from institution to institution; however, the standard requisite courses include English composition, math level 65 or higher, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology and organic chemistry. Applicants must also have a high school diploma or general equivalency degree. Bachelor's degree programs may require additional prerequisite coursework. Coursework Dental hygienist coursework combines classroom lectures and hands-on laboratory classes. Courses such as human anatomy, dental hygiene theory, oral health, dental materials, dental anatomy and local anesthesia are common. Associate's degree programs normally require a minimum of 91 credit hours to graduate, while bachelor's degree programs normally require a minimum of 124 credit hours to graduate.