How do you become a dental hygienist?

How to become a Registered Dental Hygienist?

• Hello!! I am trying to get into a Dental Hygiene career but am a bit confused as to how to go about this. I thought any degree required General Eduction classes, or "prerequisites," so I enrolled in local community college to get started on the General Ed. classes but am now reading that I can complete an entire AA in Dental Hygiene at a Dental specific school. The school I applied to, to start my General Ed. doesn't offer Dental Hygiene what-so-ever. Should I have enrolled in a Dental specific school???? Or can I complete my General Ed. and THEN go to a Dental specific school? I'm just so conufed. Please help!! What is the appropriate way to go about this? Thanks so much for all your help!!!!! Oh...I am currently living in Missouri. However, I plan to return to San Diego, CA within 2 years. There is a wide variety of American Dental Association accredited schools in California vs. here in Missouri. Thanks again!!

• Answer:

  You should first find out which schools offer a degree in dental hygiene & check out the lists of prerequisite classes (including Gen Ed) that need to be completed in order to be accepted into their program. Each school differs on what prerequisite classes they require. My recommendation is to research hygiene programs in CA (since you plan on moving there in 2 years) and start taking prerequisite classes in MO that transfer to the CA programs. (Make sure they transfer before you register for/complete them!) A counselor at your local college can guide you in the right direction. Just a head's up: Dental hygiene school is competitive and very intense. I'm speaking from personal experience.There are 4 dental hygiene programs in CA that are Bachelor of Science programs and there are also quite a few programs in Southern CA that are Associate's degree.