Best Dental Hygiene/Hygienist colleges in Pennsylvania 2021
Dental hygienists are required to be licensed in the state where they practice. Students must graduate from an accredited dental hygienist program and pass both a written and clinical examination to receive a dental hygienist certificate. A dental hygienist works closely with dentists and dental assistants. They prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret; remove tartar, stains and plaque from teeth; examine the gums and teeth to look for disease or oral abnormalities; and take x-rays and apply fluoride. Dental hygienists also educate dental patients on how to obtain and maintain excellent oral hygiene by showing them how to floss and brush correctly.
Oral radiology, dental materials, oral histology, oral biology, clinical techniques, clinical dental hygiene, nutrition, and head and neck anatomy are just a few courses that will prepare students to enter the field of dentistry. An associate degree will get you in the field, but a bachelor's or master's degree is usually required for individuals who want to enter research, teaching, or clinical practice in public health programs or in schools. There were more than 180,000 practicing dental hygienists in 2010, and the job outlook is expected to grow 38 percent by 2020.
Best Dental Hygiene/Hygienist colleges in Pennsylvania for 2021
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus offers 3 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 39 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist students graduated with students earning 30 Associate's degrees, and 9 Bachelor's degrees.
Pennsylvania College of Technology offers 4 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 76 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist students graduated with students earning 39 Associate's degrees, and 37 Bachelor's degrees.
Harrisburg Area Community College offers 1 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2019, 21 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist students graduated with students earning 21 Associate's degrees.
Luzerne County Community College offers 2 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 18 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist students graduated with students earning 18 Associate's degrees.
Westmoreland County Community College offers 1 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2019, 18 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist students graduated with students earning 18 Associate's degrees.
List of all Dental Hygiene/Hygienist colleges in Pennsylvania
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA | 18 : 1 | 32,686 | |
|
Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA | 18 : 1 | 4,972 | |
|
Harcum College Bryn Mawr, PA | 22 : 1 | 1,363 | |
|
Fortis Institute-Scranton Scranton, PA | 26 : 1 | 281 | |
|
Manor College Jenkintown, PA | 22 : 1 | 746 | |
|
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | 48 : 1 | 15,996 | |
|
Fortis Institute-Erie Erie, PA | 9 | ||
|
Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell, PA | 63 : 1 | 10,309 | |
|
Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PA | 78 : 1 | 9,800 | |
|
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA | 60 : 1 | 17,422 | |
|
Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PA | 49 : 1 | 4,920 | |
|
Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood, PA | 58 : 1 | 4,645 | |