Dental Hygiene

Program Overview

Dental Hygienists are licensed, professional oral clinicians and dental health educators who prevent and treat oral disease, promote and encourage preventive aspects of dental care, and assume responsibility for patient care in the dental office. They provide a variety of services to patients, including comprehensive examination of the oral cavity, radiographs, prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, patient education, and preventive services. They are required to pass written and clinical examinations before they apply for licensure to practice. Dental Hygienists are integral members of the dental team who use their dental, clinical, and social sciences to aid individuals in achieving optimum oral health. Besides working in a private dental practice, Dental Hygienists also work as educators, administrators, and researchers.

Program Mission

The mission is to provide a supportive learning environment in which the student acquires theoretical knowledge, technical skills, and professional attributes necessary to qualify for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist and entry-level employment as a Dental Hygienist. The program strives to instill the importance of personal growth, professional commitment, community involvement, and continued research. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

California State Licensure Requirements

• Graduate from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited Dental Hygiene program.
• Undergo a criminal history investigation.
• Pass a written California Dental Law & Ethics Examination.
• Pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
• Pass the California state clinical board or an authorized regional clinical board.