Thinking about starting a career in dental hygiene? Well, the time is right, as October is National Dental Hygiene Month! It’s the perfect reminder of how important oral health is and how dental hygiene can be such a rewarding career path.
National Dental Hygiene Month is also a great time to provide a thorough breakdown of the timeline and requirements needed to jumpstart your career as a dental hygienist.
To receive your Dental Hygiene degree, you must complete a dental hygienist program at a dental hygiene school. Most dental hygienist education requires a 1-2 year commitment at an accredited program, typically beginning with a pre-dental hygienist track, followed by a program with clinical training.
In many states, including Connecticut, an associate degree in Dental Hygiene is typically required, although many professionals pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Hygiene for additional training and career advancement.
Dental hygienists play a critical role in dental care with primary responsibilities in preventive care and patient education, while working closely with dentists and other professionals. Let’s look at what it takes.
Prerequisites for dental hygiene school
Most dental hygienist education prerequisites include biology, anatomy, physiology, and chemistry, the basic sciences. Applicants may also need to complete general education courses such as English and psychology, which help develop communication and interpersonal skills essential to patient care.
Prerequisite courses are necessary to learn oral histology and embryology, focusing on the development and function of teeth, jaws, and oral tissues from prenatal growth through adulthood. Understanding these core subjects offers a foundation of knowledge to support clinical training and internships, as well as written and clinical licensing examinations. Once licensed, dental hygienists can work in private practices, community health centers, hospitals, or research and educational settings.
What Dental Hygiene programs offer
Once admitted to a Dental Hygiene program, students complete a combination of classroom instruction and laboratory training. Coursework typically covers topics such as oral anatomy, dental radiology, periodontology, pharmacology, and community dental health, providing students with the theoretical knowledge necessary to understand oral disease prevention and treatment to earn that Dental Hygiene degree with ease.
Academic and clinical integration
Dental Hygiene programs are designed to connect classroom learning with hands-on application. Students may study oral anatomy in lectures and identify those same structures while taking radiographs or practicing scaling techniques in the lab.
This integration helps students understand not just the “what,” but also the “why” behind every procedure. With evidence-based practice, students learn to make clinical decisions grounded in science and research.
Training with modern technology
Today’s dental offices rely heavily on advanced technology. Dental hygiene students must be familiar with digital radiography, intraoral cameras, ultrasonic scalers, lasers, portable x-ray units and electronic patient records. By working with modern equipment during training, graduates are well-prepared to transition seamlessly into professional practice.
Dental hygiene experiences
Dental hygiene programs emphasize clinical experience, allowing students to practice with real patients under faculty supervision, building skills and confidence.
Day-to-day of a dental hygienist
The daily responsibilities of dental hygienists primarily revolve around preventive care, which extends beyond routine cleaning. Approximately 94% of dental hygienist jobs are located in dental offices, performing dental cleanings and non-surgical periodontal therapy, which are crucial in protecting teeth from decay and periodontal disease.
Dental hygienists also:
- Conduct oral health screenings to identify early signs of disease
- Explain connections between oral and overall health
- Instruct patients on proper brushing and flossing techniques
- Offer personalized guidance on nutrition and lifestyle habits that affect dental wellness.
- Take radiographs to assist dentists in diagnosing conditions and developing periodontal diagnosis.
Dental hygienists work under the supervision of licensed dentists, but specialized training enables them to make critical observations, recommend preventive treatments, and provide supportive care within their scope of practice.
Clinical experience
Clinical experience is a cornerstone of dental hygiene education. Under faculty supervision, students practice their skills with real patients in university clinics or affiliated dental settings.
This hands-on training allows them to perform local anesthesia for patient comfort, perform debridements (aka cleanings), apply sealants and fluoride, take X-rays, and educate patients about oral hygiene habits. Clinical practice is essential because it prepares students to enter the workforce with confidence and competency.
Job outlook and salary for a dental hygienist
The job outlook is solid. Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, resulting in approximately 15,300 annual job openings over that period. Plus, the median annual wage for dental hygienists is $94,260, with the highest 10% of practitioners earning $120,060. You can take that
Dental Hygiene degree all the way to the bank. But not just any school can throw together a Dental Hygiene program; the requirements and regulations surrounding them are thorough, and with good reason.
Dental Hygiene program requirements in Connecticut
When looking for a Connecticut Dental Hygiene school, find one that meets specific requirements so you can begin practicing according to standards in Connecticut. Further, it’s only worth considering dental schools in Connecticut that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), as graduation from a CODA-accredited program is required to sit for the licensing exams and legally practice as a dental hygienist.
After completing training from an accredited program and passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination to assess knowledge of scientific concepts and clinical principles, you also have to successfully complete a regional or state clinical board examination that evaluates your ability to provide patient care.
In Connecticut, the state also requires dental hygienists to complete a jurisprudence exam covering state laws and regulations, so it’s crucial to choose a reputable Connecticut dental school that provides the guidance and support you need to earn your dental hygienist license. Becoming a dental hygienist requires hard work, but it leads to a rewarding career.
After passing the necessary exams and all of the above, candidates can finally apply for licensure with the Connecticut Department of Public Health. But that’s not all, as maintaining licensure requires completing continuing education courses to stay current with the latest practices and developments in oral health, so you’ll be in and out of classrooms throughout your career.
Pursue your Dental Hygiene dreams at University of Bridgeport
For students seeking hands-on training and looking for dental schools in Connecticut, University of Bridgeport’s Fones School of Dental Hygiene operates the Fones Dental Hygiene Clinic, which has been serving patients for decades.
The clinic is an essential resource that connects education to practice, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to meet the needs of their future patients. There, students gain clinical experience by treating community members under supervision, while patients benefit from affordable preventive care services.
Apply today, or request more information on the different degree options for the dental hygiene track.
Amanda Sargent, MSDH, RDH, is an assistant clinical professor in the Fones Dental Hygiene program at University of Bridgeport. She teaches Clinical Dental Hygiene to first- and second-year students. A lifelong dental professional, she received her master’s degree from UB Fones in 2019. She is an avid reader and a weekend day tripper since moving to Connecticut from New Jersey to join the UB team.