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Online Dental Hygiene Programs: Your Complete 2023-24 Guide

This hygienist completed an online dental hygiene programDental hygiene matters. Maintaining clean teeth and healthy gums is essential for overall wellness. This is why dental hygienists, who examine patients, clean teeth, and provide preventative care, are so important. Many online dental hygiene programs exist. To become a dental hygienist, however, you’ll need the right education from an accredited program. You’ll also need to complete licensing tests before you can practice this profession.

Once complete, you’ll be ready for an outstanding career! A career in dental hygiene can be financially rewarding and personally fulfilling. It’s also a stable career that has numerous opportunities.

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Online Dental Hygiene Programs – The Different Levels

Diploma

An online diploma in dental health is a good first step to becoming a dental hygienist. While these diplomas will not make you a hygienist, they will provide entry into the dental profession, allowing you to learn about the industry firsthand. If you decide that a dental career is right for you, you can build on your dental diploma and enter an associate’s or bachelor’s program.

These programs are often completed entirely online, with little to no in-person requirements. They can prepare you for a career assisting in the dental industry. You’ll learn dental terms, basic preventative dentistry, dental medication, and communication skills that are important in a dentist’s office.

Perhaps most important, these online dental hygiene programs can be completed quickly, usually in one semester.

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Associate

If you want a fast path to a career in dental hygiene, this is the best option. These online dental hygiene programs prepare you for a career in the dental industry. They typically take two to three years to complete. An associate in dental hygiene will prepare you for immediate placement in a career, but many are also structured for transfer into a bachelor’s program.

The entrance requirements for these degrees are light compared to higher online dental hygiene programs. Most associate degrees, including dental hygiene, only require a high school diploma for enrollment.

Students enrolled in online dental hygiene associate’s degrees will complete a variety of subjects that give foundational knowledge for the career. Studies will include general biology, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. You’ll likely complete nutrition courses, and there could be a variety of elective classes as well.

While a portion of the classes can be completed online, to become a dental hygienist you’ll need to complete some in-person courses. This is a hands-on career, one that requires mastery of tools and techniques that are essential to healthy teeth and gums. Online classes can cover the abstract topics, jargon, and science behind the career, but someday you’ll need to get out there and clean some teeth!

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Bachelor Completion

While an associate degree will help you qualify for a dental hygienist career, a bachelor’s degree will give you a deeper knowledge and potentially make you more attractive to employers. A bachelor’s degree takes roughly four years to complete, not factoring in any previously completed degrees or coursework. They give more in-depth training while also preparing you for a master’s degree.

These online dental hygiene programs are ideal for anyone who has some education in dental hygiene but wants to expand their training and earning potential. Many dental hygiene programs online are designed for current dental hygienists, allowing professionals to build their education while continuing to work in their careers. One such degree is the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Northern Arizona University. Students must be licensed dental hygienists who already have a certificate or associate degree.

Once complete, you can continue your career as a dental hygienist, or you can become a dental office manager, work in public health, or conduct clinical research.

Most bachelor’s degrees combine both general education requirements and core-specific classes. You’ll have a series of electives, as well as classes specific to the career, which may include periodontal therapy, practice management, concepts in dental hygiene, and research methods.

You can likely complete these courses entirely online, especially if you are already working as a dental hygienist and have completed previous in-person coursework.

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Graduate Certificate

These online dental hygiene programs, which cover a range of focused topics, are for hygienists and others who want to specialize in a specific type of dentistry. They are also for hygienists who are inspired to teach the next generation or provide leadership. Graduate certificates can be used to build on a bachelor’s degree.

You can complete graduate certificates in areas like education, geriatric dentistry, mouth and facial pain, or community oral health. These online dental hygiene programs are generally designed for people who are currently working in the career. Assuming part-time enrollment, you can likely complete a graduate certificate in a year.

Most of these programs can be completed entirely online, although some may have in-person requirements, especially if the certificate is more hands-on, like geriatric care, compared to theoretical, such as education.

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Master’s

If you are working as a dental hygienist, you can expand your career with a master’s degree in dental hygiene. This creates more advancement options and could lead to management, teaching, or research roles.

Because this is one of the highest levels of academic achievement, you’ll need to meet several requirements for admission. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene or a related field, and you’ll probably need to meet GPA requirements. Most schools require at least a 3.0 GPA from previous studies. Most online dental hygiene programs at the graduate level also require a current dental hygienist license.

Master’s degrees in dental hygiene take roughly three years to complete, assuming you are taking a full course load. These programs are often available fully online, creating better flexibility for your schedule.

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Accreditation for Online Dental Hygiene Programs

Accreditation is the formal process of verifying that an education program is meeting specific standards and basic requirements. It ensures that a school or degree is doing the job of providing a high-quality education.

Accreditation is important. It impacts financial support, gives a degree greater authority, and helps colleges maintain funding. Most importantly, it ensures that you, the student, receive a high-quality education that prepares you for a rewarding career.

Accreditation comes in two forms. The first is institutional accreditation, which is the approval of a school as a whole. The second is programmatic accreditation, which looks at a specific program, such as an associate’s degree in dental hygiene.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is the main group approving online dental hygiene programs. They evaluate over 1,400 dental programs, including 300 dental hygiene programs like the ones found on our site. If you are completing a degree in dental hygiene, start by making sure it’s CODA-accredited.

Accreditation not only enhances your chances of getting a good education, it will also help you achieve professional licensing. To qualify for licenses and certifications, you’ll need to complete an education from an approved school.

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Can Online Dental Hygiene Programs Meet Licensing Requirements?

Online classes make your education more convenient and flexible. While you can complete a majority of your dental hygienist courses online, you’ll need at least some in-person experience before becoming a dental hygienist.

If you are completing an associate’s degree in dental hygiene, you will need hands-on education, although many of your classes can be completed online. However, if you are a current dental hygienist completing a bachelor’s or master’s, it’s possible to complete your education entirely online.

Licensure for Graduates of Online Dental Hygiene Programs

Regardless of where you live, if you work as a dental hygienist, you’ll need to have licensure. All states have this requirement, and if you graduate from an accredited online dental hygiene program, you will qualify for testing.

To become licensed, you’ll need to complete two tests administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. These tests are the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) and the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE).

Here are the steps for becoming licensed as a dental hygienist:

  1. Complete an associate degree or higher from a CODA-accredited program.
  2. Apply for the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE), which comes in two parts. To apply, you will need to register for a Dental Personal Identifier Number (DENTPIN) from the American Dental Association.
  3. Review preparation materials for both parts of the NBDE.
  4. Complete Part I, a 400-item exam that covers biochemistry, microbiology, dental anatomy, and patient management.
  5. Complete Part II, which has 500 items covering issues such as oral diagnostics, radiographs, patient charting, and treatment.
  6. Review preparation materials from the ADA.
  7. Complete the NBDHE, a 350-item multiple-choice test that focuses on the dental hygiene profession.
  8. Test results will be available through the ADA’s website.

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Careers from Online Dental Hygiene Programs

Anyone entering a career in dental hygiene can expect a strong-paying career with solid, reliable growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the profession to grow by 9% between 2021 and 2031, a growth driven by many factors, such as the increasing awareness of the link between dental health and overall wellness. Preventative dental services, which are an important part of healthcare, will also drive this growth.

In 2021, there were roughly 214,000 dental hygienist jobs. Within ten years, however, this will increase to 233,000, adding 19,000 jobs across the country.

High concentrations of dental hygienist jobs can be found in diverse locales. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that Idaho has the highest concentration of dental hygienists with 2.49 out of every 1,000 jobs. The next highest states are Rhode Island (2.44), Hawaii (2.43), New Hampshire (2.22), and North Dakota (2.15).

The city of Pocatello, Idaho, may be one of the best places for this profession. Dental hygienists make up 3.45 out of every 1,000 jobs there. Important to keep in mind though, is that hygienists in this area have a median salary of only $67,740, which is below the national median. Other cities with high concentrations of dental hygienists include Danbury and Stamford, Connecticut, and Flint, Michigan.

The Santa Cruz, California, metro area, it appears, highly values dental hygiene specialists. There is a concentration of 2.9 hygienists per 1,000 jobs, placing it at #6 overall. In addition, hygienists in this area earn a median salary of $114,370.

Regardless of where you work, if you complete an online dental hygienist degree, you can expect a steady, reliable career with plenty of opportunities.

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Expected Salary with Online Dental Hygiene Programs

Whether you complete an associate’s degree or hold a master’s in dental hygiene, you can expect a strong salary from this career.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a dental hygienist in May 2021 was $77,810. This is over $30,000 more than the average salary for all careers, which sits at $45,760.

Here is a look at the median dental hygienist pay according to various salary reporting sites:

  • Indeed.com: $98,383 (June 2023)
  • Salary.com: $80,950 (May 2023)
  • BLS: $77,810 (May 2021)

These various estimates demonstrate the high potential for a top-quality dental hygienist. The BLS says that the top 10% in this profession earn over $100,000, so there is certainly a chance for even higher salaries.

If you decide to continue your education and become a dentist, you’ll have greater earning potential. Dentists have a median salary of $163,220 (BLS), with many earning well over $200,000 a year.

Certain areas bring higher pay for dental hygienists. The BLS says that Alaska pays the most, with dental hygienists earning a mean salary of $115,510. California and Washington both offer median annual salaries over $100,000, while Oregon hygienists see a median salary of $94,420. Nevada rounds out the top five with a median annual salary of $89,460.

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Explore Online Dental Hygiene Programs to Get Started on Your Future Today

If you’re looking for a stable career in dentistry, completing an online dental hygiene degree can be your stepping stone. With advanced online dental hygiene programs like bachelor’s or master’s degrees, you can explore diverse sectors too. Besides boosting your career prospects, pursuing a dental hygiene education empowers you to contribute to patients’ overall health. If you aspire to work directly with patients in a healthcare setting, an online dental hygiene degree is an ideal choice. Start your journey today!

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