Online Degree Programs by Subjects

Doing a Dental Hygiene Degree Online

The profession of dental hygienist is becoming quite popular and a two year degree can be obtained via an online dental hygienist degree. This profession forms one of the main divisions of dental care. Dental hygienists are responsible for cleaning the patients' teeth along with assisting dentist and educating patients about dental care. Other responsibilities are the preparation of diagnostic tests for the dentist as well as taking x-rays or any other procedure related to dental care.

Education qualification required for Dental Hygienist

Students need to complete a two year degree course. Dental hygienists must have a license which can be obtained after graduation from an accredited dental hygienist program. The accreditation is offered by the American Dental Association. They should sit for the dental hygienist exam for the state they wish to be licensed to work in, noting that some licenses cover more than one state.

Online degree in dental hygiene

Dental Hygienist is listed as the fifth most popular profession in the nation according to the U.S. Department of Labor. After qualifying as dental hygienists, they work with patients and provide information to them about oral hygiene, cavity prevention, safety and maintenance of teeth and gums. The areas covered by the online dental hygienist degree include laboratory, clinical, and classroom instruction which can enable students to apply for their license. Courses students need to study are dental hygiene, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, radiography and periodontology.

The online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Dental Hygiene degree program enables dental hygienists to move to higher education after completion of the Associate of Science degree. Through the online course, students can study the course along with their job or family commitments and complete a B.S. degree. There are also eight week accelerated dental hygiene classes available online for adult learners.

Colleges like the Fones School of Dental Hygiene offer the online dental hygiene courses. Fones School has received accreditation, as its programs follow the principles set up by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

The various emerging areas for dental hygienists according to the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) are:

  • Educator
  • Researcher
  • Administrator/Manager
  • Advocate
  • Clinician
  • Public Health Dental Hygiene

The requirements for the B.S. in Dental Hygiene are the completion of 120 credit hours which can be divided as transfer credits from previous academic experience (60-90 credit hours), general education courses (40 credit hours), dental hygiene courses (19 credit hours) and elective courses (12 credit hours).