To become a dental hygienist in Texas, you must first become a registered dental hygienist by completing a dental hygienist program in one of the Dental Hygiene Schools in Dallas Texas accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
After completing the program, you can apply to take the National Board of Dental Hygiene exam and then take a state or regional exam that will assess your understanding of state laws that apply to the practice of dental hygiene.
A dental hygienist program in Dental Hygiene Schools in Dallas Texas can lead to an associate degree or a Bachelor of Science degree. An AAS degree may be better if you want to save time and money.
The two-year program will cover the knowledge and technical skills needed to succeed in the field. You can then transfer credits and pursue a bachelor’s degree and earn income while you continue your education.
Are There Dental Hygiene Schools In Dallas Texas?
Both 2-year and 4-year public schools in Texas offer training options for aspiring dental hygienists. You could earn an associate’s degree that would prepare you for a career in dental hygiene.
This program will require you to complete general education courses along with your dental hygienist training and will take two years to complete.
You may also consider enrolling in a certificate program or a bachelor’s degree program. Both require prior general education classes and take about four years in total.
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How Much Do Dental Hygiene Schools Cost In Dallas Texas?
An associate degree costs $22,692. A bachelor’s degree costs $36,382. A master’s degree costs $30,421. You can earn an associate’s degree in college after one year of classroom training and one year of clinical training.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, the two-year program costs an average of $4,600 for in-state students. Tuition for students from other regions ranges from $10,000 to $21,600 over two years.
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What Are The Requirements For Dental Hygiene Schools In Dallas Texas?
Dental hygiene colleges that offer associate degree programs are most often community colleges and vocational schools, while bachelor’s programs are available at universities. Both degrees will meet the requirements for licensure as a dental hygienist in Texas.
The two programs also share basic prerequisites. These include a high school diploma or GED, a background check, a medical exam, current immunizations and the ability to perform the physical demands of the hygienist job.
Associate degree programs in dental hygiene often have a long list of admission requirements. Depending on the training institution, prerequisites may include completion of at least 16 hours of observation and current CPR certification.
Most schools, including Austin Community College, require that you first be accepted to the college and then apply to a dental hygiene program. Admission may be competitive.
Dental hygienist prerequisites at the bachelor’s level usually include the school’s general education requirements for formal admission to a dental hygiene program: mainly consisting of coursework.
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What Are The Best Dental Hygiene Schools In Dallas Texas?
Dental Hygiene Schools In Dallas Texas offer associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees for students seeking licensure or for dental hygienists hoping to advance in the field.
Cost and time are two things you should consider before choosing a school. You can work as a dental hygienist with an associate’s, bachelors, or master’s degree, and each has its pros and cons.
#1 Texas A&M University
Located in the entertainment, cultural and educational center of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Texas A&M University School of Dentistry offers students many opportunities to explore the area for leisure time and connect with students from other colleges.
In addition, as a large dental school, students benefit from collaborative learning with students from other specialties. The college offers a two-year bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.
The program is available as a full-time option, however, for those with additional responsibilities; the college offers a part-time schedule in the first year, extending it for another year.
However, the final year of study remains full-time, meaning the total duration of the program is three years for part-time students.
Upon graduation, you will be ready to explore employment opportunities in teaching, management and healthcare. Some graduates even go on to pursue a master’s degree at university with a focus on dental hygiene.
#2 Concorde Career College
Concorde Career College trains dental hygiene students with a quality education that translates into employment immediately upon graduation. To gain job-ready skills, students undergo clinical training at various affiliated sites.
This dental hygiene program in Texas is an accelerated associate degree that takes only 17 months. Coursework includes biomedical science, behavioral science, and social science components, as well as dental hygiene courses.
It provides a well-rounded education and improves your critical thinking, decision-making and communication skills, helping you provide competent patient care.
Some of the courses you will take include oral histology, dental anatomy, dental radiography, periodontics, dental pharmacology, dietetics, dental law and ethics, and dental office management.
#3 Collin College
The Dental Hygiene Program at Collin College is committed to fostering the lifelong individual development and excellence of each dental hygiene student.
The program will provide the highest standards of care to meet individual and community needs.
Students will participate in lectures and hands-on sessions on hand and ultrasound instruments, traditional and digital radiography, fluorides, oral hygiene education and dental software technologies within a state-of-the-art dental setting.
Course topics include anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, orofacial anatomy, histology and embryology, dental radiology, preclinical dental hygiene, preventive dental hygiene care, general and dental nutrition.
Other topics like pharmacology for the dental hygienist, dental hygiene care, dental materials, periodontology, general and oral pathology, general stomatology, dental hygiene practice and social psychology will also be covered.
#4 Tarrant County College
The Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene degree offered by Tarrant County College uses a hands-on learning approach to prepare students for what they will do on the job.
The first semester will provide the foundation for the core courses covered in subsequent semesters. Contact with the patient begins in the second semester of the program and continues until the end of the last semester.
Course topics include anatomy and physiology, general and dental nutrition, preventive dental hygiene, preclinical dental hygiene, orofacial anatomy, histology and embryology, and dental materials.
Other topics like dental radiology, microbiology, periodontology, pharmacology, community dentistry, general and oral pathology, dental hygiene practice and special topics in dental hygiene will also be covered.
Graduates will be eligible to take the NBDHE to apply for licensure from the Texas Board of Dental Examiners to become a Registered Dental Hygienist. The program is available full-time only.
#5 Midwestern State University
Midwestern State University offers dental hygiene training at its Gaines Clinic. Here you work with a variety of patients and gain much-needed hands-on experience.
The college offers a bachelor’s degree that will take you two years to complete. Prerequisite and core foundational courses required before beginning the two-year dental hygiene course can be completed at Midwestern or any other accredited college of your choice.
This program admits 18 students each year, who begin in the fall and study for two years together. Graduation requires the completion of a total of 120 credits, of which 55 are prerequisites, as well as major core courses and 65 credits in dental hygiene courses.
#6 Pima Medical Institute
Pima Medical Institute offers a comprehensive dental hygiene education that prepares you for this challenging career. Training is accompanied by the possibility of internships in various institutions, such as hospitals and dental clinics.
This learning experience is valuable as you work under the guidance of professionals, develop a work ethic, and all while building your professional network.
The college offers a two-year graduate program that thoroughly prepares you with the skills and knowledge to perform entry-level functions such as patient examination and assessment, cleaning and polishing teeth, dental radiography, and patient care in a variety of settings.
The coursework, totaling 90 credits, strengthens your communication and critical thinking skills. It spans six semesters and emphasizes clinical training, incorporating 780 hours of experiential learning into the curriculum.
This program can also be used as a pathway to an online Bachelor of Science in Health Administration program that prepares you for leadership positions in the health care industry.
#7 El Paso Community College
El Paso Community College provides a supportive learning environment with state-of-the-art facilities and small class sizes that help dental hygiene students achieve their personal academic and career goals.
The dental hygiene program offered by the college is an associate degree that can be completed in two years. The curriculum combines biological and dental sciences with courses in dental hygiene.
You will learn to provide preventive oral care to patients, which includes educating patients on proper oral hygiene and nutrition, brushing and removing plaque, applying sealants and fluoride to prevent decay, and processing and evaluating dental x-rays.
The program begins each fall and admits up to 18 students. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to take national and state licensing exams.
#8 Amarillo College, Amarillo
Amarillo College offers quality dental hygiene education at its state-of-the-art facility in Jones Hall. The on-campus dental clinic provides dental services to patients from the local community for ten months of the year.
Students benefit from this experience by practicing live on patients, thereby enhancing professional skills. To become a dental hygienist in Texas, you may want to consider this associate degree program that you can start working in two years.
To be eligible for this program, you must have completed prerequisite courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Microbiology and English with a minimum grade of “C”.
Once accepted into the program, you will complete courses in communication, oral anatomy and histology, nutrition, dental materials, dental pharmacology, oral and general pathology, dental radiology, and community dentistry.
#9 Del Mar College, Corpus Christi
Del Mar College dental hygiene graduates develop job-ready skills through the extensive laboratory and clinical training they receive.
The faculty constantly strives to maintain the curriculum and teaching pedagogy in accordance with the changing trends in the dental field.
The dental hygiene course at the college lasts four semesters. To graduate, you must complete 68 credits of coursework that includes courses in the biological, behavioral, and dental sciences.
This comprehensive curriculum teaches you the entry-level skills necessary for a dental hygienist to promote oral health and hygiene. The first course involves practicing professional skills on fellow students and dental mannequins.
After completing numerous hands-on sessions, students perform hygiene procedures for patients at Del Mar College’s free dental clinic. These procedures are carried out under the supervision of an experienced teacher.
#10 Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College offers a dental hygiene program at its Harlingen campus. The faculty and staff here strive to prepare students with job-ready skills and initiate personal and professional development programs where they are encouraged to participate and learn vital skills.
This dental hygiene course in Texas is a two-year program that leads to an associate of applied science degree. To be eligible for this program, you must complete course prerequisites in General Psychology, Sociology, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, English, and Chemistry.
Upon registration, you will complete a dental hygiene coursework that will teach you the technical and clinical skills required to provide oral hygiene services to the public.
After graduation, you can work as an entry-level dental hygienist in a variety of settings, such as dental offices, hospitals, and community health centers.
How Much Do Dental Hygienists In Texas Earn?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for dental hygienists in Texas in 2020 was $78,080, equivalent to $37.54 per hour.
About a third of Texas’ 14,180 dental hygienists work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, while about 20% work in the greater Houston area. Salaries also tend to be higher in Dallas.
Salary ranges can vary greatly based on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and years spent in your profession.
With more real-time online compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine an accurate salary target.
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How Do I Become Dental Hygienists In Dallas Texas?
All dental hygienists in Texas must graduate from one of the Dental Hygiene Schools in Dallas Texas approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA).
These programs lead to either an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, both of which meet the requirements for licensure in Texas.
It will also be necessary to undergo a clinical examination by a dental hygienist. The Texas Board of Dental Examiners recognizes the following agencies as valid clinical exam sponsors:
- Western Regional Examination Commission
- Central regional dental service
- Commission for assessment of dental competence
- Southern Regional Testing Agency
- Council of Interstate Testing Agencies
Before you are eligible to apply for a license with the Texas Board of Dental Examiners, you must meet three additional requirements:
Once you meet these requirements, you will be able to apply for a dental hygienist license with the Texas Board of Dental Examiners.
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Best Paying Dental Hygienists Jobs In Dallas Texas
A dental hygienist’s responsibilities include performing initial patient examinations, cleaning teeth (eg, removing plaque), and counseling patients about oral health and preventive care.
You will also help dentists decide on the treatment of dental and gum diseases and solve urgent dental problems.
- DENTAL ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR/CLINIAL COORDINATATOR – Online
- Workplace Safety Training Specialist (00024467)
- Sales – Professional Oral Health – Territory Account Executive – San Antonio Northeast – Open to Sales Professionals and/or Dental Hygienists
- Dental Hygienist – Harris Health, Community Clinics, UT Dentists, School of Dentistry
- Dental Assistant II
- Clinic Manager – School of Dentistry – General Practice & Dental Public Health Department – AEGD/GPR Resident Clinic
- Accident Prevention Services Safety Inspector (00025644)
- Department Chair- Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting, and Surgical Technology
Dental Hygiene Schools In Dallas Texas FAQs
To obtain a dental hygienist license in Texas, you must complete an ADA-accredited dental hygiene program. You have to pass the National Board Exam, a clinical exam from one of the regional examining agencies. You must also have a current CPR card and pass the Council’s jurisprudence evaluation.
Dental hygiene programs in Texas typically last two years. Because training involves many hours of clinical experience, there are no online programs. According to the US Department of Education, there are 26 programs in the state of Texas. Of these, 23 are public (including five 4-year universities), and the rest are private institutions. Almost all of them are accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation. However, you must confirm this with the college before submitting any application.
The Texas Board of Dental Examiners authorizes dental hygienists to perform duties that include taking radiographs and applying sealants. Other typical dental hygienist services include:
· Smoothing roughened root surfaces
· Polishing exposed teeth
· Local use of medicines
· Removal of accumulated substances, deposits, stains and growths from the natural and restored surface of the tooth
The Dental Care Clinical Coordinator will be responsible for the supervision and training of clinical instructors. He is the primary point of contact between the clinical centers and the program. The Clinical Coordinator of Dental Care is responsible for planning and coordinating students in clinical assignments. This is to ensure alignment with curriculum sequence and an equitable and educational experience.
Conclusion
There are several important factors to consider when looking for the best dental hygiene school to attend. First of all, you should make sure that the school has an excellent program with rigorous coursework and experienced instructors.
You should also compare tuition fees at different schools to find one that fits your budget. Finally, it’s important to review student satisfaction ratings to see if former students were satisfied with their experience.
The best dental hygiene schools in Dallas Texas have a lot in common: quality programs, affordable tuition rates, or good job prospects after graduation.
References
- tradeschoolsnearyou.com – Dental Hygienist Schools in Dallas, TX
- nursingprocess.org – Best Dental Hygiene Schools in Texas – 2022