The best dental hygiene schools in Oklahoma offer some of the best dental hygiene programs in the world, which allow students to play a significant role in a medical team, provide for the patient’s oral health needs, and enhance their quality of life.
This article takes you through Oklahoma’s best dental hygiene schools with dental hygiene programs that provide exceptional clinical and academic opportunities for developing good health and preventive oral healthcare.
Selecting dental hygiene schools in Oklahoma that are a good fit for your values, skills, and interests on a general level will help you become the future provider you want to be.
This goes beyond just academic fit. Make a spreadsheet that details the elements that are most significant to you, and spend time online investigating schools.
Are there Dental Hygiene Schools in Oklahoma?
There are more than 300 entry-level dental hygiene programs in the United States, and selecting which dental hygiene schools to apply to involves several considerations.
If you are considering a degree in Dental Hygiene program in the 2024, Oklahoma is one of the best places to look into. There are lots of accredited and licensed dental hygiene schools in Oklahoma.
When you read below, you will see a list of dental hygiene schools in Oklahoma, their locations, a little information about them, and a link to their websites.
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How Much Do Dental Hygiene Schools Cost in Oklahoma?
When searching for a school to register at or attend, the program’s cost is the most determining factor one considers.
The type of dental hygiene degree will determine how much to be paid. The cost of tuition is $22,692 for those interested in pursuing an associate degree, $36,382 for those pursuing a bachelor’s degree, and $30,421 for those pursuing a master’s degree.
This amount does not include the textbook, instrument kit, travel expenses, registration and food expenses, examination board fees, student ADHA membership, graduation expenses, etc.
What are the Requirements for Dental Hygiene Schools in Oklahoma?
Requirements for Dental Hygiene Schools in Oklahoma may vary depending on the type of degree.
There are three types of degrees:
Associate degree
Associate’s degrees provide you with the necessary level of education required for licensing. These degrees are typically earned at community colleges or technical schools and take about two years to complete.
Requirement: Depending on the school, different dental hygiene programs have different admission requirements. But many schools demand a GPA of 2.5 or better for requirement completion. These could include programs on subjects like:
Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry, and Sociology.
Bachelor’s degree
Although bachelor’s degrees normally need four(4) years to complete, if you start with an associate’s in dental hygiene, you can graduate sooner.
These programs are designed for dental hygiene license holders who want to gain leadership experience or expand their understanding of theory and research.
Requirement: You’ll probably need to fulfill prerequisites and have a GPA of 2.5 or better. High school graduates should have studied the same courses required for admission to an associate’s program. People with an associate’s degree should already be familiar with topics like anatomy, radiology, and dental lab supplies.
Master’s degree
If you are looking to teach, conduct research, or work at an administrative level, a master’s degree in dental hygiene might be the best option.
Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene or a closely related discipline that satisfies the appropriate prerequisites is required for admission to a master’s program.
Other typical prerequisites for admission include:
- A GPA of at least 3.0, verification of a valid dental hygienist license,
- acceptable GRE results, Recommendation letters and
- Possibly a CV or career statement.
What are the Best Dental Hygiene Schools in Oklahoma?
There are quite several good Dental Hygiene Schools in Oklahoma; check their list below;
1. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
The dental hygiene bachelor’s degree program at Oklahoma City is among the best in the country.
There are strict requirements for admission, including submitting transcripts from the first two years of postsecondary study and documentation of at least 40 hours of dental hygiene observation.
This program aims to develop students’ critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making skills as well as instill in them a sense of ethics and professional responsibility. It also instructs students about the clinical aspects of working as dental hygienists.
Along with providing on-campus instruction, the University of Oklahoma also provides remote learning for this degree through partnerships with Tri County Technology Center, Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, and Western Technology Center.
2. Rose State College
The Dental Hygiene Program operates a modern 12-chair community clinic on the Rose State Campus.
Established in 1970, the program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Clinical services are provided to the community during the fall and spring academic semesters.
3. O U College of Dentistry
The University of Oklahoma Dental Hygiene Program is designed to educate and prepare students for careers in dental hygiene.
The College emphasizes the comprehensive care model that allows hygienists and dental students to work together in clinical patient care to simulate a real-life dental practice.
The program consists of a minimum of 60 hours of prerequisite coursework from The University of Oklahoma, or any other accredited university or college, in addition to two years of dental hygiene curriculum.
After completion, graduates will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene and be eligible to take examinations for licensure to practice as registered dental hygienists.
4. Tulsa Community College
The full-time dental hygiene program at this Tulsa community college offers an Associate in Applied Science and accepts 14 students each year.
Before beginning the program, you must complete a few general education requirements. The subjects covered are periodontology, dental and oral anatomy, and public dental health.
Additionally, they study dental radiography and pain treatment methods and examine the science behind dental hygiene.
5. Tri-County Technology College, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Tri-County Tech and the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry collaborate especially. Students interested in dental hygiene can now enroll in the course at the remote learning center in Bartlesville.
With the help of this novel arrangement, students will acquire the abilities and information required to become successful dental hygienists.
The laboratory and clinical training are provided in Tri County Tech’s brand-new, cutting-edge dental hygiene clinic, while the lecture (didactic) course is delivered live through interactive video conferences.
6. The University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma
The University of Central Oklahoma offers a pre-dental hygiene program that prepares you to transfer to a dental hygiene baccalaureate program.
Admission into 4-year programs is typically competitive and may be based on several factors, including your postsecondary academic record.
This pre-dental hygiene program includes courses in 4 core areas: symbolic and oral communication, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities
7. SouthernTech College, Ardmore, Oklahoma
The dental hygiene program is offered through a unique partnership with the University of Oklahoma (OU) and SouthernTech.
Once an applicant is awarded acceptance into the program, the dental hygiene curriculum is two years and is held on the Southern Tech campus.
Upon graduation, students are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Oklahoma.
All laboratory and clinical training are conducted at the new state-of-the-art dental hygiene clinic at SouthernTech, an accredited dental hygiene education program.
State licensure mandates that dental hygienists graduate from an accredited dental hygiene education program.
8. MIO Dental Careers, Oklahoma.
In just 9 weeks, you can learn how to be a dental assistant. These and many more make MIO Dental Care stands out:
- Small classes
- Individual attention
- Hands-on experience
- Clinical experience with live patients
- Taught by actual DDS: Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Flexible times offered
- Students can retake the course at NO cost
- They assist in job placement
- Free to repeat the class if the student fails to obtain the training certificate for the first time
9. Western Technology Center, Weatherford Oklahoma
The purposes of the Dental Hygiene Program at the Western Technology Center are to:
- Meet the educational requirements for a B.S. Dental Hygiene Degree.
- Meet the clinical requirements for Dental Hygiene Students to graduate and obtain licensure.
Provide preventative and therapeutic oral health services to the public while providing students an education
Promote oral health in Western Oklahoma through community services projects.
10. Oklahoma City Dental Assistant School, Midwest City
Oklahoma City Dental Assistant School, Midwest City, offers a high-quality, hands-on education that is affordable and convenient to students from all walks of life. They teach the fundamental skills of dental assisting through hands-on training in actual dental offices.
Their unique program allows us to offer comprehensive training at a fraction of the cost of other schools. Oklahoma City dental assistant students finish their education and start new careers without crippling student loan debt.
They prepare students to start working right after graduation, and their dedicated career service team will assist you in finding the career you deserve. Classes are on Saturdays and fill up quickly, so don’t wait.
11. Custom Dental Assisting School Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
An intensive 10 weeks course in dental assisting that the Better Business Bureau and the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools accredits. Classes are conducted in real dental offices in West OKC/Yukon, Purcell, and Guthrie!
Aiming to improve many lives throughout Oklahoma, not just in the dental field, it was founded in 2012. Over 600 students have graduated from this program, with a 92% job offer rate. We firmly believe that this success is attributable to the fact that we begin on-the-job training the first week of class and limit class sizes between 10 to 12 students.
Tuition is $3997; however, if paid in full before the first day of class, it is only $3697.
How Much Do Dental Hygienists Make in Oklahoma?
Dental hygiene salaries are among some of the highest in the healthcare industry. The amount of money a Dental Hygienist in Oklahoma makes depends on many factors; work schedule, full-time or part-time work, and the organization etc.
However, on average, the annual salary for dental hygienists in Oklahoma is $59,570 per year and $40.20 per hour.
There are currently more than 2,000 people employed as dental hygienists in Oklahoma.
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How Do I Become a Dental Hygienist in Oklahoma?
Dental hygienists collaborate closely with other dental professionals to help patients care for and maintain their oral health. Reviewing the duties and requirements of dental hygienists can be useful if you’re interested in the field to see if it’s the ideal career choice for you.
Before working as a dental hygienist, you must complete a few educational prerequisites and obtain your certification. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all dental hygienists need to be licensed by the state of their employment.
The most typical steps you can take on your career path to become a dental hygienist are listed below:
- Obtain an associate’s degree
- Complete licensing requirements.
- Consider additional training.
- Update your resume.
- Your dental hygiene license needs to be renewed every 2 years.
- To be able to renew it, you need to attend several extra class hours on dental hygiene.
- You must also send proof of meeting these criteria to the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.
Best Paying Dental Hygiene Jobs in Oklahoma with Salary
Given the high salaries and job growth for the profession in Oklahoma, now is a fantastic time to pursue dental hygiene training.
Below are some Dental Hygiene Jobs and their salaries in Oklahoma:
Company name, location, position, and salary in that order.
DOCS HEALTH, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Dental Hygienist.
Salary $69.7k – $88.3k a year.
US VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dental Hygienist.
Salary $44.447k – $87,555k a year
VARIETY CARE, INC., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Dental Hygienist.
Salary $60.3k – $76.3k per year.
KAW NATION, Newkirk, Oklahoma.
Dental Hygienist.
Salary $54.5k – $68.9k a year.
ASPEN DENTAL, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dental Hygienist(flexible schedule)
Salary $38 – $45 per hour.
LAKECREST DENTAL, Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Dental Hygienist
Salary $42 – $44 per hour.
Frequently Ask Questions:
A dental hygienist’s minimum level of education is an associate’s degree. At the same time, bachelor’s and master’s degrees are also alternatives for those who want to go into the field.
The length of time it takes to complete your education depends on the degree you choose. Two to four years is the usual time frame.
Approximately two to four years are required before becoming a dental hygienist. You must hold a state-issued and American Dental Association-issued license to work as a dental hygienist.
The simple answer is no. You must obtain dental hygienist licensing through the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.
No! In America, dental hygienists appear to be popping up everywhere. The need for dental hygienists and their working circumstances aren’t uniform across the United States.
According to research, New Hampshire is the best state for dental hygienists in the nation.
Both dental hygienists and dental assistants work in dental offices under the direction of a dentist, but their responsibilities are different.
Dental assistants set up the dental office and equipment for dentists and hygienists.
Dental hygienists work more closely with patients and are capable of more complex techniques, like removing soft and hard deposits from teeth.
Conclusion
Becoming a dental hygienist means you’ll be able to utilize various technical and personal skills to improve the dental health of many people.