Career Colleges » Nebraska » Health, Medical, and Nursing » Dental Hygienist
Looking for accredited career colleges, technical schools, and universities in Nebraska offering Dental Hygienist degrees. Ready to enter the dental hygiene profession? Academic programs provided by community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools or universities
Nebraska, the Heart of America, is a classic Great Plains state, its rich soil supporting some of the nation's most productive agriculture. Students at Nebraska colleges will probably find themselves in one of the two major cities, Omaha and Lincoln. Both offer a reasonable variety of cultural and entertainment offerings, including plenty of country music. If your long-term career plans include working in the agricultural field or related industries, it is hard to do better than going to college in Nebraska, where you will probably find ample opportunities after college, and can make valuable connections while in college.Dental hygienists are oral health professionals who work under the supervision of licensed dentists. Along with teaching patients proper oral hygiene, they may conduct patient assessments, oral inspections and teeth cleanings. Hygienists often work in general and specialty dental clinics but may also find employment in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.
Dental hygienists receive their education through academic programs at community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools or universities. The majority of community college programs take at least two years to complete, with graduates receiving associate degrees. Upon completion of this degree, a hygienist will have to take the license examinations (national and state or regional), become licensed and to work in a dental office.
University-based dental hygiene programs may offer baccalaureate and master's degrees, which generally require at least two years of further schooling. These additional degrees may be required for a career in teaching and/or research, as well as for clinical practice in school or public health programs.
Dental hygiene program admission requirements vary depending upon the specific school. Additionally, these programs include courses in liberal arts (eg, English, speech, sociology and psychology); basic sciences (eg, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, immunology, chemistry, microbiology and pathology); and clinical sciences (eg, dental hygiene, radiology and dental materials). After completion of a dental hygiene program, dental hygienists can choose to pursue additional training in such areas as education, business administration, basic sciences, marketing and public health.