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Career Colleges    » New Mexico    » Health, Medical, and Nursing     » Dental Hygienist

New Mexico Dental Hygienist Degrees

Dental Hygienist Degrees: New Mexico Colleges

Looking for accredited career colleges, technical schools, and universities in New Mexico offering Dental Hygienist degrees. Ready to enter the dental hygiene profession? Academic programs provided by community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools or universities

Going to college in New Mexico means close proximity to the cities of Albuquerque and Taos, renowned for their lively arts scenes, authentic Southwestern cuisine, and close proximity to some of the most beautiful desert in America. New Mexico has an abundance of natural mineral deposits, including silver, gold and copper, providing rich natural materials for the jewelry arts of their Native American citizens. Whatever your interests, you may find college in New Mexico to be a great time filled with outdoor adventures in its deserts and rock formations, and enchanting nights in its friendly and exotic cities.

New Mexico Colleges: Dental Hygienist Degrees

Do I Want to Be a Dental Hygienist?

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.

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