Start Your Career as a Dental Hygienist
As a dental hygienist, you’ll help patients maintain healthy teeth and gums through regular cleanings and preventative care. You’ll not only give people the confidence to smile every day, but you’ll also enjoy a rewarding career in a high-demand field.
In our two-year dental hygiene associate degree program, you’ll learn the techniques that protect patients against decay and disease.
Your training includes work in an actual dental clinic, where you’ll provide services to patients under the supervision of a licensed dentist and registered dental hygienist.
For a look at all the courses in our program, consult the course list.
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Hands-On Dental Hygiene Education with Transferrable Credits
Our Dental Hygiene program has received initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the credits you earn will transfer to a four-year college or university if you want to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
By the time you graduate, you’ll have all the skills you need for immediate employment as a registered dental hygienist, including:
- Anesthesia administration
- Assessing oral conditions
- Bleaching techniques
- Dental cleaning
- Non-surgical periodontal therapy
- Taking impressions for athletics and night guards
- X-ray procedures
- And more!
Train in a Working Dental Clinic
Much of your training will be conducted in Macomb’s Dental Hygiene Clinic.
You’ll be providing services to patients who benefit greatly from the affordable dental care and low-cost services our dental clinic provides.
And you’ll benefit from the most hands-on training available.
Ready to Start Cleaning?
Email dental@macomb.edu or call 586.445.7161 to learn more about the Dental Hygiene program at Macomb. Your smile awaits.
Dental Hygienists are in High Demand
There is a shortage of dental hygienists across the country and the skills you gain in this program will be highly valued by employers.
Learn more about job opportunities in the local area using the handy tool below.
If you haven’t been recruited by a dental practice before you graduate, our Career Services team can help you with the job search, including polishing up your resume and interview skills.
Additional Information
Select programs in Health and Human Services require specific criteria to gain admission, such as testing requirements or minimum grade point average in prerequisite courses. Please view the Selective Admissions program application packet for information on application requirements, ranking and deadlines.
For information on how to apply to a Selective Admissions program, please email us at selectiveadmissions@macomb.edu. Selective Admissions applicants are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor or counselor prior to submitting an application to the program. This meeting will allow for review of the application process, program prerequisites and requirements. Contact the Counseling and Academic Advising Office at 586.445.7999 for office hours.
Program Completion Rates:
2024 – 94%
2025 – 89%
National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Pass Rates:
2024 – 97.1%
2025 – 100%
The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (800) 232-6108 or at 401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3300, Chicago, IL 60611-4250. The Commission’s web address is: http://coda.ada.org/.
The goal of the Health and Public Services Division is to prepare every student to think critically and practice competently and compassionately in rapidly changing environments. All efforts are designed to build knowledge, enhance practical skills, and promote patient and the population’s safety. Furthermore, the program is designed to foster professional integrity and ultimately improve the health outcomes and protection of patients, families, and communities across the continuum of care and practice. Students must possess certain functional abilities, essential for the delivery of safe, effective clinical care and protection of the public during clinical and internship training activities in the field. Therefore, the faculty has determined that certain technical standards are required for admission to, progression in, and graduation from the Health and Public Services (HPS) programs.
In addition to classroom learning, clinical and internship learning occurs throughout the HPS programs and involves considerations (such as patient and population safety and clinical and internship facility safety) that are not present in classroom accommodations. Applicants or students interested in HPS programs who seek accommodations prior to or immediately after enrolling in the college are highly encouraged to also request an assessment of the types of reasonable accommodations needed for the clinical and or internship components of the program.
An individual must be able to independently, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet the following technical standards of general abilities: (1) observation;
(2) communication; (3) motor skills; (4) intellectual, conceptual, and quantitative abilities; (5) essential behavioral and social attributes; and (6) ability to manage stressful situations. Individuals unable to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation will not be able to complete the programs and are counseled to pursue alternative careers.
SPECIAL SERVICES STATEMENT: Students may individually discuss the essential functions and technical standards with a college counselor from our Special Services department. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American Disability Act of 1991, academic accommodations may be provided to students who have a documented disability.
For further information, visit Special Services.