Delta’s dental hygiene program incorporates hands-on clinical learning that immerses students in high-tech labs with the latest advances in dental technology. Our students leave the program well-prepared to enter the workforce as a licensed dental hygienist.

“Our goal when a student walks across that stage at graduation, is that they are confident to not only pass all their board exams to be a licensed dental hygienist,” says Dani Linton, assistant professor. “But also, to step into that first day of work feeling confident.”

What do dental hygienists do?

As a registered dental hygienist, you’ll conduct patient exams for oral diseases and provide preventative care. Responsibilities vary from state to state, but some treatments and services provided by dental hygienists include local anesthesia and nitrous oxide to patients 18 years of age and older, scaling and root debridement, expose dental radiographs and educating patients about their oral health with instructions for self-care and nutritional counseling.

“At Delta, the technology is very up to date,” says Lily Nader, dental hygiene student. “We have GBT, which is guided biofilm therapy. We’re the only school in the region that has it. Our instructors are the only ones that are certified in it. One of the cool things with that is it’s minimally invasive, and some patients like it more because it uses water and a very fine powder, so you don’t have the scraping.”

How much do dental hygienists make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental hygiene is a growing field with a projected growth rate of 7% through 2032. Dental hygienists are well-compensated with an average annual salary of $76,800 in the state of Michigan.

Why choose Delta?

Delta’s dental hygiene program was established in 1975 and is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). It quickly became the leading dental hygiene program in the region boasting a flawless 100% licensure exam pass rate and a 100% employment rate upon program completion.

Delta’s classes are led by instructors who have worked or currently work in the field, sharing invaluable experience with their students. The classes consist of classroom and lab learning followed by hands-on practice with real patients in Delta’s on-site Dental Clinic.

“Our lab is so high-tech, and Delta has invested so much into this program,” says Ericha Diegel, assistant professor. “When we get feedback from dentists in the community, oftentimes they are looking for graduates from Delta College.”

Learn more

Watch the dental hygiene program video featuring current students and instructors in Delta’s program or visit Delta’s dental hygiene webpage for more information.