Dental hygienists are responsible for helping patients with their oral hygiene. They clean their patients' teeth and educate them about dental hygiene practices.
Due to the nature of their work, dental hygienists are required to have a degree and a license. Some colleges offer these programs partially online.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about online dental hygienist associate degree programs.
What to Know About Dental Hygienist Associate Degree Programs
A dental hygienist is a type of dental professional that works alongside and under the supervision of licensed dentists.
Dental hygienists provide preventative care for patients and look for signs of oral diseases like gingivitis. Their job duties typically include:
- assessing the oral health of their patients
- cleaning teeth by removing plaque, stains, and tartar
- consulting with the dentist
- documenting patient visits and treatment plans
- educating patients on oral hygiene and health
- taking and developing dental X-rays
Dental hygienists need to hold at least an associate degree in dental hygiene, although bachelor's degrees are available and may be required by some employers.
Dental hygiene degree programs train students for a successful career as dental hygienists. They also prepare students to pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) exam.
All states require that students pass this exam to earn their dental hygienist license. Dental hygienists must be licensed in order to practice.
Associate degree programs for dental hygiene are usually offered at community, technical, or career colleges, though some larger universities offer them as well.
Due to the nature of the work, dental hygienist degree programs require some amount of in-person clinical experience. In-person labs may also be required.
This clinical experience may be on-campus, at an affiliated dental center, or through a community outreach program.
Many programs offer courses online, but students are still required to perform their clinical in-person. However, some degree programs allow you to choose a placement near you.
Some programs may require you to be on-site for labs, while others offer virtual labs that you can complete online.
Top Online Dental Hygienist Associate Degree Programs
Below, we've listed some of the top dental hygienist associate degree programs that can be completed online with the exception of in-person clinicals.
Programs are listed alphabetically. All programs chosen are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
1. Pima Medical Institute
The Pima Medical Institute is a private for-profit medical career college headquartered in Albuquerque, NM, and with campuses throughout the western United States.
It offers a hybrid dental hygiene associate degree through its Albuquerque, Houston, and Seattle campuses. This program is only available to students in those states.
This program offers courses such as:
- Clinical Dental Hygiene
- Community and Dental Health Promotion
- Patient/Pain Management
- Treatment of Special Needs Patients
The program takes about 23 months to complete. While many components can be completed online, this program still requires some on-ground attendance at one of the above campuses.
2. Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College is a public community college in Texas. Its main campus is based in Waco, but its dental hygiene program is taught at the campus in Harlingen.
They offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in dental hygiene in a hybrid format, with online courses and in-person clinicals.
Courses offered include:
- Dental Hygiene Care
- Dental Materials
- General and Oral Pathology
- Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist
This degree plan requires 68 credits and takes 24 months to complete. Some prerequisite courses are required.
3. Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university in Ogden, UT, a city just north of Salt Lake City. It offers a hybrid Associate of Science in dental hygiene.
This program includes courses such as:
- Concepts of Community Dental Health
- Head/Neck and Dental Anatomy
- Oral Pathology
- Periodontology
Many of the courses in this program are offered in a hybrid or online format. Students typically finish in about two years.
Weber State also offers a bachelor's program for dental hygiene. Students who finish the associate program will be able to move smoothly into this program.
FAQs About Online Dental Hygienist Associate Degree Programs
Find the answers to frequently asked questions about online dental hygienist associate degree programs.
Can I Earn a Dental Hygienist Associate Degree Fully Online?
Due to the nature of the dental hygiene career, you cannot earn a degree fully online. However, you can find a program that lets you take online courses and do only clinicals on-site.
How Long Are Dental Hygienist Associate Degree Programs?
Dental hygiene programs at the associate level usually take two to three years to complete. The length of time depends on your chosen program and if you study full time or part time.
What Do I Need to Do to Earn a Dental Hygienist License?
License requirements vary by state, but nearly all states require that you graduate from a CODA-accredited program and pass the NBDHE.
Many states have additional requirements as well, such as a certain number of clinical practice hours or passing a background check.
Find an Online Dental Hygienist Associate Degree Program
There aren't many online dental hygienist associate degree programs in the U.S. Check out the ones above to get started today.