We have made a research to identify the best dental hygienist schools in Arizona including colleges and universities and the programs they offer in dental health.
Choosing a specific career to study at the tertiary level with better prospects of getting a lucrative job is the goal of every student and aspirant. However, every individual has a preference when it comes to selecting a course of study.
The truth is, those that graduated in Engineering and Medical field are likely to gain employment a bit quicker than others. On the aspect of Medical related careers, dental hygiene is a promising career with better growth prospects.
If you are an international student with an aspiration of building a career in oral health, the dental hygienist schools in Arizona offer a variety of dental hygiene programs you can choose from. The coursework in each program is designed to give you top-notch experience, training, and best practices in dental care.
In this article, we have also explained the requirements to obtain a license as a registered dental hygienist in Arizona.
Who is A Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist is a licensed health professional with expertise in preventive oral health. Dental hygienists specialize strictly on dental health. The preventive oral care they provide to patients includes applying fluoride and sealants, therapeutic services, treatment of oral diseases and so much more.
Dental hygienists are essential to the health system, regarding the preventive care they offer in the system.
What Is The Job of a Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist provides preventive oral care to patients. From educating patients on practising the best oral hygiene to applying fluoride and sealants, the job of a dental hygienist is more just to mention a few.
As health professionals with licenses, dental hygienists can administer anaesthetic and apply periodontal dressings during dental surgery. Dental hygienists can function alone if they choose to or they can also work with dentists. There are certain regulations in each state of the U.S regarding the medical services a dental hygienist can offer.
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Why Should I Become a Dental Hygienist in Arizona?
There are benefits to becoming a dental hygienist in Arizona based on job opportunities and average income.
Going by the records of the Arizona Department of Administration, Office of Employment and Population Statistics, over 3,630 dental hygienists are currently employed in the state. Job prospects are promising and employment growth is estimated to be at 16% in ten years to 2020.
License Requirements to Become a Registered Dental Hygienist in Arizona
For licensure to operate as a dental hygienist in Arizona, you must,
- Be a graduate of a dental hygiene school accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation(CODA)
- Sit and pass the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination (NDHBE), or a clinical examination such as Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) and state Jurisprudence Exam.
In the state of Arizona, dental hygienists are allowed to perform prophylaxis, root planning, administering local anesthetics and nitrous oxide, scaling, closed subgingival curettage, and inspecting the oral cavity and surrounding structures for gathering clinical data for easy diagnosis.
Dental hygienists in Arizona can also perform periodontal screening, expose and process dental radiographs, and compile case histories.
However, the state of Arizona has a different certification requirement for local anesthesia and oxide analgesia.
Salaries of Dental Hygienists in Arizona by Area
Arguably, dental hygienists in the U.S earn a substantial amount as their average salary.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020, dental hygienists in Arizona earn an average annual salary of $84,930 and $40.83 per hour. The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottdale area has more dental hygienist jobs in Arizona.
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 220 | $34.18 | $71,090 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 150 | $29.02 | $60,350 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 50 | $27.77 | $57,760 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 130 | $33.18 | $69,010 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 470 | $31.24 | $64,980 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 730 | $28.44 | $59,150 |
| Pine Bluff, AR | ** | $26.48 | $55,080 |
10 Best Dental Hygienist Schools in Arizona
Here are the best dental hygienist schools in Arizona with the dental hygiene programs they offer.
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1. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- In-State Tuition: $11,896
- Out of State Tuition: $26,642
- Accreditation: CODA
- School Address: 1900 S KNOLES DR, BABBITT ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER, ROOM 200 FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86011
School Address: Northern Arizona University is a public research institution located in Flagstaff Arizona. The University was established in 1899 which makes it one of the oldest universities in Arizona. Currently, there are over 25,000 undergraduates enrolled at Northern Arizona University and over 5,900 Bachelor’s degree candidates .
Northern Arizona University is divided into eight colleges that offer 130 undergraduate degrees, 100 graduate and other academic certificates.
The University is ranked 1st in Best Dental Hygiene College & Universities in Arizona.
As one of the best dental hygienist universities in Arizona, the institution also offers the best dental hygiene program in the state. The dental hygiene program offered at Northern Arizona University is a Bachelor of Science degree that can be completed in two years.
Northern Arizona University offers the only dental hygiene program in Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene.
To earn this degree, you must complete a minimum of 55 credit hours of pre-requisite coursework in the program.
If you are interested in attending Northern Arizona University, you can find out more about its dental hygiene programs via the link below.
2. Phoenix College, Phoenix
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- In-State Tuition: $2,079
- Out of State Tuition: $7,854
- No Application Fee
- Accreditation: CODA
- Student Faculty: 19:1
- School Address: 1202 W THOMAS RD PHOENIX, AZ 85013
Phoenix College is a small-sized public institution that was established in 1920 and is one of the oldest community colleges in the United State. Located in Phoenix, Arizona. The Hispanic serving institution has an enrollment of 2,224 undergraduate students and 10,959 in total.
Among the best dental hygienist schools in Arizona, Phoenix College is ranked 2nd in Best Dental Hygienist Colleges & Universities in Arizona.
Phoenix College offers an Associate in Applied Science as its dental hygiene program. The program is designed to give an exceptional experience in dental health. Once you graduate from this program, Phoenix College will award you with an Associate in Applied Science degree in dental hygiene.
For more information on dental hygiene programs offered at Phoenix College including the deadline for application, visit the college’s official website.
3. Mesa Community College, Mesa
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- In-State Tuition: %2,070
- Out of State Tuition: $7,854
- No Application Fee
- Accreditation: CODA
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 22:1
- School Address: 1833 W SOUTHERN AVE MESA, AZ 85202
Mesa Community College is a small-sized public institution that was established in 1965 and is located in Mesa, Arizona. As one of the dental hygienist schools in Arizona, Mesa Community College is the largest out of ten community colleges in Maricopa County Community College District and it is also the largest community college district in the U.S by enrollment.
Students at Mesa Community College can earn degrees and certificates in about twenty-six different fields. The popular programs at the college include Liberal Arts and Science, Health Professions and Related Programs, General Studies and Humanities, and Physical Sciences. Under Health Professions and Related Programs are Dental Hygiene/ Hygienist and Dental Support and Allied Professions.
Mesa Community College offers a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited Associate in Applied Science degree in dental hygiene. Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to take the written and clinical exams needed for licensure in most states.
More information about the dental hygiene program offered at Mesa Community College is on the school’s official website
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4. Pima Community College, Tucson
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- In-State Tuition: $2,142
- Out of State Tuition: $7,458
- No Application Fee
- Accreditation: CODA
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 19:1
- School Address: 4905C EAST BROADWAY BLVD. TUCSON, AZ 85709
Pima Community College is a public institution that serves the Tucson metropolitan area with a community college district made up of five campuses. The college was established in 1969 and it runs a semester-based academic year with over 19,000 students in total enrollment.
Being one of the dental hygienist schools in Arizona, the highest degree offered at Pima Community College is an associate degree. Pima Community College is ranked 4th in Best Dental Hygienist Colleges & Universities in Arizona.
The dental hygiene program offered at Pima Community College is a two-year Associate in Science degree. The program coursework includes courses in dental radiology, pain control, periodontology, oral morphology, and clinical dental hygiene.
To get more specific details on this dental hygiene program offered at Pima Community College and the application deadline, you can visit the college website via the link.
5. Rio Salado College, Tempe
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- In-State Tuition: $2,070
- Out of State Tuition: $7,854
- No Application Fee
- Accreditation: CODA
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 31:1
- School Address: 2323 W 14TH ST TEMPE, AZ 85281
Rio Salado College is a public community institution situated in Tempe, Arizona. Established in 1978, the college is part of the Maricopa County Community College District. Among dental hygienist colleges ad universities in Arizona, Rio Salado is ranked 6th in Best Dental Hygienist College & Universities in Arizona.
The college offers an Associate in Applied Science in dental hygiene degree which is the highest degree they offer. The coursework in this program is designed to give you a state-of-the-art experience in dental health. Additionally, the dental hygiene program offered at Rio Salado College is only available to students in Arizona.
If you are interested to know more about the program, visit the college’s official website via the link below.
6. Mohave Community College, Kingman
- Acceptance Rate: 109&
- In-State Tuition: $2,112
- Out of State Tuition: $6,972
- No Application Fee
- Accreditation: CODA
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 13:1
- School Address: 1971 JAGERSON AVE KINGMAN, AZ 86409
Mohave Community College is one of the small-sized dental hygienist schools in Arizona. A public community college situated in Kingman, Arizona, and established in 1970. Mohave Community College also has other campuses in Mohave County in areas such as Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Colorado City.
The dental hygiene program offered at Mohave Community College is an Associate in Applied Science degree. The pre-requisite includes every general education coursework to be completed with a GPA of 2.8 or more and a minimum grade of a “C”.
To earn this degree, you must complete credits in courses such as dentistry, dental X-ray, infection monitoring, clinical procedure, dental specialty knowledge, dental management, and dental material.
If you are interested in this program, you can visit the school’s official website via the link below.
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7. Carrington College, Mesa
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- No Application Fee
- Accreditation: CODA
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 26:1
- School Address: 1001 WEST SOUTHERN AVENUE MESA, AZ 85210
Carrington College is one of the smallest dental hygienist schools in Arizona with an enrollment of 590 undergraduate students. Carrington College is located in Mesa, Arizona and it’s ranked 7th in Best Dental Hygiene Colleges & Universities in Arizona.
The degree offered at Carrington College is an Associate of Science degree in dental hygiene. This two-year Associate of Science degree in dental hygiene will give you all the skills and experiences you need for a promising career in dental health.
More details about this dental hygiene program and when the application ends, are on the official website of the college.
8. Fortis College, Phoenix
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 8:1
- School Address: 555 N 18 St Ste 110, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, Maricopa County
Fortis College is a private for-profit college located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Among dental hygienist colleges and universities, Fortis College is ranked 8th in Best Dental Hygiene Colleges & Universities in Arizona.
Fortis College offers a two-year Associate degree in dental hygiene. If you want to build a career in dentistry in the state of Arizona, this dental hygiene program will give you the best clinical training and knowledge.
For more information on this program and when the application ends, visit the school’s official website.
9. Brookline College, Phoenix
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- No Application Fee
- School Address: 2445 W. DUNLAP AVE., STE. 100 PHOENIX, AZ 85021
Brookline College is a small-sized private for-profit institution situated in Phoenix, Arizona. As one of the dental hygienist schools in Arizona, Brookline College offers a 10-month dental assisting program.
The program coursework includes courses in dental specialities, preventive dentistry, anatomy, and dental radiography.
Get more information about this 10-month dental assisting program on the college’s website.
10. The Midwestern University, College of Dental Medicine, Glendale
- Acceptance Rate: Not Available
- School Address: 19555 N 59th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85308
Midwestern University is among the best dental hygienist schools in Arizona, with an exquisite learning atmosphere for students.
At Midwestern University you have a better of building the best career in dentistry. The program offered at this institution is a four-year Doctoral degree in dentistry.
Get more information about this program on the university’s website.
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Conclusion
The dental hygienist schools in Arizona offer a variety of dental hygiene programs and you can also opt for a Bachelor’s of Science at Northern Arizona University.
A career in dental health has a better job prospects in the future.
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References
- Niche.com: Best Colleges with Dental Hygiene Degrees in Arizona
- Dental Assistant Edu: Becoming a Dental Hygienist in Arizona
- DentalSchoolRankings.com: 7 Best Dental Hygiene Schools in Arizona