Dental Auxiliaries Education Department
Hope-Claire Holbeck, Chairperson
Location: L'Hommedieu Hall, Room 164
Telephone: (732) 906-2536
Fax: (732) 906-2633
Department Hours
Mon-Fri. 8:30 am - 4:30pm
The Profession of Dental Hygiene
Dental Hygienists are licensed professionals who provide oral health care to patients in dental offices, public health faciliities, long-term care facilities, and other settings. The services provided by dental hygienists include performing oral examinations, oral cancer screenings, scaling, root planning, polishing, exposure of oral radiographs of the teeth and related oral structures, application of topical fluoride and pit and fissure sealants, and providing patient education in the prevention of oral disease.
Dental hygienists incorporate education and prevention with provision of clinical services to ensure delivery of optimal oral care. Individuals interested in the profession should enjoy helping others, display manual dexterity and demonstrate above averge communication, interpersonal and decision-making skills.
Dental Hygiene Program
Middlesex County College offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene. The curriculum is rigorous and includes general education and science courses and dental hygiene courses. Students complete two years of academic study including clinical practice under the supervision of MCC faculty in the college's dental hygiene clinic and external clincal practice sites. General education and science courses may be completed prior to admission to the program or concurrently with the dental hygiene program courses.
During the final semester of the program, students are eligible to take the Dental Hygiene National Board and the North East Regional Board Examinations. Upon graduation and successsful completion of these board examinations, the graduate may apply for and take a state licensure examination.
To read more about the exciting career of Dental Hygiene and the MCC Dental Hygiene program visit Department Spotlight:Dental Hygiene.
