Dental Hygiene
Building healthier communities, one smile at a time.
Southeast Community College is developing a Dental Hygiene program with a tentative start date of Spring 2027. Our Dental Hygiene program will prepare you to become a licensed dental hygienist who plays an integral role in helping individuals achieve optimal oral health. Through a comprehensive blend of classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical experiences, we will teach you how to provide therapeutic, educational, and clinical care for prevention and intervention of oral diseases. In addition, you will learn how to work in collaboration with other dental professionals to deliver integrated care. You will be eligible to take credentialing examinations to become a Registered Dental Hygienist (R.D.H.) and become licensed after you graduate in order to be ready to deliver patient-centered care across a variety of healthcare settings.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Develop Clinical Expertise
You will demonstrate the clinical skills and judgement necessary to provide preventive oral health care and determine periodontal care for patients including medically compromised and diverse populations.
Provide Education on Preventive Oral Health
You will instruct patients on proper brushing/flossing techniques, providing nutritional counseling, and promoting smoking cessation.
Preventive and Therapeutic Care
You will clean teeth (prophylaxis), remove calculus (scaling) above and below the gumline, and apply preventative materials like sealants and fluoride.
WHY SCC?
High Demand Career
With the need for skilled hygienists outweighing the number of graduates in Nebraska by a factor of nearly 5 to 1, job opportunities will be available as this program helps meet the workforce demand in Nebraska.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
The dental lab in the Health Sciences building will provide modern, professionally equipped learning environments mirroring real-world dental practice settings. This provides the perfect balance of classroom theory with practical application, preparing students for immediate success in the workforce.
Flexible Learning Options
This two-year program will offer courses in hybrid, online, and face-to-face options combined with hands-on laboratory and clinical experiences making it a flexible option to meet your needs.
Extensive Clinical Experiences
Benefit from strong community partnerships and excellent clinical sites throughout SCC’s 15-county region. This will allow you to apply your classroom theory in a real-world dental practice.
CAREER OUTCOMES
Private Dental Practices
Provide preventive care and patient education in general and specialty dental offices.
Community Health Settings
Serve underserved populations in community clinics, public health departments, and mobile dental units.
Corporate and Educational Roles
Pursue opportunities in dental product sales, research, university dental clinics, and school-based oral health programs.