Dental Hygiene
Dental hygienists play an important role in promoting health by helping patients understand the connection between good oral health and an overall healthy body. Dental hygienists provide patient education and individualized therapeutic services to help patients reach their oral health goals. Our Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Program is offered only on the Sheridan College campus.
Sheridan College’s Dental Hygiene Degree is one of the leading programs in the Rocky Mountain Region since 1969. Our cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment provide students with the most current didactic and clinical experiences possible.
In March of 2021, the Perkins Health Science Center received a $12 million renovation project that refurbished 7,100 square feet of the current Dental Hygiene Program, which was originally constructed in 1958. The project included the Kim and Mary Kay Love Dental Hygiene Clinic, with 24 state-of-the-art dental hygiene operatories, instructor stations, a sterilization room, locker rooms, and administrative offices. Also included was the construction of the B.F. & Rose H. Perkins Health Science Center wing with dental hygiene and nursing classrooms, a dental materials lab, nursing simulation, and faculty offices.
The dental hygiene program accepts 24 students each year. As a student, you will develop strong friendships and learn to work well as a team. Our students enjoy this relationship with each other and with their patients. Our location at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains provides students with unmatched outdoor experiences.
Sheridan College has a cooperative agreement with the University of Wyoming (UW). This unique partnership gives you the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from UW while simultaneously earning an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from Sheridan College. The Bachelor of Science option offers increased career opportunities and can be completed during the program or at a later time. Many of our students are able to walk at graduation for both degrees in dental hygiene. Some students are eligible for a third degree at graduation, an AS in Health Science.
Many graduates join private dentistry practices, employed by a dentist providing dental hygiene care to patients. Many dental hygienists make a life-time career of this type of employment, while others can pursue research or education opportunities.
Why Sheridan College?
- With only 24 students accepted into the program each year, you will enjoy a low faculty-to-student ratio and individualized instruction.
- Our Dental Hygiene Degree Program partners with the University of Wyoming to give you the option of simultaneously completing a bachelor’s degree.
- Sheridan College offers rotations to several off-site clinics, as well as at the Kim and Mary Kay Love Dental Hygiene Clinic located on campus.
Available at Sheridan College.
Kim and Mary Kay Love Dental Hygiene Clinic
Schedule your appointment at our full-service clinic that is open to the public with services offered at a reduced cost.
Admission
Applicants to the dental hygiene program must be accepted to NWCCD and submit official transcripts (including High School or HSEC) to the Records office. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the dental hygiene program; application to the dental hygiene program is a separate process.
Prerequisites
Students applying to the dental hygiene program must complete all the prerequisite courses listed on the following page, by the end of the spring semester they apply to the program. A maximum of two prerequisite courses may be in progress in the spring semester that the student applies.
Prerequisites include:
- ENGL 1010: English Composition I – 3 credits
- ENGL 2030: Critical Reading and Writing (may substitute ENGL 2005 or approved AW 0000) – 3 credits
- MATH 1400: College Algebra (may substitute MATH 1000 Problem Solving 3 cr) (GenEd-BM) – 4 credits
- PSYC 1000: General Psychology (GenEd-CS) – 4 credits
- ANTH 1200: Cultural Anthropology (may substitute SOC 1000 Sociological Principles) – 3 credits
- COMM 2010: Public speaking (may substitute COMM 1030 Interpersonal Communications) – 3 credits
- FCSC 1141 Principles of Nutrition – 3 credits
- BIOL 1010: General Biology I – 4 credits
- CHEM 1000: Introductory Chemistry (may substitute CHEM 1020 Gen Chem I or CHEM 1030 Gen Chem II)(GenEd-Sci of choice) – 4 credits
- MOLB 2210* General Microbiology (may substitute MOLB 2240 Medical Microbiology) – 4 credits
- ZOO 2010* Human Anatomy and Physiology I – 4 credits
- ZOO 2020* Human Anatomy and Physiology II – 4 credits
*Courses must be 5 years current at the time of application
GPA
Prerequisite courses must be completed with a “C” or better and applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to apply for admission. Admission selection is based on cumulative GPA of the non-science prerequisite courses and cumulative GPA of the science prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the SPRING semester in which the student applies. No SUMMER course grades are accepted for the summer following the student’s application!
All applications, transcripts, and forms must be completed by February 15 to be considered for Fall Semester admittance to the dental hygiene program. All pre-req courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester that the student applies – we do not wait for SUMMER course grades!
Step 1. Apply to Sheridan College using the college application (if not a current Sheridan College student).
Step 2. Send official transcripts from your high school and all colleges you have attended to Sheridan College by the application deadline of February 15. Official transcripts can be requested and sent electronically through the National Student Clearinghouse at https://studentclearinghouse.org.
Step 3. Complete the dental hygiene program application form.
Step 4. Submit observation form or observation waiver form (found in the Information Packet) to the dental hygiene program by mail, fax, or email.
After February 15, the dental hygiene admissions committee meets to review applications. The top tier of applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. These interviews are conducted via Zoom or other such technology between February 15 and March 15. In late March, applicants are notified of their status.
| Sheridan College Dental Hygiene Program | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Program Completion (24 students accepted into each 2-year cohort) |
100% | 100% | 91.67% | 100% | 95.83% |
| Written Exam (NBDHE) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 95.65% |
| Clinical Exam (CRDTS/ADEX) | 100% | 100% | 95.45% | 100% | 100% |
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes are established expectations that identify exit-level occupational or discipline-specific skills and abilities which are assessed prior to earning a credential. The Sheridan College Dental Hygiene Program Outcomes are:
- Apply a professional code of ethics in all endeavors, assuming responsibility for professional actions.
- Promote positive values of overall health and wellness, in a culturally competent manner, to individuals, the public, and organizations within and outside the profession.
- Assess the oral health needs and services of community groups, determine action plans, and evaluate the outcomes of community-based programs.
- Provide individualized care utilizing the dental hygiene process of care model (assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, documentation) that includes the educational, preventive, and therapeutic services necessary to achieve and maintain oral health.
- Accept responsibility for continuous professional growth through self-assessment, pursuit of life-long learning, and service activities.
Industry Outlook
Demand is high for Dental Hygienists across the state and region. Ongoing research that connects oral health to general health will continue to increase the demand for preventative dental services, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field of Dental Hygienists will add 16,400 jobs each year with a median annual wage of $87,530.00 from 2022-2032.
Faculty and Community
The faculty in the Sheridan College Dental Hygiene program are dental hygienists who want to make a difference for students and the communities they serve. We are committed to providing you the best education possible and are dedicated to providing support for your success and the safety of the public.
The faculty strive to help you accomplish your academic goals in order to be prepared for clinical and national board exams. Sheridan College provides multiple opportunities and experiences to prepare you for the clinical world of dental hygiene after graduation.
Four of the six full-time faculty members are graduates of Sheridan College’s program. Five of the seven clinical adjunct instructors earned their credentials at Sheridan College.
Careers and Opportunities
Many dental hygienists work in clinical practices, including family general practices, pediatric practices, and periodontal offices. Other dental hygienists work in Public Dental Health Clinics, Indian Health Service (IHS) Clinics, and VA Dental Clinics while others pursue careers in education, research, legislation, and public advocacy. To help you prepare for your career in Dental Hygiene, Sheridan College offers numerous resources, including:
- On-Campus Dental Hygiene Clinic
- Expert Faculty
- Off-Site Clinical Experiences
- Dentistry Guidance and Oversight
- University of Wyoming Bachelor’s Degree Partnership
- Service-Learning Experiences
- Hands-On Training
- Industry-Leading Technology
