Dental Hygiene

In collaboration with North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College offers the program requirements to prepare you for entry into the dental hygiene profession as licensed clinicians (Registered Dental Hygienists – RDH). Dental hygienists provide preventative, therapeutic, and restorative care to control oral disease and promote optimal oral health. The Dental Hygiene program includes instruction in dental anatomy, microbiology, and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counseling; and office management and professional standards. Clinical education experiences are integrated throughout the curriculum and offer you the opportunity to gain competency through practice. Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), and the regional and/or State Board of Dentistry in the states in which you wish to practice. Dental Hygiene is a competitive entry program. Students are admitted to the program every January of odd years. Pre-requisite courses are open to all students and must be completed prior to application. The program awards an AAS degree following 24 month of courses after acceptance into the Dental Hygiene program. As an applicant, you will be required to complete dental office clinical observation. Dental Assistant Certification or work experience will earn additional points on the program application.

NIC Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of initial accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: www.ada.org/en/coda.

Student dental hygienists under direct supervision by oral healthcare professionals provide quality, low-cost preventive care at our North Idaho College dental hygiene clinics in Coeur d‘Alene and Lewiston.