Dental hygiene schools in Minnesota differ in quality and standard of education offered. If you’re particular about attending only the best dental hygiene schools in Minnesota, then this article is all you need.
The City of Minnesota has produced talented dental hygienists who are excelling in their fields all over the world. This demonstrates the effectiveness of dental hygiene programs in this region.
Collaborative Dental Hygiene Practice came into existence in Minnesota in 2017, bringing dental hygienists one step closer to independent practice. As long as they have a signed agreement with a good dentist, dental hygienists who meet the experience mark for this direct access model receive access to treat patients without direct supervision.
Dental hygiene is a profession you should look into if you have interest in offering preventative dental care that can enhance the quality of life. We’ve been able to rank the best dental hygiene programs in Minnesota to make it easier for you to find the education that will suit your needs.
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Are there Dental Hygiene Schools in Minnesota?
Minnesota has few dental hygiene schools offering programs in dental hygiene. Applicants might take interest in taking a bachelor’s, associate’s, or master’s degree in dental hygiene. Here are some of the dental hygiene schools in Minnesota:
- Herzing University-Minneapolis
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Lake Superior College
- Century College
- Metropolitan State University
- Rochester Community and Technical College
- Normandale Community College
- St Cloud Technical and Community College
- Dakota County Technical College
- Hibbing Community College
- Hennepin Technical College
- Central Lakes College
- Northwest Technical College
How Much Does Dental Hygiene Schools Cost in Minnesota?
For a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, Minnesota residents who enrol in a four-year program at a public university can expect to pay $18,500, whereas those who attend a private college or university could pay up to $81,130. Dental hygiene master’s degree programs last one to two years and range in price from $24,120 to $74,480.
Whether you attend a community college or a tech school, an associate degree will prepare you for entry-level work and take 20 to 30 months to complete. The cost of an associate degree can range from $3,990 to $44,360.
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What are the Requirements for Dental Hygiene Schools in Minnesota?
There are certain requirements for dental hygiene schools in Minnesota. These requirements are based on standards placed by the school for applicants about to enter the dental hygiene program.
These requirements are:
- Personal Statement
- Medical Report
- Letters of recommendation
- Minimum GPA of 3.5
- Complete an enrollment application
- High school transcripts
- Interview
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What are the Best Dental Hygiene Schools in Minnesota?
1. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public land-grant research university located in the Minnesota Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
The Program in Dental Hygiene at the University of Minnesota came into existence in 1919, is the only dental hygiene program in Minnesota that awards a Bachelor of Science degree, and relates with a school of dentistry. The curriculum combines the liberal arts, biological, behavioural, and social sciences with a strong clinical dental hygiene education.
2. Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota’s Minnesota State Institution—also referred to as Minnesota State—is a public university. The Mankato Normal School began in 1858 as the Second State Normal School in Mankato in 1866 and was formally inaugurated in 1868.
Minnesota’s few dental hygiene programs offer a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. This is the second of two courses that examine the basic components, functions, and applications of the supplies utilized in contemporary dentistry offices.
A dental hygiene bachelor’s degree will increase your future employment options.
3. Herzing University-Minneapolis
In the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is the excellent private university Herzing – Minneapolis.
Students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree have the right information and abilities necessary to offer patient care while working under the direction of a qualified dentist.
Students who successfully complete this baccalaureate program will be able to impart components of inter-professional, culturally competent health care to individuals and groups from various communities.
4. Minnesota State Community and Technical College
A public community and technical college with several campuses in Minnesota- Minnesota State Community and Technical College.
The system of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities includes the college.
The Dental Hygiene program further gives students the knowledge and abilities to work as dental team members to diagnose, prevent, and treat oral problems. The program’s graduates have the knowledge and abilities to offer cutting-edge, comprehensive dental hygiene services, and they may be able to find work in a range of institutions, including private dental offices, educational institutions, medical facilities, and public health clinics.
Several transfer possibilities are also available for students who want to pursue a graduate degree in dental hygiene or a similar subject at four-year schools and universities.
5. Lake Superior College
There is a public community college in Duluth, Minnesota- Lake Superior College. The college provides more than 90 certificate, diploma, and degree programs in career and technical sectors and pre-baccalaureate majors for students interested in transferring to 4-year universities.
LSC dental hygiene students also offer services like cleanings, x-rays, and fluoride treatments as part of their academic learning curriculum. Further treatment choices include whitening, mouth guards, and sealants. Professors of dental hygiene are in charge of them.
6. St Cloud Technical and Community College
The St. Cloud Technical and Community College is a public community college in St. Cloud, Minnesota. St. Cloud Technical College, originally St. Cloud Vocational Technical College, began in 1948 and is a component of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
Additionally, Students who get a dental hygiene degree from SCTCC become primary healthcare practitioners. Students who also pass the National Dental Hygiene Board and Central Regional Board exams after learning skills in the classroom get a license to practice in the state of their choice.
Dentists at SCTCC can potentially work in dentistry research as well as sales and marketing for dental practices. Graduates have a variety of employment alternatives, ensuring that every student chooses the right one.
7. Normandale Community College
There is a public community college in Bloomington, Minnesota- Normandale Community College. The majority of the institution serves communities are in the southwest corner of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area.
The health sciences branch at Normandale Community College also provides a two-year Associate of Science (A.S.) program in Dental Hygiene. Each fall semester, the Dental Hygiene coursework starts and lasts for four semesters. Graduates will be qualified to sit for the Central Regional Clinical Licensure Examination and the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination.
Students will also be eligible to take the Minnesota State Board of Dentistry Jurisprudence Examination for Dental Hygiene licensure in the state of Minnesota after successfully passing the National Board Exam and the Central Regional Clinical Licensure Exam.
8. Metropolitan State University
In the metropolis of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, Metropolitan State University is a public university. It belongs to the system of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
Dental hygienists can also get a four-year degree with an associate degree from authorized colleges by enrolling in the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) program. Every educational program in the Dental Hygiene Department takes root in academic achievement and the principles of civic engagement, moral behaviour, and social responsibility.
Dental hygienists have new and relevant job prospects after earning a baccalaureate degree as oral healthcare specialists.
9. Rochester Community and Technical College
Rochester, Minnesota, has a public community college- Rochester Community and Technical College. Each year, it serves more than 8,000 pupils.
The Dental Hygiene program at RCTC is intended to give qualified people the academic and clinical learning opportunities they need to develop the knowledge, abilities, and attitudes required for the professional practice of dental hygiene. The three licensing tests, which are necessary in each of the 50 states to practice dental hygiene, are open to graduates.
10. Century College
The Dental Hygiene Program offers the education and training required to become a dental hygienist and work in the field. Direct patient care, assessment, dental hygiene planning, scaling, root planing, radiographs, preventive measures, sealants, administration of local anaesthetics, nitrous oxide sedation, and specially designed oral health education for both individuals and groups are among the skills that are included. The curriculum gets students ready for both written and practical licensure exams. For the Dental Hygiene program, two consecutive academic years and one summer are required.
11. Northwest Technical College
In Bemidji, Minnesota, there is a public technical institution called Northwest Technical College. It belongs to the system of state colleges and universities in Minnesota. Bemidji Area Vocational Technical Institute was established in 1965.
Students majoring in dental assisting acquire the technical know-how and physical skills required to work as chair-side clinicians in the dentistry industry, assisting with a range of clinical duties, laboratory duties, and office duties.
12. Central Lakes College
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System’s Central Lakes Institution is a two-year community and technical college with campuses in Brainerd and Staples.
In addition to teaching patients preventive dental care, students will learn how to treat and prevent dental disease. The fall and spring semesters are spent on campus, and the nine-week summer session is used to complete two internships at dental offices of your choosing. Students who complete this study are prepared to sit for the national and state written licensing exams, which are necessary for dental assistant certification and licensure in the state of Minnesota.
13. Hennepin Technical College
A public vocational college in the Minneapolis suburbs of Minnesota, Hennepin Technical College has two campuses. Students who enroll in the Dental Assistant program acquire the information and abilities necessary to play a significant role on the professional health team in a dental office or clinic. They could also obtain an AAS degree or a dental assistant diploma.
Graduates of dental assistant programs can find work in various dental disciplines, including pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, periodontics, and more.
14. Hibbing Community College
Hibbing, Minnesota, has a community college called Hibbing Community College. In May 2022, it joined with several nearby universities to form Minnesota North College. Under the guidance of teachers, dental program students treat patients with a range of oral health concerns.
The Hibbing Community College Dental Assistant Program is intended to train students for careers as professionals in the field of dental assisting in private or public healthcare facilities. The program highlights the CODA’s stringent standards for accreditation of Dental Assistant Schools.
The education and curriculum will place a strong emphasis on the necessary subjects and impart the skills and information required to start a career in dental assisting.
15. Dakota County Technical College
The Dakota County Vocational Institution in Rosemount, Minnesota is a public, two-year technical college. Students who complete this program are prepared to work in dentistry as Certified Dental Assistants or Licensed Dental Assistants.
The Minnesota State Board of Dentistry has given students the authority to do additional duties. They are taught how to expose and process dental x-ray pictures and several chairside abilities. Students also learn about oral disease management and prevention strategies. The Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and Licensed Dental Assistant (LDA) certification tests must normally be passed to work in this area.
How Much Do Dental Hygienists Make in Minnesota?
The state with the highest salary for dental assistants is Minnesota. In the state, the average yearly wage is $53,670, while the typical hourly wage is $25.80. The second-highest metropolitan area in terms of dental assistant compensation is in Minnesota. The average yearly wage for residents of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington region is $56,240.
The pay, however, may vary based on the business or organization a dental hygienist gets the chance to work for. Hygienists’ additional benefits from their pay depend greatly on their employment. The majority of dental hygienists choose to work 20 hours a week or less. Normally, part-time workers are not eligible for benefits.
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How Do I Become a Dental Hygienist in Minnesota?
Without following the appropriate steps, you will not be licensed and registered as a dental hygienist and as a result, you can’t practice. These are the steps you must take to become a dental hygienist in Minnesota:
- Graduate from a dental assistant program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
- You will need to pass the DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam.
- Pass the Minnesota Dental Assistant State Licensing Exam.
- Pass the state jurisprudence exam.
- Apply to the Board for a license.
- You also must maintain a current CPR certification.
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Conclusion
Getting admitted into the best dental hygiene school in Minnesota is one step to taking your career to the next level. The journey toward practising as a dental hygienist would be long and very tiring, but with the right guide, you will find it easy to move forward.
Many dental hygienists who are pursuing their careers on their own were able to receive training from Minnesota dental hygiene schools. If you choose to enrol in any of the schools listed here, you would make the perfect choice for your career.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In Minnesota, you must first obtain a license in order to operate as a dental hygienist. Depending on whether you have a hygienist license from another state, the criteria are fairly varied. Typically, you need to have strong moral character, have finished a recognized post-secondary school, and pass national and state tests.
In Minnesota, 2-year or 4-year public colleges provide associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs that prepare students to work as dental hygienists. Earning an associate’s degree is expected to take at least two years. A bachelor’s degree normally requires four years of study, but if you already hold an associate’s or certificate in the subject, you might be able to finish it in two.
When you enrol in a dental hygiene program in Minnesota, you will first spend a few semesters building a solid foundation in the basic sciences by completing chemistry, biology, pathology, anatomy, and physiology classes.
You will get the chance to put the skills you have learned to work on actual patients during the last months of your training when you complete clinical rotations.
Dental hygienists in Minnesota are required by state law to work under the direction of a qualified dentist if a collaboration agreement does not protect them.
Most dental hygienists in Minnesota are connected to a dental office in some form.
Other hygienists are employed by nonprofit organizations or by the federal, state, and local governments at community health clinics.
References
- nursingprocess.org – Best Dental Hygiene Schools in Minnesota – 2022
- niche.com – 2023 Best Colleges with Dental Hygiene Degrees in Minnesota