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About Program

Dental Hygiene Program 


The Dental Hygiene Program prepares students for the practice of dental hygiene. A Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) is a licensed professional who is part of the dental care team, performing such services as oral examination, oral prophylaxis (scaling, root planing, soft tissue curettage and polishing the teeth), exposing and processing dental x-rays, administering local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation for pain control, applying preventative substances such as topical fluorides and dental sealants, along with instructing patients in oral disease control and nutrition.

This Dental Hygiene, Associate of Science Degree Program offers academic and clinical skills curriculum within an on-campus clinic. 

Students are prepared for the National Board written examination and a regional clinical examination for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist.

OCDHP is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) which is a subcommittee of the American Dental Association (ADA)

Dental hygiene is a high-demand health career, with rapid growth expected in the industry.  The most recent data reported in 2022 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the median annual salary for dental hygienists in the U.S. is $84,860; however, the median annual salary for California is reported at $111,580. The demand for dental hygienists in Ventura County is indicative of the bright outlook forecast, with the median annual salary for Ventura County reported at $102,840. 

Data reported from O*Net Online

Notice:  Entering into a health care field can subject you to bloodborne pathogens.  For more information, please download the following documents:

Dental Hygiene Workshops

Our General Counseling team offers the following:

  • Dental Hygiene General Info Sessions - designed for students inquiring about the program. This workshop provides an overview of the program and is a good resource for anyone starting their prerequisites or close to completing coursework and interested in applying for the upcoming Fall cohort.
  • Dental Hygiene Application Clinic Workshops - formatted for students who have completed their prerequisites and will be applying for the upcoming Fall cohort. This workshop discusses the application process and provides an opportunity for Q&A.

Dental Hygiene - Program Information

 To view our Dental Hygiene General Information sheet or Dental Hygiene Brochure, please click on the documents below:

ADA.org website
American Dental Association
ADA exists to power the profession of dentistry - click link to learn more.
Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations website
National Board Dental Exams
JCNDE is responsible for the development and administration of the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE). Click link to learn more.
image of dental hygiene student assisting patient seated in chair
Dental Hygiene Program Digital Binder
The Dental Hygiene Program trains students to become Registered Dental Hygienists - click the link to learn more.

Faculty and Staff

Program Coordinator: Susan McDonald, M.Ed., BSDH, RDH

Counselors