Program Overview

Dental Hygiene Program

The Dental Hygiene program at Lake Land College is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to care for patients' teeth and overall oral health. The program emphasizes patient education, prevention of oral diseases, and dental hygiene treatment.

Program Description

The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of approval without reporting requirements. Students in the program will have access to a fully equipped clinic, where they can gain hands-on experience by working on classmates, friends, family, and the public.

Program Options

Students may apply to take the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) clinical examination and National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) for Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) in their final spring semester. Upon successful completion of these exams, students may apply for the RDH license. Students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree upon completion of the program.

Admission Criteria

The Application Process is open from August 1 March 1. Applicants will be informed mid-April on the status of their candidacy.

Program Costs

In addition to tuition, lab fees, and service fees, students are expected to buy their uniform (approximately $200), dental hygiene kits and magnification loupes (approximately $3,400), and pay for other incidental expenses. Special books and miscellaneous items average about $300 per semester. Combined cost is approximately $4,000 per semester.

Faculty

The faculty at Lake Land College all have unique aspects about themselves that they bring to the classroom. Each Faculty member plays an integral role in the students' lives. The faculty includes:

• Elizabeth Hartrich Dental Hygiene Instructor and Director of Dental Hygiene Program
• Kara Molzen - Dental Hygiene Instructor
• Lacy Huddleston - Dental Hygiene Instructor
• Logan Smith - Dental Hygiene Instructor

Passage Rates

The program has a high passage rate for the CRDTS Dental Hygiene Clinical Manikin Examination and the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. The passage rates for the past few years are:

• 2025: 100% (CRDTS), 90% (NBDHE)
• 2024: 100% (CRDTS), 100% (NBDHE)
• 2023: 100% (CRDTS), 100% (NBDHE)
• 2021: 100% (CRDTS), 91% (NBDHE)
• 2020: 100% (CRDTS), 88% (NBDHE)
• 2019: 100% (CRDTS), 92.3% (NBDHE)
• 2018: 100% (CRDTS), 95.2% (NBDHE)
• 2017: 96% (CRDTS), 95.8% (NBDHE)

Hands-On Experience

As a student in the hygiene dental program, students will have access to a fully equipped clinic, where they can gain hands-on experience by working on classmates, friends, family, and the public.

Special Admission/Checklist

The Application Process is open from August 1 March 1. Applicants will be informed mid-April on the status of their candidacy. A checklist is available to help students with the application process.