An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony was held in Palm Desert, CA, on November 28 to commemorate the launch of Loma Linda University School of Dentistry's new dental hygiene associate of science degree program.
Beginning with the fall quarter of 2011, the new program will matriculate 28 dental hygiene students annually, according to the university. Loma Linda University professors -- a teaching staff of seven, including a full-time dentist and board-certified hygienists -- will provide the dental hygiene science and clinical training for the program.
Coachella Valley students who master prerequisite courses on a full-time basis can prepare for the dental hygiene training in one year. The dental hygiene degree will require seven quarters over 21 months of full-time training. Students will be eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Board written examination after six quarters of dental hygiene training, and will be eligible to sit for the clinical state and/or regional licensing examinations at the conclusion of their dental hygiene training.
The total program will cost students approximately $52,000.
