Ten students in dental scrubs form a standing semi-circle and watch closely as a seated instructor has her hands at the mouth of a person reclined in a dental chair.

Dental Hygiene Program

The Taft College Dental Hygiene Program has sought to inspire and teach dental hygiene care that is comprehensive in its technical excellence and in its orientation to an awareness of the total health needs of the individual patient.

The Taft College Dental Hygiene program gives students the knowledge, experience, and educational requirements necessary to take the state and national board examinations. As the world’s understanding of preventive and restorative oral health care grows, so does the need for oral health professionals. Taft College Dental Hygiene graduates are in demand.

The Dental Hygiene Program offers two degree tracks.

Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene.  The A.S. degree description includes your earnings potential.

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Administration.  See the B.S. degree description and more for this new degree program.

Accreditation

Taft College Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.  The next accreditation visit is Spring 2024.

Commission on Dental Accreditation:

http://https://coda.ada.org/en

To submit Third Party Comments related to the Standards for Dental Hygiene Education or a complaint, please see the Commission on Dental Accreditation Third Part Comment PDF:  third_party form (DOCX)

The program is approved by the Dental Hygiene Board of California: https://dhbc.ca.gov/

Faculty and Staff

Interim Director

Faculty

  • Christi Adriano, MEd, BS, RDH
  • Bette Aycock, BS, RDH
  • Diana Champion, BS, RDH
  • Yvonne Chairez, BA, RDH
  • Rebecca Dodson, MEd, BSDH, RDH
  • Eric Hershkowitz, DDS
  • Joseph Nunez, DDS
  • Kelly Ward, BSDH, RDH

Allied Health Program Assistant 

  • Makayla Perry, AA

DH Clinic Coordinator

  • Michele Matthews, AA