Mohawk Valley Community College has announced the launch of a new Dental Hygiene Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree program, with enrollment open for the Spring 2027 semester.
The new program is in response to growing demand for dental hygienists. According to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, the U.S. faces a significant shortage of qualified dental hygienists. These professionals play a vital role in oral health care, providing preventive services, maintaining periodontal health, identifying treatment needs, and helping patients maintain healthy habits. As more dental hygienists retire in the coming years, workforce shortages are expected to persist.
Housed in the School of Health Sciences, MVCC’s two-year, competency-based Dental Hygiene program is designed to address this workforce need while providing students an affordable pathway into a rewarding career in healthcare. Based at the College’s Rome Campus, the program combines hands-on instruction with extensive clinical training in oral health. Students gain practical experience in a new, state-of-the-art dental hygiene clinic equipped with advanced software and digital imaging technology, preparing them to apply their skills in professional clinical settings.
“At MVCC, our mission is to provide educational opportunities that meet the needs of our students and our region, and the new Dental Hygiene program puts that mission into action,” said MVCC President Dr. Randall J. VanWagoner. “The program will prepare people for rewarding careers in a high-demand profession while helping address the shortage of qualified dental hygienists. It also represents an important commitment to the health and vitality of the Mohawk Valley. By aligning educational opportunities with workforce needs, we’re investing in our students’ futures and the well-being of the communities we serve. This is what MVCC does best: connecting education to opportunity and preparing students for successful careers close to home.”
Program highlights
- Career-focused curriculum: The two-year, competency-based program emphasizes critical thinking, problem solving, disease prevention, professionalism, and ethical judgment. Students develop the knowledge and skills needed to pursue professional credentials, and the program fulfills certification requirements for dental hygiene anesthesia.
- Experiential learning: Students receive extensive supervised clinical training at MVCC's Rome Campus in a modern dental hygiene clinic equipped with advanced software and digital imaging technology, allowing them to apply classroom learning in a professional setting.
- Career pathways: Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in dental offices, schools, community health centers, and other settings. Those interested in advancing their education may pursue a bachelor’s degree, opening additional opportunities in education, public health, research, and administration.
Dental Hygiene information sessions
Enrollment is now open for the Spring 2027 semester, which begins in January. The College is offering virtual information sessions for those interested in the new Dental Hygiene program. The sessions — which are open to new and current students, transfer students, and those previously enrolled at MVCC — will be held via Zoom at the times below. Register for a session.
- Monday, Nov. 16: Noon
- Tuesday, Dec. 1: 10 a.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 1: 1 p.m.