Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, offers a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene with a concentration in special population care. The program provides students with the necessary skills to work with geriatric and pediatric patients in the field of dental hygiene. Students enrolled in the program learn the fundamentals of dental hygiene along with an additional six credits in the area of concentration while obtaining practical experience in a variety of settings. The bachelor's degree is available on a full-time and part-time basis to freshmen students as well as licensed graduates of accredited dental hygiene programs interested in furthering their education.
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston offers a 33-month accelerated bachelor's degree in dental hygiene, designed for students interested in a career in pediatric dental hygiene. Students enrolled in the program learn the core principles of dental hygiene practice, theory and pain management, as well as receive hands-on patient care experience by working in the local community and in the campuses' Esther M. Wilkins Dental Hygiene Clinic. Due to the accelerated nature of the program, by the third year, students are eligible to sit for the licensing exams.
Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, offers an associate degree in dental hygiene for individuals pursuing a career in pediatric dental hygiene. Students enrolled in the program learn the following: how to assess an oral health situation by collecting, recording and analyzing data; diagnose the problem by utilizing critical thinking and decision making skills; plan a dental hygiene method of care by collaborating with health professionals and the clients; implement the specialized treatment and evaluate the effectiveness of services rendered. During the clinical portion of the program, students work with professional hygienists for hands-on practical experience.
The University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville, Florida, offers a 24-month certificate program designed to qualify students for certification by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and to prepare them for a career as pediatric dentists. Students enrolled in the program receive didactic instruction such as pediatric dental medicine, sedation, oral biology, physical diagnosis and orthodontics. Clinical training includes hands-on practical experience in treating patients with oral facial anomalies, comprehensive preventive and restorative care and emergency dental care. Students are also required to complete a laboratory or clinical research project and some instruction during the program's second year.