The need for Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH) continues to grow as we know that oral health is tightly linked to a persons overall health. A RDH is dedicated to the prevention and non-surgical treatment of oral diseases. Specifically, a Washington state dental hygienist provides preventive and periodontal non-surgical therapies which incorporates radiography, assessment of oral health, instruction of oral hygiene, maintenance of health records, and head and neck oral cancer screenings. Additional skills include administration of local anesthesia, nitrous oxide psycho-sedation, sealant placement, fluoride treatments, and other adjunctive therapies in order to maintain oral health and prevent/treat oral diseases. Other non-traditional dental hygiene skills include placing and finishing restorations (fillings). RDH's work as clinicians, educators, advocates, etc. in private and public health settings. The profession attracts individuals interested in a licensed profession that provides direct services to patients. Eligibility for licensure occurs after successfully graduating from an accredited dental hygiene program and passing all licensing examinations. Pierce Colleges Dental Hygiene program prepares students to site for all licensing examinations in this jurisdiction and in other jurisdictions within the United States. Acceptance into Pierces program occurs once a year in summer quarter. The application deadline occurs in January/February each year preceding the summer quarter entrance. Pierce accepts 20 students each year at the Fort Steilacoom campus and we do not have a waitlist. Applicants to the program must not only meet the general entrance requirements of Pierce College, but all prerequisite dental hygiene program requirements to be eligible for acceptance consideration. We refer you to the department website for the exact application deadline and the current dental hygiene program eligibility requirements http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/dept/denthyg/ The Pierce College Dental Hygiene Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education.