The fully accredited Dental Hygienist Program at Mesa Community College (MCC) offers intensive academic training and hands-on experience to prepare students for successful careers in this highly desired profession.
Earning an Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene at MCC prepares students for the necessary licensure requirements to begin a successful career in the field. As well as offering cutting-edge academics, scientific procedures and methods, an integral element of the program’s Community Oral Health course focuses on developing and sustaining a commitment to underserved populations in the communities where students will live and work.
Called the Senior Capstone Community Service Project, “This endeavor has been a significant component of MCC’s dental hygiene program for many years,” said Dawn Brause, RDH, MEd, MCC second year dental hygiene clinical coordinator. “The project requires groupings of 3 to 4 students each to select an underserved population of their choice with the goal of advising participants how to assess, prioritize, and address oral health deficits specific to that population.”
In Spring 2026,13 MCC dental hygiene students selected three capstone projects involving three local organizations comprising 36 participants:
- 12 Title I child participants at Don Mesendick School in Glendale
- 9 Down Syndrome participants at Impact Dance Studio in Mesa
- 15 special needs participants at Guthrie Mainstream Services in Mesa
“Students visited their selected community organizations multiple times to collect data to help them develop and implement an educational and service-based plan tailored to the organizations’ needs,” said Dawn. She pointed out that after finding potential deficits in several oral health areas, students offer non-invasive oral health and education-based recommendations to improve participants’ dental health knowledge and skills. Oral health areas include brushing techniques, cavity prevention, plaque control, tongue cleansing and scraping, nutrition education, attrition education such as tooth grinding, missing teeth education, and flossing.
Through outcome rubrics and post-surveys, the students measure participants’ improvements in knowledge and skills resulting in improved dental health.
“Dental hygienists are absolutely essential in assisting underserved communities and populations with limited or no access to traditional dentistry. By providing preventive education and care, they can help improve not only oral but general health as well,” Dawn added.
With a critical shortage of dental hygienists in Arizona and across the country, there’s never been a better time to explore the opportunities available at MCC in this field. Visit the program website for additional information.
For more information, visit mesacc.edu/programs.map/dental-hygiene.