The Mesa Community College dental hygiene program has earned full accreditation through 2029 from the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
CODA is a specialized national accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education that serves the public and dental professions by developing and implementing accreditation standards that promote and monitor the continuous quality and improvement of dental education programs, according to a release.
These standards are intended to reflect the information a student needs to know to function successfully within that profession or functional area.
“The earning of full accreditation is the result of the collaborative efforts and professionalism of the entire dental hygiene team. This emphasizes our commitment to excellence and to regularly evaluating the program’s quality and effectiveness,” MCC Dental Hygiene Program Director Kimberlee Zitek said in the release. “Our students can rest assured knowing that the MCC dental hygiene program’s academic courses meet the highest national standards.”
Accreditation also serves the public interest as a tool intended to help assure a well-prepared and qualified workforce is providing essential services, she said.
A career as a dental hygienist is an in-demand position that forms a critical part of a dental team’s success.
“A path for a career in dental hygiene is offered at MCC with instructors who have actual experience and teach the essential skills and safety guidelines,” Zitek said.
Dental hygienists learn to assess and diagnose the oral health of patients and then provide the necessary treatment.
In the MCC program, students learn to perform preliminary assessments, take radiographs and various hygiene therapies.
“As a licensed dental hygienist, students may be employed in a general or specialty dental practice in private or public health care settings,” Zitek said.
Mesa Community College is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District.
Learn more about the MCC dental hygiene program on the college’s website, at mesacc.edu/departments/allied-health/dental-hygiene/program-information.
