Dental

Our Dental programs provide students with learning opportunities that enable them to obtain licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist or Registered Dental Assistant, and empowers them to succeed in a changing healthcare environment.

This program is designed to provide the credits necessary for eligibility for Registered Dental Hygiene licensure, Registered Dental Assisting licensure, and transferability for a bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene or likewise.

GRCC's Dental Programs prepare individuals to take the program’s corresponding licensing exams in the state of Michigan, upon program completion. Graduates who wish to practice either Dental Hygiene or Dental Assisting in other states should review the licensure requirements for each state through their individual state board of dentistry and licensing bureau.

GRCC has two programs in our Dental Department: Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene

Students in the 10-month Dental Assisting program learn through a combination of classroom, laboratory and clinical educational experiences. With our small class sizes, students get individualized instruction in our state-of-the-art dental clinic and materials lab. Students enjoy many opportunities for hands-on learning, simulating and practicing a multitude of dental procedures. To refine these skills, each dental assisting student is assigned to an off-campus dental office for clinical practice. Graduates of the program are qualified to sit for the Dental Assisting National Board CDA exam to become a Certified Dental Assistant and the State of Michigan RDA exam to become a registered/licensed dental assistant.

The GRCC Dental Hygiene Program is a minimum three-year program. The first year consists of pre-dental hygiene courses. Four of these are prerequisites that are required to enter the second year, when the actual dental hygiene courses begin. At completion of the DH program, the student is qualified to sit for the Dental Hygiene National Board examination and the regional licensing exam for the State of Michigan. Upon passing both of these exams, the Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) can practice anywhere in Michigan. RDH licensure can be obtained in other states by fulfilling the requirements of the respective state boards of dentistry. Both RDAs and RDHs are in very high demand locally and statewide. Employment options in both career areas offer excellent wages, benefits and working conditions.

Beginning winter semester 2018, any student interested in the dental assisting and or dental hygiene program, including those of you on the ready/wait list can enroll in DXX115- Introduction to Dentistry. This is a 2 credit course that has open enrollment-anyone can register for the class, look at the course schedule to see when the class is offered each semester.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at (616) 234-4240 or jamieklap1@grcc.edu.

Mrs. Klap

Director, Dental Auxiliary Programs

View our programs' Licensure Pass Rates

Dental Programs Licensure Pass Rates

Need a Dental Clinic Appointment?

To make an appointment in the Dental Clinic, please call (616) 234-4237.

Visit the Dental Clinic webpage for more information regarding services provided and hours of operation.