SANFORD - The Central Carolina Community College Dental Hygiene program has been ranked as the No. 1 Best Dental Hygiene Program in North Carolina, according to NursingProcess.org.
NursingProcess.org wrote of the CCCC Dental Hygiene program: "Central Carolina Community College offers quality dental education that is complemented by its state-of-the-art facility, equipped with the latest equipment. With industry partnerships, students benefit from exceptional clinical experiences and internship opportunities that often translate into permanent job placements."
The ranking methodology conducted by NursingProcess.org considers factors including enrollment rates, retention rates, student-to-faculty ratios, program costs, faculty credentials, and the percentage of students receiving financial aid. One hundred percent of CCCC Dental Hygiene graduates who complete national and state board licensure quickly secure employment. The hourly pay rate continues to trend in an upward direction between $36-$42 or more, depending on the work location.
"Our amazing faculty of the CCCC Dental Hygiene program always work hard to provide a quality education to their students," said Vicky Wesner, CCCC Dental Programs Department Chair. "This past year has been especially challenging due to COVID-19. However, our graduates of 2020 overcame the initial challenges of COVID-19 last summer, passed their boards, and got to work as soon as they could. Our graduates of 2021 came back to campus and started treating patients in June of 2020 to make up many missed clinical and lab hours.
"Despite all the additional infection control requirements and the difficulties of finding patients during a pandemic, this class of students stood up to the challenge and met all of their program requirements," said Wesner. "We are so appreciative to our faculty, college administration, and the community for supporting our students through this time."
Central Carolina Community College's Dental Programs provide top-quality training for careers as a dental hygienist or dental assistant. These are well-paying careers for those who enjoy working closely with patients, helping them achieve and maintain good oral health.
The CCCC Dental Programs are accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Students train on state-of-the-art dental equipment. Dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dentists teach all the program specific courses and oversee all lab work.
"CCCC`s Dental Programs Department Chair Vicky Wesner led our dedicated faculty team, modeling professionalism and compassion as we forged ahead through the pandemic to provide safe care for our community and bountiful learning opportunities for our students," said Danielle Bruner, CCCC Dental Hygiene Clinical Coordinator.
"Not only was this year an outstanding success despite the challenges, it was heartwarming to see and feel such continuous positivism beneath our many layers of PPE! It is an honor to see our students flourish in 2021 and to continue this remarkable work of the heart."
Macy Woods, CCCC Dental Hygiene Clinical Coordinator, said, "I could not be more proud of our wonderful Dental Hygiene Program here at CCCC being ranked No. 1 in N.C. It is an absolute honor to be a part of the CCCC Dental Hygiene family. We are here for student success and we continuously strive for excellence!"
To learn more about the Best Dental Hygiene Program award rankings from NursingProcess.org, visit www.nursingprocess.org/dental-hygiene-programs/north-carolina.
To learn more about the CCCC Dental Hygiene program, visit www.cccc.edu/curriculum/majors/dental/hygiene.
Central Carolina Community College's Dental Programs provide top-quality training for careers as a dental hygienist or dental assistant. These are well-paying careers for those who enjoy working closely with patients, helping them achieve and maintain good oral health.