Watertown, S.D.-based Lake Area Technical College is creating an associate of applied sciences program in dental hygiene.
The dental hygiene program will build upon the school's dental assisting program, which has been accredited for 56 years, according to a June 18 news release from the college.
Once students complete the dental assisting program, they can obtain a dental hygiene degree with one additional year of instruction. The curriculum for the dental hygiene program includes advanced oral anatomy, periodontology, preventative dental health, radiography, instrumentation, ethical conduct and community dental health issues.
There is a projected 13% increase in employment of dental hygienists in South Dakota between 2020 and 2030.
The program is set to begin in the fall 2025 semester, the release said.