MCC to Launch Dental Hygiene Program
Published on Monday, February 26th, 2024
Last fall, Montgomery Community College received funding to support a Dental Hygiene Program at the College. The North Carolina General Assembly, with special assistance from local representatives Senator Dave Craven and House Representative Wayne Sasser, allocated $1.5 million to establish the program.
For the past 17 years, MCC has been serving the lower Sandhills region with the only Dental Assisting Program in the area. During that time the program has graduated over 200 dental professionals. However, students wishing to pursue a degree in Dental Hygiene have had to travel 49 miles outside the region for that opportunity. Because MCC is located in the heart of the Sandhills, and at the geographic center of North Carolina, it successfully made the case it was in a position to provide a strong Dental Hygiene Program.
“We are grateful to our legislative representatives for their support and advocacy, and also to the NC General Assembly for considering and meeting our request,” said Dr. Chad Bledsoe, MCC President. “This funding will allow us to establish a high-demand Dental Hygiene Program to serve Montgomery County students in addition to students seeking this discipline in the region.”
MCC will launch its program in Fall 2025 on the MCC campus in Troy. Planning and procurement is underway for the initiative, including space allocation and equipment sourcing. As is the case in all allied health fields, program planning is extensive, encompassing chairs/stations, manikins, radiology equipment, laboratory equipment, lighting, supplies and more. In addition to the materials needed to create 15 dental hygiene stations, the program will require three full-time faculty and one part-time dentist on staff.
Amy Frieary, MCC’s Dean of Health and Human Services, is glad to see this program get off the ground. “We have had so much demand for this discipline, and we are so pleased to have secured this funding. We are off to a fast start, and look forward to putting together an excellent program to help area students pursue the high-demand career of Dental Hygiene.”