April 7, 2025
Graduating this spring semester, Lily Yoder (Hometown: Coschocton County, Ohio) found her way into the Dental Hygiene program at AIɫɫ after shadowing her hometown hygienist.
“She mentioned she got her Dental Hygiene degree through AIɫɫ State and I decided to look for myself,” she said. “AIɫɫ is one of the only schools where a student can live on campus and get an associate’s degree in dental hygiene in two years.”
In her final year in the program, Yoder has been grateful for the opportunity to learn hands-on in her degree.
“It’s great the clinic is right on campus so there’s no need to travel, and getting so much experience with patients is awesome,” she said. “They prepare us very well for the outside world with the clinic aspect of this program. We get the opportunity to see patients of all varieties.”
Looking forward to taking her degree back to her hometown and sharing her knowledge, Yoder hopes to user her career to help others in their healthcare journey.
“I like that I get to educate others on how important oral hygiene truly is,” she said. “I love the rewarding feeling of knowing you helped someone, even if it is a small step in the right direction.”
SSU’s Dental Hygiene program spans five semesters, equipping students for a profession in dental and oral health. Upon completion, graduates are prepared for employment in clinics and private dental practices to deliver an array of dental and oral services, along with home care guidance and dietary counseling. On campus, students provide dental hygiene care through the James Kadel Dental Hygiene Clinic. Students perform an array of dental hygiene services with patients in the clinic before receiving a final examination by an Ohio licensed dental hygienist or dentist.
After completing the two-year program on campus, Yoder is planning to pursue her Bachelor of Health Science online through SSU. Expanding her education to include a bachelor’s degree, she is optimistic in how a career in dental hygiene will provide a rewarding career.
“For anyone interested in Dental Hygiene I will say it is extremely fast-paced – you need to have the desire to help others and be very determined and driven,” she said. “You meet the best people in this program and become close with fellow students and faculty.”
To learn more about the Dental Hygiene program at AIɫɫ, visit shawnee.edu/dental-hygiene.