Since 1970, NHTI – Concord’s Community College – has offered the only dental hygiene program in New Hampshire accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Every practicing dental hygienist in the Granite State studied at NHTI unless they received their training out-of-state. Over the past 10 years, 287 students received their Associate of Science degree from NHTI’s Dental Hygiene program and 30 additional students are expected to graduate in 2025.
“When New Hampshire dental practices need dental hygienists or dental assistants, we are the first place they contact,” explained Lisa Scott, department chair of NHTI’s Allied Dental Education program. Demand for hygienists and assistants has spiked since the COVID pandemic and is anticipated to remain strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor projects that employment of dental hygienists will grow 9% from 2023 to 2033, a much faster growth rate than average for all occupations.
According to Billie Lunt, a dental hygiene professor and coordinator of the program, the expansion of large corporate dental offices into New Hampshire may increase future workforce demands well above national levels. “A lot of the increased demand is going to depend on how we pivot to meet the needs of New Hampshire’s population and whether we move towards prevention and value-based care. It will also depend on what changes will be implemented to expand career opportunities for hygienists and assistants,” she added.
When Lunt was a student in the program 30 years ago, learning through hands-on dental services for the community was a key part of each student’s education. Today, community outreach remains a required part of the curriculum and has expanded to provide opportunities to serve patients in need in a wide range of environments, from schools and nursing homes to mobile vans, to the on-campus Dental Hygiene Clinic.
“All of these opportunities have a bidirectional benefit to both the student and patient. The patient receives dental care while students are exposed to growth moments where they can learn a little differently than they would in the classroom. It is also important to show students what is possible when you get out in the community and focus on prevention,” she said.
In April 2024, NHTI received one of the largest grants in its history to support the expansion of dental clinic services to Medicaid patients. Northeast Delta Dental provided a $500,000 gift matched by NHTI through grants and operating funds to hire a Medicaid specialist and supervising dentist, and for upgrading current equipment. Additional federal funding also enabled NHTI to replace aging dental chairs with 25 new ones.
On February 18, 2025, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander toured the facilities for NHTI’s dental programs and was impressed by what she saw. “It was great to see the positive impact of federal funding at NHTI’s Dental Program this afternoon and to discuss the importance of this training and education for students, our economy, and our workforce,” she commented on social media.
NHTI graduates an average of 35 hygienists and 16 dental assistants from a 10-month or two-year part-time certificate program each year. After data indicated that most students took three to four years to complete the 83-credit dental hygiene program, NHTI recently transitioned from a two-year program to a three-year track.
“We have a robust program with outstanding faculty and wonderful partnerships in the community. Our students have earned recognition for service projects for everything from helping at food pantries to the Special Olympics. We are just tremendously proud of both the program and the students we graduate,” Scott commented.
