Pima Medical Institute has launched a Dental Hygiene program at its Phoenix campus, with enrollment underway for the first class beginning November 2, 2026. The 18-month program will award graduates an Associate of Applied Science degree and combine classroom instruction, laboratory training, and clinical experience.
The curriculum includes anatomy and physiology, periodontology, oral pathology, radiology, pharmacology, patient care, public health, and dental law and ethics, with additional emphasis on critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and serving diverse populations.
Students will also receive clinical experience through an on-site dental hygiene clinic scheduled to open in early 2027. Students working under the supervision of licensed dental professionals will provide preventive services, including cleanings, screenings, and patient education.
“Dental hygiene offers students the opportunity to build meaningful careers while making a lasting difference in the health of the communities they serve,” said Dr. Kimberly Peacher, DHSc, RDH, Pima Medical Institute’s dean of academic innovation-dental hygiene. “This program is designed to give students the hands-on clinical experience they need to become skilled, compassionate dental hygienists who are prepared to meet the growing need for preventive oral healthcare.”
The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). According to Pima Medical Institute, graduates are eligible to apply for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and other examinations required for state licensure.
The institute cited dental workforce shortages in Arizona as one factor behind the program's development. According to data from the University of Arizona Center for Rural Health cited in the release, Arizona currently meets less than 35% of its dental health workforce needs, with millions of residents living in designated dental health professional shortage areas.
“Arizona has a significant need for qualified dental hygienists, and educating more professionals is an important part of addressing that gap,” said Mark Luebke, co-CEO, Pima Medical Institute. “Our Phoenix Dental Hygiene program gives students the opportunity to gain the knowledge and clinical experience needed to enter this essential healthcare profession, while our dental hygiene clinic helps connect members of the community with important preventive oral healthcare.”
Pima Medical Institute also cited national workforce challenges. According to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute's Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry, more than 90% of dental practices report difficulty recruiting dental hygienists.
Pima Medical Institute offers Dental Hygiene programs at additional campuses in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Houston and San Antonio, Texas; and Seattle, Washington. The institute, established in 1972, provides training in medical, dental, veterinary, and healthcare administration fields through 16 campus locations and online programs.
More information about the Phoenix Dental Hygiene program is available at pmi.edu/dentalhygiene.
