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Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Eligibility, Admission 2025, Syllabus, Colleges, Specializations, Jobs & Salary

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Updated on Mar 29, 2025

Shibam Kumar

Diploma in dental hygienist is a 2 year program to train candidates in becoming skilled oral health professionals. The primary responsibilities of a dental hygienist includes critical examination diagnosis and treatment of oral health issues such as teeth & gum diseases, mouth injuries and other dental problems.

Students applying to this course must have passed 10+2 examination in Science stream from recognised boards. Some colleges also have their own entrance tests for selecting candidates into the Diploma in Dental Hygienist program.

The average fees for a Diploma in dental hygienist ranges between INR 10,000-5,00,000 depending on the college whether it's private or government.

The average salary of a dental hygienist ranges between INR 2,00,000 to 5,00,000 LPA. Diploma in Dental Hygienist graduates can land jobs in various government & private healthcare centres, private dental clinics and NGOs which provide oral healthcare to the public. Their jobs roles can be Dental Assistants, Dental Laboratory Technician, Nursing Assistant, Dental Hygienist and many more.

Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Course Highlights 

Level of Course  Diploma (U.G.)
Duration  2 year 
Examination Type Semester 
Eligibility  Students who have completed 10+2 with 50% marks in Science stream from recognised boards.
Admission Process Merit-based 
Course Fee INR 20,000-4,00,000
Average Salary  INR 2-5 LPA
Top Recruiting Companies Dental Colleges, Private/Government Dental Hospitals, Dental Clinics.
Job Roles  Dental Hygienist, Dental Assistant, Dental Lab Technician.

Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Eligibility Criteria 

For enrolling into the diploma in dental hygienist course candidates need to fulfill the below-mentioned eligibility criteria:

  1. The candidates must have completed 10 + 2 with minimum aggregate marks of 50% from recognised boards. 
  2. The candidates must have taken physics, chemistry and biology as compulsory subjects in class 12.
  3. Candidates applying for this course must be a minimum of 17 years and a maximum of 25 years old while applying for this course.

Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Entrance Exams 

  1. The admission into Diploma in Dental Hygienist course is merit-based depending on the marks scored by the student in the 12th boards exam. 
  2. Few colleges also have their own entrance exams which need to be cleared in order to be selected for the Diploma in Dental Hygienist course.

Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Admission Process 2025

To take admission in Diploma in Dental Hygienist course candidates need to follow the below-mentioned steps:

  1. Candidates must find the appropriate college as per their suitability and then register themselves with the college by providing the basic information like name, marks scored in 12th boards, address, phone number, ID and few other details asked by the college. 
  2. After registration candidates need to fill out the application form by providing the necessary educational qualifications and uploading required documents. After uploading the documents, applicants will have to pay the registration fee and submit the application form to the college.
  3. The college will then release the list of students selected by merit which can be viewed on the college website. 
  4. Few colleges also take their own entrance examination and for that colleges release admit cards, which can be downloaded from the colleges website by logging in with the previously filled credentials.
  5. Candidates then have to appear for the entrance test.
  6. After giving the entrance test, colleges will release cut-offs or rank obtaining which the candidates will move into the next round of counselling or document verification.
  7. After the document verification, the candidates will have to pay the admission fee or the tuition fee as mentioned by the college and then officially take admission into a Diploma in Dental Hygienist Course.

Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Syllabus

The year-wise syllabus for Diploma in Dental Hygienist according to People's University of Bhopal is listed below:

Year 1 Year 2
Anatomy, Physiology & Histology Dental hygiene & Oral Prophylaxis 
Pharmacology  Dental Health Education, Community/Public Health Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry
Pathology & Microbiology Dental Materials
Radiology Dental Ethics & Jurisprudence
Food nutrition Orientation in Dentistry

*The syllabus may vary depending on college or institution 

Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Best Government and Private Colleges in India

Some of the best government and private colleges in India offering Diploma in Dental Hygienist course are listed below:

College Name Type/Mode Average Fee
King George’s Medical University Lucknow Government, Full-Time INR 45,000-50,000
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Government, Full-Time INR 20,000-25,000
Aligarh Muslim University Government, Full-Time INR 45,000-50,000
Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore Government, Full-Time INR 50,000-55,000
Saveetha Dental College & Hospital, Chennai Private, Full-Time  INR 75,000
Maharshi Marakandeshwar College of Dental Science & Research, Ambala Private, Full-Time INR 45,000-50,000
People's University, Bhopal Private, Full-Time INR 1,60,000-1,80,000
Santosh Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Ghaziabad  Private, Full-Time INR 4,40,000
Purvanchal Institute of Dental Sciences, Gorakhpur Private, Full-Time INR 1,00,000-1,50,000
Sunrise University, Rajasthan  Private, Distance  INR 50,000

Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Specializations

Students studying Diploma in Dental Hygienist can also take specialisation in various domains which can help them to develop more skills and knowledge for better career options. Some of the specialisations within the Diploma in Dental Hygienist have been mentioned below.

  • Periodontal Therapy: Dental Hygienists in this domain have specialisation in preventing, diagnosing and treating gum diseases. They are capable of performing deep cleaning, root planing and scaling procedures for addressing periodontal issues effectively.
  • Radiography: This is an integral specialisation within the dental hygiene course which equips students to take dental X-rays and analyse the images. This specialisation is very much important for accurate diagnosis, drafting treatment plans and monitoring oral health outcomes.
  • Pediatric Dental Hygiene: Students taking this specialisation gain skills in pediatrics and they can provide dental care to children in a comfortable and child-friendly manner.

Course Comparison: Diploma in Dental Hygienist vs Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery 

- Diploma in Dental Hygienist Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Duration 2 years 5 years (4 years of study + 1 years of internship)
Level of study Diploma (U.G.) Bachelor's degree (U.G.)
Focus area Oral hygiene, Preventive Dental Care, Dental Cleaning, Patient education Advanced dental Care including diagnosis, treatment and surgery
Eligibility criteria Completed 10 + 2 in science stream (PCB) with aggregate 50% marks from recognised boards Completed 10 + 2 in science stream with a minimum of 50% marks Must clear national and state level entrance exams like NEET and AIIMS Dental Exam or any other BDS entrance exams.
Subjects studied Practices of oral hygiene General medicine and surgery
General and Dental anatomy Dental materials
Preventive dentistry Oral pathology
Patient care techniques Oral surgery
- Periodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics
Scope of practice Limits to preventive dental care, cleaning and oral health education Diagnosing and treating comprehensive dental care and also performing surgeries
Job role Dental Hygienist, Dental Assistants, Dental Lab Technician Dentist (specialisation in diagnosing, treating dental conditions and performing surgeries)
Income potential INR 2-5 LPA INR 3-8 LPA
Working areas Hygiene-focused roles in government and private dental hospitals, private dental clinics, assistant for dental labs in colleges are universities. Government and private hospitals, dental clinics and private practices
Future Scope Limited to dental-hygiene roles only, however, professionals can advance to teaching or research domain Able to pursue specialisation in orthodontics, periodontics or can take admission in PG degrees and move to teaching role

Diploma in Dental Hygienist: Jobs & Salary 

Diploma in Dental Hygienist graduates can land jobs in various government dental healthcare institutions, private dental clinics, and even in dental colleges or universities. Some of the job profiles for Diploma in Dental Hygienist has been mentioned below:

Job Title  Job Description  Recruiter Average Salary
Dental Hygienist  Extensive interaction with patients and provide them with key preventive care services such as cleaning, examinations and advise them on proper oral hygiene practices. Medico Hub INR 2-3 LPA
Dental Assistant  Responsible for providing dental care to patients and further assistance in dentistry procedures, ensuring oral care, sterilization of equipment and supporting dental procedures. Ramaiah Memorial Hospital INR 3-4 LPA
Dental Surgical Assistant  Assist senior dental surgeons in their daily roles and provide nursing assistance to dental patients. SR Dental Implants & Braces INR 1.5-2 LPA
Dental Technician  Audit and maintain the equipment installed and cleanliness of the simulation labs, co-ordinate with the faculty for routine academic activities of the UG students. ITS Dental Hospital  INR 2.4-3 LPA

Why study Diploma in Dental Hygienist?

  • Diploma in Dental Hygienist provides lucrative income and respect as the healthcare sector is dynamic, job opportunities with better pay skills are readily available and professionals can expect high increments in payment compared to other career options.
  • The scope of growth and success is substantial and candidates can unlock various job opportunities or even establish their own dental clinics.
  • Diverse job opportunities available in both government and private sectors.
  • Dental Hygienists can find jobs as dental wards in government hospitals or private hospitals, Government Health Care mission and schemes, Community Health Centres and also in the Armed Forces offering hotel healthcare treatment to people.

FAQs

Is a Diploma in Dental Hygienist a good course?

Yes, Diploma in Dental Hygienist is a very good course which equips students with the skills and knowledge required to provide oral healthcare to the community.

Is it possible to do a Bachelor's in Dental Surgery after doing a Diploma in Dental Hygienist?

Yes, it is possible to do a Bachelor's in Dental Surgery after doing a Diploma in Dental Hygienist and later start your own practice after completing a Bachelor's.

Can a diploma in dental hygienist be pursued online?

No, a diploma in dental hygienic cannot be pursued online because the course requires practical training and hands-on experience.

Can a Diploma in Dental Hygienist professional start his or her own practice?

For starting your own practice after a Diploma in Dental Hygienist depends on the local laws and regulations. However, diploma graduates are advised to work under the supervision of an experienced dental surgeon or dentist only.

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