The Minneapolis metro area is home to numerous dental education options. A four-year bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene is available through the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. For those seeking faster entry into the career, dental assistant programs offering either an associate in applied science degree (60 credits) or a diploma (47 credits) are available through Hennepin Technical College in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie. A three-semester/one-year dental assisting program with access to a full dental clinic is available through Minneapolis Community & Technical College. Associate of applied science degrees with dental assistant and dental hygiene programs are available at Lakeland Medical Dental Academy Division of Herzing College.
Major dental career employment gains are projected for the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area between 2002 and 2012, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Dental assistants can expect 36% growth over the 10-year period, from 2,400 positions in 2002 to 3,263 positions in 2012. Dental hygienists can likewise expect 36.1% growth, from 3,086 jobs in 2002 to 4,200 in 2012. Dental laboratory technicians can expect 19.3% growth, from 1053 jobs in 2002 to 1,256 in 2012. Positions for dentists are expected to experience steady 3% growth over the 10-year period, from 1,138 in 2002 to 1,172 in 2012.
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