SANFORD - The Central Carolina Community College Dental Hygiene program has been ranked No. 1 among the seven Best Dental Hygiene Programs in North Carolina for 2019, according to NursingProcess.org.

In addition, CCCC has been ranked among the Top Dental Hygienist Schools by The Best Colleges website for 2019. CCCC ranks 18thin the overall national listing - and the only North Carolina school among the top 30.

Shehnaz Reddy, Chief-Editor of the NursingProcess.org website, says, "Central Carolina Community College's commitment towards dental hygiene education is apparent from the way graduates transition into the workforce with ease and confidence. Industry partnerships, exceptional clinical experiences, along with dedicated training make this possible."

Lisa Godfrey, CCCC Dean of Health Sciences and Human Services, notes that the Central Carolina Community College Dental Hygiene Program prepares students for entry into an allied health profession that provides the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives and a great return on their investment.

"I am excited that our program has been recognized for the hard work and dedication that our faculty devote to providing the best learning experience for our students and care for the patients we serve, as well as the effort and sacrifices that our students make while becoming a licensed dental hygiene professional," said Godfrey. "Our program is a critical component of creating a dental professional who can assist, as a member of the dental team, in increasing access to care for the under-served individuals who reside in our communities."

Vicky Wesner, who is CCCC Dental Programs Department Chair, added, "For over 12 years, the CCCC Dental Hygiene Program has continuously evolved to seek methods to guide students through rigorous programmatic requirements. Challenging students for five semesters to become great clinicians has always been the focus of the program with the objective of providing dental offices and their patients with highly skilled and ethical-minded dental professionals."

"Walk into the second floor of the Keller Health Sciences Building, and you can feel the passion from our Dental faculty," said Dr. Brian Merritt, CCCC Vice President of Learning & Workforce Development. "They engage students as full partners in the learning process, preparing students to graduate with skills and values needed to positively impact their patients' lives."

To see the NursingProcess.org rankings, visit www.nursingprocess.org/dental-hygiene-programs/north-carolina.

To see The Best Colleges rankings, visit www.thebestcolleges.org/rankings/top-dental-hygienist-programs.

To learn more about Central Carolina Community College and its programs, visit www.cccc.edu.