MCC Graduate Credits Dental Hygiene Program with Success

Lily Chung credits her time at Middlesex Community College with providing the technical skills she needs to enter into a career as a dental hygienist and for giving her the confidence to be successful.

Chung came to the United States from Vietnam with her family when she was 9 years old. She said she has always been a shy person, but the support she received from the faculty at MCC helped her come out of her shell.

“Don't give up, be confident and you will achieve your goals, is what all of my teachers and advisors told me,” Chung said. “I also learned how to be organized and plan ahead of the game.”

Chung was always interested in pursuing a career in health care, but it was the often overlooked importance of oral health that solidified her path. Poor oral health not only leads to tooth and bone loss and bad breath, but the buildup of bacteria in the mouth can get into the blood stream, causing cardiovascular disease.

“Dentistry sparked my interest because I learned that oral health is so important to overall health,” she said. “I chose to go to MCC because of convenience, cost and transportation.”

October is National Dental Hygiene Month and MCC is celebrating by hosting an Open House for their dental programs on Tuesday, October 29, at 4:30 p.m. in Lowell at the Federal Building Assembly Room. Those who are interested in pursuing a career in dental health are welcome.

Chung said she quickly discovered MCC was not only affordable and convenient, but it had the programs and supportive professors she needed to be successful.

“The faculty really give great advice and support and guided me to success,” said the May 2019 graduate. “They are all very professional and knowledgeable.”

As a student studying dental hygiene, Chung said having a dental clinic on campus was crucial to the educational experience.

The MCC Dental Hygiene Clinic provides low-cost dental procedures and education to MCC students, faculty and the community at large, serving more than 600 patients in the 2018-2019 academic year.

“The dental clinic allows students to treat patients and this helps students to build a rapport with patients,” Chung said. “Also, it allows students to have opportunity to treat patients similar to the real world experience.”

In addition to the educational experience MCC provided, Chung really enjoyed being given the opportunity to give back to the community through service projects, such as volunteering at a middle school in Lowell during outreach rotation.

Chung lives in Salem, N.H. and works as a dental hygienist in two dental practices – one in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire – and continues to spread the word about the importance of taking care of your mouth.

“It is important to brush twice a day, floss at least once a day and have regular visits to the dental office,” she said.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, we educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners. MCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – on our campuses in Bedford and Lowell, and online. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!