Dental hygiene students sweep top honors in statewide research competitions
Cerritos College dental hygiene students secured the top three awards in the Informational
Poster Division at the Student Poster Competition during the California Dental Hygienists’
Association and the California Dental Association Conferences.
The annual competition invites dental hygiene students from across the state to present original research on issues that impact the profession, patients, and public health.
First place was awarded to Amanda DePillo and Joselin Luna for their poster, "Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow. NIHL: The Hidden Risk in Dental Hygiene," which examined occupational hearing loss linked to ultrasonic scalers and suction devices commonly used in dental settings.
Second place went to Thao Nguyen and Bin Shi for “Glasses on-Pain gone: The future of Virtual Reality and pain management,” which explored the use of virtual reality as an innovative, non-pharmacological tool to reduce pain and anxiety in dental care. This poster also earned second place in the national RDH Magazine Poster Competition.
Third place was awarded to Yina Che and Tran Nguyen for "Sweet Deception: The Cardiovascular Risks of Xylitol," analyzing emerging research on the potential heart-related effects of xylitol, a sugar substitute commonly used in dental products. Their project also earned first place in the RDH Magazine poster competition.
“We are so impressed with the caliber of research our dental hygiene students are producing. Winning awards at both of these prestigious regional conferences speaks volumes about their outstanding scholarship, their incredible faculty, and the quality of our program,” said Dr. Elizabeth Riley, dean of health occupations at Cerritos College.
The students’ presentations are available on YouTube.
Cerritos College has been a leader in dental hygiene education for over 50 years. Its associate degree program boasts a consistent 100 percent state board passage rate. In fall 2025, the college will launch a new Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, allowing students to earn their bachelor’s degree with just nine additional units. This affordable, accelerated pathway supports career advancement while minimizing debt, reinforcing Cerritos College’s commitment to student success and social mobility.
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