What do you advise if i'm trying to pursue a career of being a dental hygienist, about how many years of education is required?

Varies...: Depending on type of degree, 2 to 3 years for associate's degree, 4 years for bachelor's degree. Follow the below link to see why the curriculum is like: http://www.nyu.edu/dental/academicprograms/dh/curriculum.pdf

2-4 years : The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for a dental hygienist to grow by 38 percent until 2020. There is a 2-year certificate or associate's program with a technical school and 4-year bachelor's degrees in dental hygiene. In any case you are in the right place at the right time. Good luck.