Dental Hygiene is a rapidly growing profession.  It provides the hygienist the opportunity to be a member of the dental health team and aid the dental profession in promoting optimum dental health.

About 70% of all dental hygienists work in private dental offices, 20% in local public health and school programs, and the remainder in State and Federal health programs, industry, research, and teaching.      

In 1928, the School of Dentistry, realizing the ever increasing need for dental auxiliary personnel, established a dental hygiene program.  Responsibility for the clinical and didactic courses for dental hygiene students is shared by the dental hygiene and dental faculties. 

CURRICULUM 

The Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene requires successful completion of the Dental Hygiene curriculum which includes course work in the basic sciences, clinical, and general education. 

Dental hygienists provide educational, clinical, and consultative services to individuals and populations of all ages, including the medically compromised, mentally or physically challenged, and socially or culturally disadvantaged.  Students will learn about the ethics, values, skills, and knowledge essential to the profession.  Health promotion, disease prevention, as well as the dental hygienists role in the community are emphasized.  Dental hygiene students use their skills to assess the patients medical, dental, and social histories.  Dental hygiene sciences education, nutritional counseling, and tobacco cessation are included in the curriculum.  Through dental examinations of patients, emphasis is placed on teaching students to problem solve, interact with the dentist, treat a wide variety of patients, perform preventive procedures, and evaluate patient outcomes.