People interested in the field of dental hygiene will find a variety of educational options at the University of Bridgeport, through the college's Fones School of Dental Hygiene. Students just starting out may enroll in the two-year associate of dental hygiene degree. Classes cover topics such as introduction to periodontology, community dental health, dental materials, oral anatomy and embryology, pharmacology, local anesthesia and elementary microbiology. Students must also take general core classes such as intermediate algebra, social science and principles of sociology. While on campus, students may participate in groups such as the student chapter of the American Dental Hygienists' Association. Students who wish to further their education in the field may apply to the Fones bachelor of science in dental hygiene program (available on campus and online) and the master of science in dental hygiene program (on campus and online).
Applicants must have a high school diploma and completed coursework in chemistry and biology. SAT or ACT scores are required.
University of Bridgeport
Fones School of Dental Hygiene
126 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604
203-576-4138
bridgeport.edu
The St. Petersburg College School of Dental Hygiene offers a two-year degree in dental hygiene, with coursework in dental hygiene, dental radiography, preventive dentistry, orofacial anatomy, dental pharmacology, periodontics, community dental health and dental materials. Students also take composition, introduction to speech communication, computer information literacy and human anatomy. The school also offers a bachelor of science in dental hygiene program. St. Petersburg offers a student chapter of the American Dental Hygienists' Association.
A high school diploma or GED is required, along with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. All applicants must also have completed a minimum of 16 hours observation, volunteering or work experience in dentistry with a signed statement from a dental hygienist. Candidates must also submit to a criminal background check and drug screening.
St. Petersburg College
School of Dental Hygiene
7200 66th Street North
Pinellas Park, FL 33781
727-341-3687
spcollege.edu
Housed within the Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Allied Health is the school's bachelor of dental hygiene degree, the only one of its kind in Illinois. Students in the four-year program complete classes such as medical emergencies in the dental office, oral anatomy and tooth morphology, patient assessment techniques, instrumentation techniques, histology and embryology, preventative oral care, dental pharmacology and pain, radiology and infection control.
Students must have a high school diploma or associate of science in dental hygiene. All students complete an internship working with geriatric or rural health patients to gain real-world, hands-on experience. Students also gain experience working at the college's community dental center, which offers discounted treatments such as extractions, exams, x-rays and fillings to community members without insurance or who live below the poverty line.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
School of Allied Health
Mailcode 6615
Carbondale, IL 62901-6615
618-536-6682
siuc.edu