Program Overview

Introduction to the Dental Hygiene Program

The Dental Hygiene program at UT Health San Antonio is a highly competitive program that aims to educate students in the prevention and treatment of oral health problems. Dental hygienists are licensed healthcare professionals who specialize in preventing oral health problems and diseases, with the primary responsibility of treating and educating patients in the control and prevention of oral diseases.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Dental Hygiene program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applications may be obtained from the American Dental Education Association Dental Hygiene Centralized Application System (ADEA DHCAS).
• Official transcripts from every college or university attended must be sent to ADEA DHCAS.
• International applicants must have transcripts from foreign universities evaluated by a professional firm.
• A $60 fee must be sent to UT Health San Antonio - Dental Hygiene in the form of a check or money order.
• Shadowing a dental hygienist in a clinical setting is required, with a minimum of 16 hours of observation.

Timeline for Application and Admission

The timeline for application and admission to the Dental Hygiene program is as follows:

• September 1 - December 31: Application period in the year prior to the desired admission.
• September 1 - January 15: Submit all transcripts to ADEA DHCAS.
• December 31: Deadline for submitting the application.
• January 15: Deadline for submitting all transcripts from all schools attended.
• May: Applicants are notified of admission status.
• July 1: Fall semester begins.

What Makes a Successful Applicant

Successful applicants to the Dental Hygiene program are those who show evidence of consistently performing well academically and having extracurricular interests and achievements. The following factors are considered in the admission process:

• Bilingual language ability
• Employment history
• Letters of recommendation
• Dental assisting job
• Public/community service in volunteer-related areas
• Awards, honors, and leadership in academics
• Graduation from another accredited healthcare-related program
• Communication/written skills
• Hometown or county of residence that has been designated a medically underserved and/or health professions shortage area, with particular emphasis on South Texas.
• Previously selected alternate for the dental hygiene program

Essential Functions

All dental hygiene students must perform certain essential functions in order to successfully complete the curriculum. These include:

Cognitive Functions

• Solving problems using the ability to understand and retain knowledge derived from readings, lectures, and demonstrations.
• Using reasoning, analyzing, and integrating learned material to apply principles to new problems.

Sensory and Motor Skills

• Observing patients and simulations to gain patient information for diagnosis.
• Possessing sufficient vision, hearing, and physical abilities to obtain a patient history, perform a physical examination, and provide patient care.
• Having adequate stamina to manipulate dental equipment and perform in class, clinic, and laboratory settings during long hours.

Communication Skills

• Effectively communicating with patients, peers, staff, and faculty.
• Demonstrating respect and understanding of emotional, social, and cultural issues.

Professional and Behavioral Skills

• Demonstrating the capacity for sustained function under stress and responding appropriately to unpredictable circumstances.
• Demonstrating high ethical standards and professional behavior when interacting with patients, fellow students, faculty, staff, and the public.

Admission by Transfer

Admission by transfer is available on a very limited basis. The purpose is to provide the opportunity for placement in this institution to highly qualified transfer students from U.S./Canadian dental schools who have a definite need for location in this institution. The number of positions available is limited to any unfilled spaces within a class.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is an entrance exam required? No, an entrance exam, ACT, or SAT is not required.
• Do I need to complete all prerequisite courses before I apply to the program? Up to 6 credit hours of prerequisites may be in progress during the spring semester prior to admittance, with all science courses completed by the prior fall semester.
• How do I find out the status of my application? Upon successful completion of the ADEA DHCAS application, ADEA DHCAS will verify all courses taken as indicated on the application and transcripts submitted. Only applications with the ADEA DHCAS status of "verified" will be sent to UT Health San Antonio's dental hygiene program for admission consideration.
• Will all verified applicants be invited for an interview? No, the DHAC will review the applicants who have been verified by ADEA DHCAS and will invite those applicants who meet program requirements for an interview. Up to 40 applicants can be invited for an interview.
• Is an interview required? Yes, only applicants who are invited to the interview will be considered for admission.
• What will happen on the interview day? A faculty member will conduct the interview. You will also take part in a written essay and have the opportunity to meet with current dental hygiene students.
• How will I be notified of acceptance? Acceptance letters will be sent via email around May. You will be required to submit a letter of intent to secure your spot in the class.
• How many students are admitted into the entering class? Up to 30 students can be admitted for each entering class at UT Health San Antonio campus, and up to 8 students will be admitted at the Laredo regional campus.
• What is the average overall GPA and prerequisite GPA? For the entering class of 2022, the overall average GPA was 3.6.
• What scholarship opportunities are available? Dental hygiene scholarships are made available once the student has begun the program. The scholarships are made available throughout the two years of study.
• Do you require any supplemental fees or applications? Besides the fee for the ADEA DHCAS application, a fee of $60 must be sent to UT Health San Antonio - Dental Hygiene in the form of a check or money order.