Program Overview

Introduction to the Dental Hygiene Program

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene. This program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. The UT dental hygiene program prepares students through didactic, laboratory, and clinical experiences to work as licensed dental hygienists.

Program Goals

The UTHSC Dental Hygiene program strives to create a learning environment in which each graduate is instilled with the knowledge, skills, and values to provide care to patients, along with a sense of responsibility to self, the community, and the profession. The program aims to:

• Ensure graduates are able to provide appropriate planned education services through organized community efforts to promote health and disease.
• Produce professional oral healthcare providers who competently deliver preventive, therapeutic, and educational oral health services in accordance with the ADHA Code of Ethics.
• Provide graduates with the knowledge, values, and skills to use evidence-based decision-making to provide comprehensive oral healthcare that will promote and achieve oral health.
• Inspire graduates to enhance their practice of dental hygiene through professional activities and continuing education.

Curriculum

The patients treated by dental hygiene students in the dental hygiene clinics are usually registered patients of the College of Dentistry who are receiving limited or comprehensive dental care through the undergraduate and graduate dental education programs. Most patients are recruited from the city of Memphis and the surrounding tri-state area, which has a population of well over one million. The program maintains the College of Dentistry's primary patient recall system and provides regular ongoing preventative maintenance care in the dental hygiene clinic to a patient base of over 2,700 individuals.

Clinical Experiences

In addition to the dental hygiene clinic, students have scheduled clinical rotations to provide preventative services to patients seen in dental specialty clinics. Approximately 60% of all student dental hygiene clinical experiences are provided in UTHSC clinics. Formal agreements have been reached between the university and several local clinics for student clinical rotations outside the program's primary on-campus teaching clinic. Specific learning objectives and experiences have been identified for such rotations.

Program Structure

The UTHSC dental hygiene program is a 2 + 2 program:

• 2 years of prerequisites (General Education Competencies)
• 2 years at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis During the second year of the dental hygiene program, students are required to participate in at least one week of a clinical rotation at a UTHSC facility in Union City. Housing accommodations are provided as part of the rotation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Details

• How long is the program?: Two academic years or four semesters.
• How many students are in each class?: Each class usually consists of 24 students.
• Can out-of-state students apply and be accepted?: Yes, although students who qualify as residents of Tennessee are given first consideration.
• How does one establish residency in Tennessee?: Contact the Officer of Enrollment Services at UT Health Science Center for information.
• When can I come for a tour of the campus?: Visits are welcomed and can be arranged by contacting the appropriate personnel.
• Can I work while going to dental hygiene school?: It is possible to work part-time, but students are recommended to limit their work hours to not more than 8 to 10 hours per week.
• What hours will I be in attendance at school while enrolled in the dental hygiene program?: The schedule may vary, but students should be prepared for full-day commitments.
• What is the deadline for admission applications?: The application cycle for Fall opens July 1 and closes December 31, and for Spring, it opens January 1 and closes June 30.
• When do classes begin?: Students admitted for Fall begin classes in early July, and those admitted for Spring begin in early January.
• Is financial aid available?: Yes, interested individuals may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for information.
• Is experience as a dental assistant helpful?: Yes, familiarity with the dental work setting and terminology is helpful.
• Do I have to have every prerequisite course completed before I can apply for admission?: No, but a plan must be presented describing how all requirements will be completed prior to starting the program.
• What kind of courses are recommended as electives?: Additional courses in English, Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Foreign Language, Computer Literacy, or Health and First Aid are generally helpful.
• Are dental hygienists at risk for infectious diseases?: Dental hygienists are at no greater risk than any other healthcare professional, with policies and procedures in place for immunization, testing, and post-exposure incidents.