Dental Hygiene General Information
The School of Dentistry offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. The baccalaureate degree can be earned in one of two educational programs: the Preprofessional/Professional Program (entry-level program) and the Degree Completion Program (for students who already are Registered Dental Hygienists). The objective of both baccalaureate programs is to imbue the students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to assume positions of responsibility in a variety of health care, educational, research, and community settings. In addition, these programs are designed to provide a foundation for graduate study in dental hygiene or related disciplines.
The dental hygienist, as a member of the oral health care team, strives to improve oral health by providing preventive, therapeutic, and educational services to the public. Clinical dental hygiene services include assessing patients’ general and oral health status and correlating oral with systemic findings, conducting periodontal and caries evaluations, removing deposits and stains from teeth, making radiographic images, evaluating patient outcomes, conducting oral cancer screenings, and applying fluorides and sealants. Educational and management services for individuals and/or groups may include tobacco use prevention, and cessation; providing nutritional and oral hygiene counseling; conducting educational programs; and planning, implementing, and evaluating community oral health programs.
Mission
The mission of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry is to improve the quality of life in Maryland through education, research and service related to health, with special emphasis on improving dental, oral and craniofacial health.
In support of this mission, the Dental Hygiene Program educates future leaders in the profession by offering undergraduate and graduate programs in dental hygiene. The program provides continuing education for dental and dental hygiene professionals, conducts research relevant to dental hygiene education and practice, and disseminates this knowledge. The program also provides high quality oral health care services to residents of Maryland and the region, and provides consultative and other services to governmental and private agencies, professional organizations and the community through the leadership and expertise of its faculty and contributions of its students. The program endeavors to recruit, retain and develop high quality, productive faculty who accept responsibility for advancing knowledge in the field of dental hygiene. Faculty foster intellectualism and offer a professional education for dental hygiene students that embodies excellence and relevance. The faculty strives to prepare graduates who can provide dental hygiene services with competence in any setting in accordance with ethical codes of the profession and statutory provisions for dental hygiene practice.
Employment Opportunities in Dental Hygiene
The majority of dental hygienists are employed in private dental offices. However, there are increasing opportunities for those with baccalaureate and graduate degrees; other opportunities are available in community, school, and public health programs; private and public institutions; armed forces; research; private industry; and other special areas of practice.