Dental Hygiene

Program Profile: Dental Hygiene

Program Description | Accreditation | Program Highlights
About the Profession | Faculty | Class Size
Length of Program | Locations | Prerequisites
Costs | Scholarships and Financial Aid | How to Apply

Program Description

Name of program: Dental Hygiene

Program Overview: The Idaho State University Department of Dental Hygiene awards the only Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene in Idaho. Students apply to the professional curriculum after completing prerequisite courses in science and general education. The professional program is two years in length. Prerequisite coursework can be completed at the institution of the student’s choice. A listing of transfer equivalency courses for every college/university in Idaho and many surrounding colleges/universities in Montana and Utah are available on the Department's web site.

Graduates of our program are qualified for the written National Dental Hygiene Board Examination and subsequent clinical licensure exams in every state or region, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, as well as Canada and other foreign countries. They are also prepared to pursue graduate studies in dental hygiene or related fields.

Accreditation

The Department of Dental Hygiene at ISU is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education. It is also regionally approved by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.

Program Highlights

  • ISU dental hygiene students and graduates excel on external measures of competence:
    • Students annually rank in the top ten percent nationally on the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination (DHNBE) administered by the American Dental Association,
    • 100 percent of the graduates pass their respective Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) clinical examinations licensure in clinical dental hygiene care and local anesthesia.
  • Documentation from graduates’ exit interviews and surveys of alumni and dentist supervisors reveal that practitioners are extremely well prepared for dental hygiene practice in all identified clinical competencies.
  • Oral health education and services are offered by students and faculty members for nearly 2,000 individuals in the on-campus clinic and community/underserved settings including health fairs, fluoride varnish clinics and days devoted to caring for underserved children activities each year.
  • The ISU Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association has received top honors two times from the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and Tom’s of Maine dental products company for spearheading a collaborative community service project providing free dental care to first through third grade children desperately in need of these services.
  • The dental hygiene faculty at Idaho State University is committed to excellence in all academic endeavors and is well-known both nationally and internationally for their contributions to the profession of dental hygiene.

About the Profession

As licensed professional oral health clinicians and educators, dental hygienists practice as members of the dental team, using knowledge of biomedical, dental, clinical, and social sciences to assist individuals and groups in achieving and maintaining optimum oral health. The hygienist provides preventive services, preliminary examinations, radiographs, sealants, nonsurgical periodontal therapy, fluoride treatments, and patient education. Depending upon individual state laws, the role of the hygienist has broadened to include procedures that are beyond this traditional scope of responsibility such as the administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia, and/or certain restorative procedures. As specialists, the dental hygienist is an integral co-therapist in helping consumers prevent oral disease, arrest existing periodontal (gum) disease, and maintain oral health.

There are numerous career opportunities for licensed dental hygienists. The majority of dental hygienists enter private dental practice and collaborate with licensed dentists and dental assistants to ensure quality, comprehensive care for dental patients. The increased emphasis on community health activities in district health departments, Native American healthcare centers, migrant worker clinics, and other state, federal, or privately funded public dental care programs is contributing to new and challenging career alternatives for dental hygienists with baccalaureate degrees. Dental hygienists also may select other non-traditional work settings to practice dental hygiene. Examples of such settings include: overseas employment, hospitals or oncology centers, long term care facilities, and home health services. Some dental hygienists also work as managers or consumer advocates. Generally, alternative or nontraditional dental hygiene positions require or give preference to dental hygienists with a bachelor’s degree.

With an advanced degree, dental hygienists can seek employment as faculty members or administrators of educational programs. Baccalaureate-prepared hygienists can teach full-time in associate degree programs or part-time in bachelor degree programs. Those with graduate degrees have additional opportunities in higher education, oral health research, dental industry, and government.

Potential Salary: Dental hygienists in Idaho primarily are employed by dentists either full-time or part-time. Their hourly rates range from $28 to $35 or an equivalent annual salary with benefits. Geographic location (in Idaho and elsewhere) does affect salary range.

Faculty

Nine full-time, 18 part-time affiliate clinical faculty, and 10 supervising dentists are responsible for helping students attain competency in all aspects of the dental hygiene curriculum. To comply with appropriate professional standards, student: faculty ratios are maintained at a 4:1 ratio to help students foster professional behaviors and skills consistent with a high quality professional education.

Class Size

Fixed Seats: Yes

Number of students in entering class: 26

Total number of students enrolled in program: 52

Length of Program

Number of academic years needed to complete the program:Two academic years (four semesters, with summer sessions off)

Locations

Locations offered: Pocatello

Program offered fully online? No

Program delivered through distance presentation? No

Prerequisites

Required Degree: None

Other Prerequisites: Students seeking admission to dental hygiene are required to complete specific courses designated by the department in addition to university general education requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree.

All students should be advised by a dental hygiene faculty member early in their academic career to aid in completion of all core and general education courses. Transfer students should be advised in order to facilitate the transfer of courses to ISU to assure fulfillment of core and general education courses.

Costs

Tuition: Annual tuition set by University for residents or non-residents

Professional fees: Once enrolled in the professional program, students incur a variety of expenses not required during the pre-professional program. Estimated expenses beyond registration fees and housing are approximately $5,500 to $6,000 for the junior year and $3,000 to $4,000 for the senior year, which includes costs associated with the national, state, and/or regional board examinations. Interested students should request a listing of cost estimates from the Department of Dental Hygiene.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarship Deadline: April 15

Financial Aid Deadline: Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Other Information: In addition to the same opportunities available to other students on campus, a variety of scholarships are available to assist students who have been formally accepted into the dental hygiene program. Application deadline for all of these scholarships is April 15 annually. A description of scholarships available to dental hygiene students is included with the department's admissions information.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: January 15

Program Start Date: Fall semester

Other Information: Individuals must be accepted to the program to enroll in upper division (300 and 400 level) dental hygiene courses. Students will be notified by April 1 as to their admission status. A complete description of the application process and a downloadable application form are available from the Department of Dental Hygiene or by calling (208) 282-3796.