Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene A.S., B.S.

Students who wish to exit the program at the end of three years of study may earn an associate in science degree in dental hygiene. This program prepares graduates for necessary board examinations and employment primarily in the dental office setting. The associate degree program integrates science prerequisite courses and foundational dental hygiene courses into a three-year curriculum. Graduates of the program are positioned to practice as dental hygienists and, if desired, complete the bachelor’s degree by participating in one additional year of study.

In addition to the programs described above, UNH offers a dental hygiene degree completion program. This curriculum is designed for practicing dental hygienists who are graduates of associate degree programs. The degree completion program is designed to enable dental hygienists to transfer credits from an accredited dental hygiene program and utilize their academic and work experience as the basis for completing coursework leading to the bachelor of science degree.

Admission Requirements
In addition to the general admission requirements for all prospective UNH students, it is recommended that applicants to the dental hygiene program demonstrate satisfactory performance in the sciences and mathematics. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed both high school biology and chemistry with laboratory and two years of college preparatory mathematics. An in-person or telephone interview with the department director or a faculty member is recommended; letters of recommendation supporting the student’s ability to pursue a rigorous science-based curriculum and desire to contribute in the health-care-delivery system are strongly encouraged. Admission to the program is limited, and part-time study is available only during the first year of the curriculum. All students enrolled in the dental hygiene clinical course sequence must be full time.

As future health-care providers, dental hygiene students have the potential for exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens. The UNH Dental Center Exposure Control Plan and Bloodborne Pathogen Policy is available for applicants upon request. Dental hygiene students receive the policy and training upon entering the clinical course sequence.

Professional Accreditation and Licensure
The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

Students in the program are provided with application materials for the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination (written) and the Northeast Regional Board Examination (NERB/clinical). Both the National Board Examination and a clinical examination are required for program graduates to apply for dental hygiene licensure in Connecticut and most other states.

Unique Features

• The UNH dental hygiene program is one of the few programs in the nation to offer a three-year associate degree in dental hygiene.
• Our clinical education is housed in a state-of-the-art clinical and teaching facility equipped with the latest in modern dental technology.

Why Study at UNH? 

• UNH is a small, private university where the emphasis is on students.
• Individual attention is one of the many benefits of an attractively low faculty-to-student ratio.
• UNH education leads to a rewarding career in health care or a related profession.
• Our program provides the opportunity to experience dental hygiene internships nationally and internationally in the B.S. curriculum.