Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene 48 months Undergraduate Program By West Virginia University |Top Universities

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

Program Duration

48 monthsProgram duration

Main Subject Area

DentistryMain Subject Area

Program overview

Main Subject

Dentistry

Degree

Other

Study Level

Undergraduate

Dental hygiene is an exciting profession with many rewarding and challenging career opportunities that include clinical/patient care, administration, education, research and sales/marketing. Dental hygienists are employed in diverse settings such as private dental practices, clinics, hospitals, geriatric and special needs homes, correctional facilities, public health departments, school systems, allied dental education programs, national, state and local government agencies, and private/business industry. As a licensed health professional and oral health educator, the dental hygienist has an important role in the overall health and welfare of the public. The dental hygienist is an integral part of the dental team, providing direct patient care based on the prevention of disease. The duties and responsibilities of dental hygienists vary from state to state, but may include oral prophylaxis (removing stains and deposits from teeth), root debridement, exposing radiographs, application of preventive and therapeutic agents, local delivery of antimicrobial agents, nutritional counseling, oral, head and neck cancer screenings, and administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation. The educational background of a dental hygienist provides the knowledge, attitudes and skill necessary to be successful in a wide variety of careers. From research to clinician to public administration, dental hygiene opens the door to many successful career options. Program Goals: Possess a heightened awareness of social and cultural diversity, ethics and professionalism. Apply critical thinking to integrate current scientific principles/technology with the provision of evidenced-based, comprehensive health care. Perform to the level of clinical competency those legally approved oral health services as defined by the West Virginia State Board of Dental Examiners and the WVU School of Dentistry. Perform to the level of laboratory competency those legally approved oral health services (beyond the scope of the West Virginia practice act) stipulated in the practice acts of other states, districts, or territories of the United States. Coordinate and administer oral health services for a variety of populations in diverse settings (public health agencies, hospitals, school systems, etc.). Engage in intra and interprofessional collaborative activities with community leaders and health care professionals to manage the oral health needs of rural West Virginia. Provide didactic and clinical instruction in allied dental education programs. Pursue professional development through self-study, continuing education, research and advanced studies at the master’s and doctoral levels. Recruit, admit and retain students with the potential to succeed within the dental hygiene program. Create an environment conducive to faculty promotion, retention, and satisfaction. Career Profile After graduation, career opportunities include, but are not limited to, positions in a private dental practice, research, industry, hospitals, public schools, departments of health, institutions of higher learning, federal service and health care centers.

Program overview

Main Subject

Dentistry

Degree

Other

Study Level

Undergraduate

Dental hygiene is an exciting profession with many rewarding and challenging career opportunities that include clinical/patient care, administration, education, research and sales/marketing. Dental hygienists are employed in diverse settings such as private dental practices, clinics, hospitals, geriatric and special needs homes, correctional facilities, public health departments, school systems, allied dental education programs, national, state and local government agencies, and private/business industry. As a licensed health professional and oral health educator, the dental hygienist has an important role in the overall health and welfare of the public. The dental hygienist is an integral part of the dental team, providing direct patient care based on the prevention of disease. The duties and responsibilities of dental hygienists vary from state to state, but may include oral prophylaxis (removing stains and deposits from teeth), root debridement, exposing radiographs, application of preventive and therapeutic agents, local delivery of antimicrobial agents, nutritional counseling, oral, head and neck cancer screenings, and administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation. The educational background of a dental hygienist provides the knowledge, attitudes and skill necessary to be successful in a wide variety of careers. From research to clinician to public administration, dental hygiene opens the door to many successful career options. Program Goals: Possess a heightened awareness of social and cultural diversity, ethics and professionalism. Apply critical thinking to integrate current scientific principles/technology with the provision of evidenced-based, comprehensive health care. Perform to the level of clinical competency those legally approved oral health services as defined by the West Virginia State Board of Dental Examiners and the WVU School of Dentistry. Perform to the level of laboratory competency those legally approved oral health services (beyond the scope of the West Virginia practice act) stipulated in the practice acts of other states, districts, or territories of the United States. Coordinate and administer oral health services for a variety of populations in diverse settings (public health agencies, hospitals, school systems, etc.). Engage in intra and interprofessional collaborative activities with community leaders and health care professionals to manage the oral health needs of rural West Virginia. Provide didactic and clinical instruction in allied dental education programs. Pursue professional development through self-study, continuing education, research and advanced studies at the master’s and doctoral levels. Recruit, admit and retain students with the potential to succeed within the dental hygiene program. Create an environment conducive to faculty promotion, retention, and satisfaction. Career Profile After graduation, career opportunities include, but are not limited to, positions in a private dental practice, research, industry, hospitals, public schools, departments of health, institutions of higher learning, federal service and health care centers.

Admission requirements

61+
6+

Tuition fee and scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

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More programs from the university

West Virginia University, founded in 1867, is a land-grant institution – and WVU Morgantown is the flagship of a system of statewide campuses. WVU is committed to advancing education, healthcare and prosperity by providing access and opportunity to all. An R1 research institution – one of only 115 in the nation – WVU’s researchers are performing groundbreaking work in energy, physics and astronomy, neuroscience, forensic science and rural health.

WVU Morgantown’s enrollment of 28,409 includes students from all 50 U.S. states and over 2,300 international scholars from 107 nations. WVU offers more than 340 majors at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional levels from 14 colleges and schools. Majors range from accounting, music industry, aerospace engineering, biostatistics, astronomy, business, energy systems engineering and psychology to public health, global supply chain management, mining engineering, physics, sport management and strategic communications.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program is accredited by ABET; WVU is one of only three US universities that offer this major.

And WVU is the only US university to offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in forensic and investigative science and has the largest crime scene training complex in the US, which includes four crime scene houses, a vehicle processing center and a vault for bank robbery scenarios.

The University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1926, and individual programs hold dozens of specialized accreditations.

U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 America’s Best Graduate Schools included 19 WVU programs, with Petroleum Engineering at #12 and Pharmacy at #36. WVU is one the magazine’s Top 100 Public Universities, and the online Software Engineering graduate program is ranked #10. Bloomburg Business ranked WVU’s College of Business and Economics as the ninth-best for return on investment, and our Statler College of Engineering is ranked the 24th best value for an undergraduate program

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