Dental Hygiene
The TVC Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). A registered dental hygienist is a licensed professional who has graduated from an ADA/CODA accredited dental hygiene school and has successfully passed the written National Dental Hygiene Board Exam and the Western Regional Examining Board clinical exam.The dental hygienist is highly educated and trained as a clinical provider to assess a patient’s oral health, perform diagnosed treatment such as cleaning teeth for children and adults, complex periodontal therapy, taking x-rays, applying fluoride to teeth, placing periodontal therapeutic agents and sealants. As an integral member of the dental health team, the dental hygienist educates the dental patient of other diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which may be affected by poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease and infection, and assists the patient in achieving oral health.
In Alaska, a licensed dental hygienist, under separate certificate, is able to administer local anesthetic and nitrous oxide. This is available only after successfully passing the requirements established in the Alaska Statutes and Regulations for Dentists and Dental Hygienists, and passing written and clinical boards.
A dental hygienist may work as a clinician in a private practice office, in specialty practices such as periodontics, pediatrics, orthodontics, in facilities of public health, managed care, and research, correctional institutions, hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. They may be employed as educators, managers, oral preventative program developers, researchers, sales, consumer advocates, editors, and consultants.
Acceptance into the TVC dental hygiene program is competitive and requires documentation of current immunizations, and appropriate titer to hepatitis B and chicken pox. Six students are accepted per cohort. The next cohort will begin in September 2009.
Rena Bower, CDA, RDH, BSOE
Program Coordinator
Assistant Professor,
Phone: 455-2834
Email: ffrll@uaf.edu
Debbie Burkhardt
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 455-2822
Email: fndlb2@uaf.edu
Page Last modified: April 03 2008.
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