Academic requirements

The registered dental hygienist is a licensed oral health educator and clinical operator who, as part of the dental team, uses preventive, educational, and therapeutic methods which aid individuals and groups to attain and maintain optimum oral health. Dental hygienists can work as clinicians, educators, researchers, administrators, managers, preventive program developers, consumer advocates, sales and marketing managers, editors, and consultants. Clinical dental hygienists may work in a variety of health care settings such as private dental offices, schools, public health clinics, hospitals, managed care organizations, correctional institutions, or nursing homes.

The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.  The program at UAF/TVC has recently had the preliminary CODA site visit and currently holds the status of “initial accreditation.”

The Associate of Applied Science degree is a three-year endeavor comprising one year of science and general education courses and two years of course work in dental hygiene. The program prepares graduates clinically and academically to take the National and Western Regional Examining Boards for licensure. Clinical dental hygiene requires the ability to sit or stand for long periods of time, good to excellent eye-hand coordination and excellent fine hand motor skills. Due to the nature of the clinical experiences in the dental hygiene program, students will be participating in a work environment that has the potential of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and viruses.  Use of protective glasses, face masks, surgical type gloves, and protective clothing (to be decided by the faculty) is required. A professional appearance must be maintained during preclinical and clinical sessions.  Occupational disorders may result from repetitive activities and exposure to high decibel sounds.  Advancements in technology and design in the profession are improving to minimize these effects.

Due to the nature of the work, students are not permitted to work in the classroom, laboratory or clinic when under the influence of intoxicants, drugs, or medication affecting psychomotor responses.   If a student appears to be under the influence, they will be removed from  the class, clinic or laboratory session.

Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental-Health Care Settings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be followed for students with or exposure to, infectious diseases. As a condition of participation in the Dental Hygiene Program students must abide by the University's "Student Code of Conduct," the Dental Hygiene Program's "Policies and Procedures," and the American Dental Hygienists' Association "Code of Ethics for Dental Hygienists."

Application for obtaining an Alaska dental hygiene license requires information concerning illegal activity, crimes, hospitalization history regarding emotional or mental illness, drug addiction, alcoholism and contagious diseases. If these are issues for the applicant it is highly recommended the applicant contact the Alaska Department of Occupational Licensing or a similar government agency in any state in which the applicant wants to practice. The UAF/TVC  Dental Hygiene Program application requires information concerning disciplinary actions taken at any university or college.

Some expenses beyond tuition generally include individual course lab fee, activity fees, instruments, uniforms, student organization membership, graduation pin, immunizations, cost of Basic Life Support class, licensure fees, and student health insurance and malpractice insurance for the Western Regional Examining Boards and professional liability insurance.

Once enrolled as a dental hygiene student, the student can anticipate a four semester, 40-hour-per-week intensive endeavor. Some evening classes and clinics are scheduled.

Preclinical and clinical requirements

Once admitted to the Dental Hygiene program students are required to provide the following by the first day of class:

  1. A signed application form indicating the understanding and acceptance of the Dental Hygiene Programs requirements regarding health screening, vaccinations, and immunizations.
  2. Current Basic Life Support Certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for infants, children, and adults. First year students must present proof of certification at orientation. Certification must be kept current until graduation.
  3. Professional liability insurance must be maintained throughout the duration of the student's enrollment in Dental Hygiene courses. Specific information regarding acceptable professional liability insurance policies may be obtained directly from the Program.
  4. Students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program must provide their own transportation to all off campus assignments.
  5. The Program assumes no responsibility for illnesses and injuries experienced by the student while enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program.
  6. Students are responsible for all costs incurred due to illness or injury experienced by the student while enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program.
  7. It is required that students maintain personal medical insurance while enrolled in the Program.
  8. In order to satisfy clinical requirements, it is the student’s responsibility for securing and providing both adult and child patients to meet clinical requirements.

Associate of Applied Science, Dental Hygiene
Description and Outcomes

This degree program prepares students to pass the American Dental Association (ADA) National  Dental Hygiene Board examination (written examination) and the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) clinical examination and the WREB Anesthesia Examination (written and clinical) so that they are able to work in the dental hygiene field.  At the completion of the program, students are able to demonstrate:

  1. Technical skills, attitude, values and professional demeanor to perform occupationally related procedures in various settings.
  2. Academic and clinical proficiency necessary to succeed on national and regional examinations.
  3. Entry- level occupational skills to work for a variety of employers and in a variety of setting.
  4. Critical thinking and problem solving.

Admission Requirements

Application Procedure:

To be considered for admission, the application process must be completed by May for acceptance into the program beginning in the fall of the same year:

  1. Complete the Dental Hygiene program application and submit to the address below.             (Application will not be available until the Spring of 2009)
  2. Provide proof of admittance into the University of Alaska as a pre-major dental hygiene   student.
  3. Request official transcripts  and transcript credit evaluation be sent to the Dental Hygiene program to provide proof of completion of the courses listed under Admission Requirements 3 and 4.
  4. Take the HOBET exam- contact UAF testing 907-455-5277 for availability (Applicants are able to take the HOBET only once in a 12 month period.)
  5. UAF/TVC will not be admitting a new class until Fall 2009.

Advising: Student should contact the Dental Hygiene Program advisor for details.

Academic Progress: Students must earn at least 75 percent or higher in each dental hygiene course.

Graduation Requrements: Students must complete the following graduation requirements:

General University Requirements

  1. Complete the Associate of Applied Science requirements (15 credits) located on page 87 of the UAF 2007-2008 catalog.
  2. Complete the courses under Dental Hygiene admission requirements (26 credits).
  3. Complete the MAJOR REQUIREMENTS listed below (54 credits).

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:

Fall Semester 1st year                      (18 credits)
credits
  HLTH F150 and HLTH F150 L Dental Radiography
4
  DH F 111 Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy
2
  DH F 112 Techniques I for Dental Hygienists
7
  DH F 114 Anatomy of the Orofacial Structures
2
  *HLTH F 203 Science of Nutrition
3
*Due to a heavy credit load, it is strongly recommended that the nutrition course be taken prior to formal admission into the Dental Hygiene program.  
     
Spring Semester 1st year                  (13 credits)  
  DH F 121 Periodontics II 2
  DH F 122 Techniques II for Dental Hygienists 4
  DH F 165 Pharmacology for Dental Hygienists 2
  DH F 181 Clinical Practicum I 4 
  DH F 182 Clinical Seminar I      1
     
Fall Semester 2nd year                     (16 credits)  
  DH F 211 Current Periodontal Therapies 2
  DH F 212 Techniques III for Dental Hygienists 3
  DH F 214 Pathology of the Oral Tissues 2
  DH F 283 Clinical Practicum II 5
  DH F 284 Clinical Seminar II 1
  DH F 310 Oral Pain Control 3
     
Spring Semester 2nd year                (10 credits)  
  DH A224 Principles of Dental Health 3
  DH F 285 Clinical Practicum III 6
  DH F 286 Clinical Seminar III 1
     
Students must maintain a 75 percent in each dental hygiene course.  

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

    

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