What are the Top Undergraduate Dental Hygienist Schools?

If you have recently decided to pursue a degree in dental hygiene, you are probably beginning to research a variety of schools. Selecting the right program for you will take time and consideration. There are many options for specialties. Location, size of the school and internship opportunities may all be on the top of your list of things to consider. You may decide that if you are going to go for the degree, you should apply to the best programs. There are top undergraduate dental hygienist schools all over the country, from southern California to Pennsylvania. Here are a few of the programs that are rated among the best. 

The University of Louisville offers a comprehensive four-year dental hygienist degree. The curriculum provides a broad-based foundation in a variety of settings, teaching critical thinking and analytical skills. General education classes fill the liberal arts requirements during the first two years. The last years are spent primarily in the dental school facilities. Clinical courses and practical experience are emphasized. The minimum grade point average varies from year to year, so it is wise to check the requirements before applying. The University of Pittsburgh Dental Hygiene Program is the single one in the state that has an affiliation with a major university. It operates in conjunction with the School of Dental Medicine including the UPMC hospitals. 

Clinical, didactic and research activities are emphasized throughout the program. The initial two-year course provides students with a certificate in Dental Hygiene. There are several pre-requisites for students who wish to earn the bachelor’s degree after certificate completion. They include, but are not limited to a biology and a chemistry class, each with an accompanying lab, English Composition, and at least an introductory Sociology course. Personal interviews conducted by the admissions committee, three references and attending at the Dental Hygiene Applicant seminar are also necessary. The University of Southern California’s Los Angeles campus contains the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. A Dental Hygiene certificate is required for entry into the program.

The emphasis in this program, along with many of the other top programs is on ethics, values and clinical skills. The role in the dental community is fully explored. Students have significant hands-on experience by the time they graduate. They are taught to problem solve and interact with a variety of different people, from dentists to patients. The top undergraduate dental hygienist schools have fully accredited programs and competitive admissions. Although each varies somewhat, they all demand excellence. For those individuals who graduate with a bachelor’s degree, they will find that their skills are in high demand and that their salary is also higher than in other entry-level positions. School size, tuition and program focus should be among the primary considerations when choosing the program that is right for you.