Dental Hygiene

College of Rural and Community Development
Tanana Valley Campus 907-455-2834
www.tvc.uaf.edu/programs/health/dh/

A.A.S. Degree

Minimum Requirements for A.A.S. Degree: 69 credits

The registered dental hygienist is a licensed oral health educator and clinical operator who uses preventive, educational and therapeutic methods to help individuals and groups attain and maintain optimum oral health. The dental hygiene A.A.S degree is a three-year program with one year of prerequisite 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. Once enrolled as a dental hygiene student, the student can anticipate a four-semester, 40-hour-per-week intensive program. Some evening classes and clinics are scheduled.

The dental hygiene program has received initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the dental hygiene program is competitive. Six students per year are accepted, based on the following criteria:

1. Complete UAF application.
2. Complete dental hygiene program application.
3. Proof of immunity to rubella, rubeola, varicella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
4. Evidence of freedom from tuberculosis by PPD or chest X-ray within the previous six months.
5. Current CPR certification for health care providers.
6. Complete the required prerequisite with a C* (2.0) or better in each course, and an overall GPA of at least 2.5. GPA is considered in the admission criteria.
7. Scores on the Health Occupational Basic Entrance Test (HOBET).
8. Personal interview for top tier candidates.
9. Complete prerequisite courses**:
   BIOL F111X—Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4
   BIOL F112X—Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
   BIOL F240—Beginnings in Microbiology 4
   CHEM F103X—Basic General Chemistry 4
   CHEM F104X—Beginnings in Biochemistry: A Survey of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry 4
   HLTH F203—Science of Nutrition 3
   PSY F101—Introduction to Psychology 3

** Courses with equivalent content transferred from another university may be substituted for the above UAF courses.

Note: Additional information and a complete application packet are available at 907-455-2834 or 907-455-2805, fydh@uaf.edu, or www.tvc.uaf.edu/programs/health/dh/. It is strongly recommended that interested students work with the dental hygiene advisor while preparing to apply to the program.

Major — A.A.S. Degree

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the A.A.S. degree requirements. (As part of the degree requirements, complete SOC—F100X for the human relations requirement.)
3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
   HLTH F150—Dental Radiography and Lab 4
   DH F111—Dental Anatomy Embryology and Histology 2
   DH F112—Techniques for Dental Hygienists 7
   DH F114—Anatomy of the Orofacial Structures 2
   DH F121—Periodontics I—2
   DH F122—Techniques II for Dental Hygienists 4
   DH F165—Introduction to Dental Pharmacology 2
   DH F181—Clinical Practicum I 4
   DH F182—Clinical Seminar I 1
   DH F211—Periodontics II 2
   DH F212—Techniques III for Dental Hygienists 3
   DH F214—Pathology for Oral Tissues 2
   DH F224—Principles of Dental Health 3
   DH F283—Clinical Practicum II 5
   DH F284—Clinical Seminar II 1
   DH F285—Clinical Practicum III 6
   DH F286—Clinical Seminar III 1
   DH F310—Oral Pain Control 3
4. Minimum credits required—69 credits

* Students must earn a C grade or better in each course.