General Information for Pre-Dental Hygiene Students

The dental hygienist is a professional member of the dental health team dedicated to maintaining oral health and preventing dental diseases and disorders. Although dental hygiene functions vary from state to state, examples of some of the functions routinely performed by a dental hygienist include:

thorough examination of the teeth and oral structures, including a soft tissue exam;
removal of calculus, stain and plaque from above and below the gumline;
application of caries - preventive agents, such as fluorides and fissure sealants;
instruction on plaque control and development of oral hygiene programs for individuals;
instruction of patients in the relationship between diet and oral health;
exposure, processing and interpretations of dental x-rays;
placement of temporary fillings and periodontal dressings, removal of sutures, and polishing and recontouring amalgam fillings;
oral hygiene education of individual patients, the general public and special population groups;
oral cancer and blood pressure screenings; and
designing and implementing community dental health programs.

Most dental hygienists work in private dental offices and dental clinics. Other dental hygienists work in such settings as public health agencies, school systems, hospitals and clinics, correctional facilities and Health Maintenance Organizations. Graduates of two- or three-year certificate or associate degree programs should realize that they can elect to continue their education to the baccalaureate level and beyond, and become eligible for beginning dental hygiene teaching or administrative public health positions.

A growing public awareness of the importance of oral health and the availability of dental insurance programs has created a strong demand for dental hygienists. In addition, younger dentists are more likely to hire hygienists because dental schools are teaching students to make effective use of support staff in their practices.

About half of all dental hygienists work part-time, less than 35 hours per week. A large degree of flexible scheduling is available with some choosing to work evenings and on weekends. Many dentists hire dental hygienists to work two or three days per week, so hygienists may have jobs in more than one dental office. Dental hygienist’s salaries are affected by location, education, and experience. Dental hygienists working in private offices are usually paid by the hour. The mean starting salary is $15.20 per hour. Experienced hygienists average $17.50 per hour. Working full-time, hygienists may earn $35,000 per year.

Types of Programs
There are several types of programs which can lead to professional licensure and advancement in the field of dental hygiene. These include:

Associate Degree - These programs are usually three years in length. The majority of dental hygiene programs lead to an associate degree. The first year consists of prerequisite courses which can be taken at a university, and the following two years consist of dental hygiene study in a clinical setting. At the completion of the three years, the associate degree is awarded.

Bachelor of Science Degree - These programs usually require an associate degree in dental hygiene as a prerequisite for admission and are designed to prepare graduates for careers in public health, educational institutions, and research. The degree is awarded after completion of one additional year of study in a dental hygiene program.

Master’s Degree - Six universities offer a master’s degree in dental hygiene. These programs require a four-year bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene as a prerequisite for admission and are designed to prepare the student for advanced positions in educational institutions, administration, public health and research. They usually require one or two years of study.

NOTE: Students interested in a career in dental hygiene should contact the directors of the programs of their choice as early as possible to discuss entrance requirements, course equivalents and application procedures. Factors taken into consideration for admission include but are not limited to high school rank, SAT or ACT scores, college grade point average, personal interview and knowledge of the dental hygiene profession.

Licensure
To become a practicing dental hygienist, a student must be a graduate of an accredited program and must pass a state board dental hygiene licensing examination in the state in which he/she intends to practice. The initials R.D.H. may be used by a hygienist who has passed the state board licensing examination.

Prerequisite Courses
Students applying to the dental hygiene program must have completed a minimum of 25 semester hours including the following courses:

English Composition	ENGL 108	3 credits
Public Speaking	COM 114 or COM 212	3 credits
Introductory Psychology	PSY 120	3 credits
Introductory Sociology	SOC 100	3 credits
Chemistry	CHM 111/112 or CHM 115	4-6 credits
Human Anatomy & Physiology	BIOL 203/204 or BIOL 301/302	6 credits
Arts and Humanities	two courses from: art history, music appreciation, religion, foreign language, history, philosophy, English literature, or folklore	6 credits

NOTE: Students should establish contact with the dental hygiene program of their choice as soon as a decision is made to take the prerequisites. The school will then establish a counseling file and provide assistance during this crucial period.

Dental Hygiene Program at Indiana University
Indiana University School of Dentistry Statewide Programs offer a three-year Associate in Science Degree in dental hygiene, including one year of prerequisite college courses and two years of dental hygiene study. A Bachelor of Science degree in public health dental hygiene is available to dental hygienists who complete one additional year of study. This degree prepares hygienists for careers in public health, educational institutions and research.

The first year of prerequisite courses may be taken at any accredited college or university. Preference is not given to students attending Indiana University. However, courses taken at other universities must be equivalent to those offered at IU with grades of “C” or better in order to be transferable. Applicants must maintain a 2.5 average in the required science courses to be considered for admission.

Although courses with a minimum of “C” will be accepted for transfer, an overall average of “B” or better is more realistic in terms of competitiveness for admission. The average GPA for those accepted in 2001 was 3.36.

Application Procedure
Application materials include the following:

1. Completed application form for undergraduate admission to IU (there is an application fee for IUPUI but none for the dental hygiene program).
2. Completed dental hygiene application including the following curriculum information:

a. courses completed
b. courses currently being taken
c. planned courses

3. Official high school transcript which includes:

a. all high school grades received
b. class rank upon graduation
c. SAT or ACT scores
d. date of graduation

4. Official college transcripts. (Send two transcripts to the IU School of Dentistry - one transcript remains at IUSD, the other will be forwarded to the IUPUI Admissions Office).

a. grade from the fall semester must be on file by the February 1 deadline
b. spring semester grades must be forwarded at the end of the semester
c. students must be responsible for having transcripts forwarded from the Office of the Registrar of the school(s) they have attended
d. this includes a transcript from each college previously attended

Application Deadline
All materials must have been received by February 1 of the year in which the student wants to enter the program. This is a firm deadline.

Amy Terstriep
Health Professions Advisor
Purdue University
1-19 Lilly Hall of Life Sciences
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054
(765) 494-4747