Dental Hygiene

In as little as 3 years, you can become a licensed dental professional providing patient care.

UMA offers the only accredited Dental Hygiene program at a public institution in Maine with tuition nearly 75% less than an in-state private school. UMA offers a three-year Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene degree with the option to complete one additional year to earn a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. Class size is limited to 20 therefore students receive careful monitoring of progress in a supportive atmosphere.

A flexible schedule and an appealing income, typically without working nights, weekends, or holidays with your education provided at a highly-regarded, state-of-the-art facility are all reasons to select this profession and attend UMA.

For additional dental hygiene licensure application information as well as Maine dental practice laws and rules, please visit Maine Board of Dental Practice.

“The Dental Hygiene Program allows me to achieve a fulfilling, flexible career with a great starting salary. Receiving a Bachelors of Science degree in Dental Hygiene allows me to choose a career path that ranges from working at a dental office to being a sales representative in the dental field.“

– Rachel Ruel

Get to the Heart of the Matter

The Dental Hygiene Program combines advanced dental health courses with general studies classes so that students are both well-rounded and ready upon graduation to perform clinical services such as patient assessment, instrumentation, dental radiography, application of fluorides and sealants, and administration of local anesthesia. Students are also skilled as oral health educators to teach patients and the community the principles of preventive oral health care.

You will take…

A curriculum that is designed to give the student a well-rounded foundation in the health sciences, specific knowledge and clinical skills in the dental sciences, and an understanding in the humanities. The clinical courses are offered at the Programs’ on-site clinic where patients from the community serve as the primary learning experiences.

In just one semester I have learned so much about dental hygiene. They say you learn something new every day; well, that sure is true with this profession. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds!

– Bryanne Starbird

You will graduate with the ability to…

Transition seamlessly from the program to several career options of clinical practice, schools, and public health agencies where the occupational outlook is strong and demand is rising for graduates. Continued opportunities for career growth are possible through UMA’s Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program or as a registered dental hygienist in UMA’s Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) program.

UMA degrees are flexible. Here is a sample of how you could complete your Dental Hygiene degree.

Courses are subject to change. View the official UMA Catalog here.

First Year

Fall
BIO 210	Anatomy & Physiology (4)
CHY 103 or CHY 117 or CHY 115 and CHY 116	Chemistry for the Life Sciences or Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry or General Chemistry I and General Chemistry 116 (4)
ENG 101	College Writing (3)
PSY 100	Intro to Psychology (3)
SOC 101	Intro to Sociology (3)

Spring
BIO 345	Pathophysiology (3)
BIO 321	Microbiology (4)
COM 101/102	Communications (3)
MAT XXX	MAT 111 or higher (3)
XXX XXX (W)	Humanities (Writing Intensive) (3)

Second Year

Fall
DEH 200	Preclinical DH (4)
DEH 201	Preclinical DH Theory (5)
DEH 202	Head/Neck Anatomy, Histology & Embryology (5)
DEH 203	Dental Radiology (2)
DEH 204	Dental Radiology Lab (1)

Spring
DEH 250	Clinical DH I (2)
DEH 251	Clinical DH Theory I (3)
DEH 225	Professionalism (1)
DEH 252	Oral Pathology (2)
DEH 254	Nutrition in Oral Health (2)
DEH 255	Oral Health Considerations for Target Populations (2)
DEH 302	Pharmacology (3)

Third Year

Fall
DEH 300	Clinical DH II (3)
DEH 301	Clinical DH Theory II (3)
DEH 303	Periodontology (2)
DEH 304	Dental Anxiety & Pain Management (3)
DEH 305	Dental Public Health I (2)

Spring
DEH 350	Clinical DH II (4)
DEH 351	DH Theory III (2)
DEH 352	Dental Specialties (2)
DEH 353	Dental Public Health II (2)
DEH 354	Ethics & Jurisprudence (2)

Fourth Year

Fall
DEH 449	Current Concepts in DH I (3)
ENG 317W	Professional Writing (3)
XXX XXX	Fine Arts Requirement (3)
XXX XXX	Humanities Requirement (3)
DEH 400, or DEH 494, or DEH 380	Dental Hygiene Practicum, or Independent Study, or Preclinical Expanded Functions (6)

Spring
DEH 489	Current Concepts in DH II (3)
MAT 115	Elementary Statistics (3)
CIS 100/101	Computer Science (3)
XXX XXX	Cultural Diversity Requirement (3)

Dental Hygiene Program Learning Outcomes

Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the student will be able to:

competently practice dental hygiene in a variety of health care and educational settings,
demonstrate concern for the quality of care,
exhibit an intellectual curiosity which will enable them to respond to a changing profession and society.

Transition seamlessly from the program to several career options where the occupational outlook is strong and demand is rising for graduates.

Career options in the high-demand occupation of dental hygiene include positions of responsibility in a variety of settings:

Dental offices of general dentists and specialists.
Public health agencies, hospitals and community health clinics.
Public school systems and dental hygiene educational programs.
Dental equipment and product sales and research.

Career options include excellent compensation and often include flexible work schedules and benefits.

Employment Opportunities

The UMA Dental Health Programs often receive job opportunities from dental offices and dental employment agencies throughout the state of Maine and posts them as a professional courtesy. Visit Employment Opportunities to see what positions might be available in your area.

UMA Career Advising

Looking for job, internship or career information? Look no further than UMA Career Connections!

Dental Hygiene Program Competencies

1. Professionalism
2. Dental Hygiene Process of Care
3. Community Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Professionalism

1.1 Professional growth and development	Courses having objectives in this area
1.1.1 Lifelong Learning	DEH 351, DEH 225
1.1.2 Employment Skills	DEH 201, DEH 351, DEH 225

1.2 Ethics	Courses having objectives in this area
1.2.1 Apply Code of Ethics	DEH 304, DEH 354, DEH 225
1.2.2 Adhere to the practice act and other regulations governing the profession	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 204, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 304, DEH 305, DEH 350, DEH 353, DEH 354
1.2.3 Practice cultural sensitivity	DEH 254, DEH 255, DEH 353, DEH 354, DEH 225
1.2.4 Reasonably prudent provider/ risk management	DEH 203, DEH 304, DEH 354

1.3 Information Processing	Courses having objectives in this area
1.3.1 Critique/evaluate/analyze professional information	DEH 251, DEH 254, DEH 255, DEH 303, DEH 305, DEH 351
1.3.2 Evidence-based decision making/problem solving	DEH 251, DEH 254, DEH 305, DEH 351, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 350
1.3.3 Professional communication (written, verbal)/sharing professional (scientific) knowledge & Behavior	DEH 201, DEH 202, DEH 203, DEH 204, DEH 225, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 252, DEH 254, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 302, DEH 303, DEH 304, DEH 305, DEH 350, DEH 351, DEH 352

1.4 Safety (IC, OSHA, etc)	Courses having objectives in this area
	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 203, DEH 204,DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 304, DEH 350, DEH 354

Dental Hygiene Process of Care

2.1 Knowledge and understanding of scientific and theoretical basis of the DH process of care	Courses having objectives in this area
	DEH 201, DEH 202, DEH 203, DEH 204, DEH 251, DEH 252, DEH 254, DEH 255, DEH 302, DEH 303, DEH 304

2.2 Assessment	Courses having objectives in this area
2.2.1 Medical and dental histories	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 202, DEH 204, DEH 250, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 302, DEH 303, DEH 304, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.2.2 Vital signs	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 250, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 304, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.2.3 Extra/intra-oral examination	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 202, DEH 250, DEH 252, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.2.4 Periodontal and dental examination	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 202, DEH 250, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.2.5 Radiographs	DEH 203, DEH 204, DEH 250, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.2.6 Indices	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 202, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 303, DEH 305, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.2.7 Risk assessments (i.e., tobacco, systemic, caries)	DEH 201, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 252, DEH 254, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351

2.3 Planning	Courses having objectives in this area
2.3.1 Dental Hygiene diagnosis	DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 252, DEH 254, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.3.2 Dental hygiene treatment plan	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 204, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 254, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 302, DEH 303, DEH 304, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.3.3 Informed consent	DEH 200, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 350, DEH 351, DEH 354
2.3.4 Dental hygiene case presentation	DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 350, DEH 351

2.4 Implementation	Courses having objectives in this area
2.4.1 Infection control	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 204, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 304, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.4.2 Periodontal debridement and scaling	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.4.3 Pain management	DEH 202, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 302, DEH 304, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.4.4 Application of chemotherapeutic agents	DEH 251, DEH 301, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.4.5 Fluoride therapy	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 300, DEH 305, DEH 351
2.4.6 Application of pit and fissure sealants	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 300, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.4.7 Care of oral prostheses	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 300, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.4.8 Care and maintenance of restorations	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 303, DEH 351, DEH 352
2.4.9 Health education and preventive counseling	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 202, DEH 203, DEH 250, DEH 251, DEH 252, DEH 254, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 302, DEH 305, DEH 350, DEH 351, DEH 352
2.4.10 Nutritional counseling related to oral and systemic health	DEH 254, DEH 303, DEH 351, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 350
2.4.11 Management of emergencies	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 302, DEH 304, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.4.12 Supportive procedures (impressions, study casts, video photography, instrument processing, sterilization, chairside assisting)	DEH 200, DEH 250, DEH 201, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 350, DEH 351, DEH 352

2.5 Evaluation	Courses having objectives in this area
2.5.2 Reevaluation of oral and periodontal health status	DEH 201, DEH 202, DEH 203, DEH 250, DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.5.3 Subsequent treatment needs	DEH 250, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.5.5 Continuing care (recall)	DEH 250, DEH 254, DEH 300, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351
2.5.6 Referral	DEH 204, DEH 250, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 303, DEH 350, DEH 351, DEH 352

2.6 Documentation	Courses having objectives in this area
	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 204, DEH 250, DEH 252 DEH 300, DEH 301, DEH 302, DEH 304, DEH 350, DEH 354

Community Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

3.1 Community involvement	Courses having objectives in this area
3.1.1 Education and communication (such as presenting programs to increase health awareness)	DEH 255, DEH 305, DEH 353
3.1.2 Promotion of access to care	DEH 255, DEH 305, DEH 353
3.1.2a Assessment (epidemiology, etc)	DEH 305, DEH 353
3.1.2b Evaluation of available resources	DEH 305, DEH 353
3.1.2c Facilitation of care utilization/access	DEH 305, DEH 353
3.1.2d Inter-Professional Collaboration	DEH 200, DEH 201, DEH 225, DEH 250, DEH 255, DEH 300, DEH 350, DEH 353
3.1.2e Intra-Professional Collaboration	DEH 225, DEH 300