Department of Dental Hygiene

Return to: Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions

Department Chair: Stephanie Bossenberger, RDH, M.S.
Location: Allied Health, Room 475
Telephone Contact: Melody Neely 801-626-6130
Professors: Stephanie Bossenberger, Frances McConaughy; Associate Professors: Susan Alexander, Shelly Costley; Assistant Professors: Jeffrey Shane Perry; Instructor: Jennifer Wold

The dental hygienist is a health educator and clinician concerned with the prevention of dental disease. Dental hygienists perform their services in a variety of settings, and are members of the dental team who are licensed to provide services directly to the client. Dental hygienists provide oral health education, remove deposits from around the teeth and gums, expose dental radiographs and deliver other treatments to prevent and manage dental disease.

The dental hygiene curriculum is three years in length. The first year may be completed at any accredited college or university and consists of pre dental hygiene courses. These courses include: chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, English, public speaking, psychology, sociology and nutrition. This year of pre-dental hygiene courses is followed by two years of specialized study in dental hygiene. The two year dental hygiene curriculum includes practical experience in the WSU Dental Hygiene Clinic. Students also rotate to off-campus sites for extended clinical experiences.

Students who successfully complete the three-year curriculum are awarded an Associate of Science degree from Weber State. A fourth year leading to a bachelor’s degree is optional. To become a licensed dental hygienist, each student must successfully pass a written National Board Exam and a practical regional exam. The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

Programs

• Dental Hygiene (AS)

• Dental Hygiene (BS)

Return to: Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions