The Dental Hygiene curriculum prepares the student to become a qualified Dental Hygiene practitioner, whose primary responsibility is to promote optimal health through the provision of preventive and educational services. Course material and time are functionally divided between theory and technique in dental sciences. Individualized instruction is optimized by modern, professional equipment in the clinical and laboratory areas. Instruction in functions permitted by the New York State Dental Practice Act is provided at the Dental Hygiene Clinic on campus and various dental affiliations within the communities in the Capital District.
All clinical settings comply with state and federal health and safety regulations.
Second semester seniors are eligible to sit for the National Boards for Dental Hygiene and the Northeast Regional Boards. New York State Dental Hygiene licensure requires the applicant be of good moral character. An applicant for licensure who has been convicted of a crime, or has committed an act which raises a reasonable question as to their moral character, will be subject to review by the state prior to licensure. There will be additional expenses for national exams and application for licensure in the final senior year. Transportation for off-campus affiliation assignments is the responsibility of the student.