Dental Hygiene
At the University of Mississippi, dental hygiene is a 2+2 program that is not completed at the University of Mississippi-Oxford campus. Traditionally, UM students take two years of coursework then apply to the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program in Jackson, MS. Acceptance into the final two years of clinical coursework is competitive and class size is limited.
While at UM, you will be enrolled in the Allied Health Studies major and be assigned an academic counselor who will ensure that you have the pre-requisite courses needed to be able to apply to a dental hygiene school of your choice. Pre-requisite requirements are determined by your schools of interest. Our office not only keeps you on track with pre-requisites, we provide tutoring, application assistance, mock interviews to help prepare for the actual interview, and help with locating schools based on the your criteria.
About Dental Hygiene
Registered dental hygienists are licensed oral health care professionals. Generally, dental hygienists provide direct patient care services that promote the overall health and well-being of the oral environment including the head and neck region. This care can limit the extent of cavities and periodontal disease by using a variety of diagnostic aids which includes developing a care plan in conjunction with the patient’s goals and needs, providing oral health education, and performing preventive (fluorides, sealants) and therapeutic services (non-surgical periodontal therapy) according to individual needs.
Baccalaureate graduates are employed as clinical practitioners, educators, researchers, administrators, managers, preventive program developers, consultants and in public health agencies. Registered/licensed dental hygienists practice according to the requirements of individual state dental practice acts.