About the Department of Dental Hygiene

In our Department of Dental Hygiene, you'll combine the study of dental hygiene theory with supervised clinical practice. You'll graduate ready to devote your life to improving the oral health of individuals and communities.

Degree programs

The teachers are very friendly and genuine; they are always willing to help and give great advice, and they have especially made me feel great about my decision to become a dental hygienist.

Heather Barker

Read what 色香视频 students say about our B.S. in Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene by the numbers

5,000

patients served each year at our on-campus dental hygiene clinic

 

20

number of dental chair stations in our clinic, along with five X-ray operatories

 

14

average hours per week third- and fourth-year students spend providing care to patients

The 色香视频 Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

For decades, 色香视频鈥檚 Portland Campus has been home to many of the University鈥檚 health professions programs including PA, PT, OT, pharmacy, nursing, dental medicine, and more. In 2025, 色香视频鈥檚 College of Osteopathic Medicine will move from the Biddeford Campus into the new Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences in Portland. By bringing our health professions programs together into one interprofessional learning community, we will establish 色香视频鈥檚 Portland Campus for the Health Sciences as the center of health care education in Northern New England.

Learn about exciting changes on 色香视频鈥檚 Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

Maine鈥檚 Leading University for the Health Professions and Sciences

Beautiful locations

As a student in our Department of Dental Hygiene, you first study on 色香视频's scenic Biddeford Campus, where the waters of the Saco River flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Recently named the youngest city in Maine, Biddeford and its twin city, Saco, boast an up-and-coming, hip downtown offering delicious eateries, exciting social and cultural events, and more. With the transformation of the old Biddeford/Saco mills into restaurants, breweries, housing, fitness facilities, salons, and retailers, there is something for everyone to explore in downtown. Looking to try a new type of food, grab a coffee, or shop for locally-made clothes? Biddeford/Saco has it all.

Once you enter the clinical phase, you study on our historic Portland Campus. Located in a quiet neighborhood that is a 10-minute drive from downtown Portland, campus is close to major clinical sites, shopping, nightlife, cultural events, restaurants, the beaches, the harbor, walking and biking trails and much more. Named 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Most Livable City鈥 by Forbes and 鈥淔oodiest Small Town in America鈥 by Bon Appetit, Portland is the city on every list. A rustic port hosts a cool cultural scene 鈥 with outdoor adventure all around.

Take a Virtual Tour of Our Biddeford Campus

 

Take a Virtual Tour of Our Portland Campus

U.S. News and World Report

 in its "100 Best Jobs of 2021."

Accreditation

色香视频 is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.

CODA Solicitation of Comments

90 Day Notice for Solicitation of Comments

The Commission establishes a seven-year cycle for accreditation review. The approximate date for the next validation review of the Dental Hygiene Program by CODA will be September 24鈥25. The Commission requires the Dental Hygiene Program to solicit third-party comments through the notification of communities of interest and the public, faculty, students, program administrators, specialty and dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers at least ninety (90) days prior to their site visit. The notice should indicate the deadline of sixty (60) days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that comments must be signed. Comments must relate to standards and policies. The deadline for comments is July 24, 2024. Signatures will be removed before being forwarded to the school.

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