Dental Hygiene

What is a dental hygienist?

Dental hygienists are licensed dental health professionals who specialize in educational, preventive, and therapeutic oral health care for the public. In Indiana, dental hygienists are required to complete a minimum of one year of prerequisite college courses and two years of dental hygiene courses at an accredited college or university. At IUFW, we offer a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH), with 2 concentration tracks—community dental hygiene and dental hygiene health care administration.

Most dental hygienists are employed in private dental offices where their duties include:

  • cleaning teeth
  • taking and processing x-rays
  • applying fluoride treatments and sealants
  • teaching correct oral health care techniques to patients
  • examining teeth and surrounding tissues
  • screening for hypertension and oral cancer
  • providing nutritional counseling to dental patients

How do you earn a degree in dental hygiene?

To earn an Indiana University Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, you will complete 120 credit hours of course work. Most courses are 3 credit hours but some vary. You can choose between two concentration tracks: community dental hygiene and dental hygiene health care administration

Learn more about the degree requirements

Learn more about the healthcare administration track

Academic advising

As a dental hygiene student at IU Fort Wayne, you'll work closely with your academic advisor to select and register for classes that apply toward the degree program. Your advisor will help monitor your progress to ensure you are on the right track to a successful career in dental hygiene.

Learn more about academic advising

Accreditation

The dental hygiene program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or https://www.ada.org/en/coda. Their address is 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678.