Chair: Dr. Janice P. DeWald

The Caruth School of Dental Hygiene educates preventive oral health professionals who are capable of providing educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. 

Dental hygiene offers an excellent opportunity to serve the community in private dental practices, dental clinics, public health agencies, schools, hospitals, government agencies, industry, education and research.

The dental hygiene faculty is primarily responsible for didactic and clinical teaching in the undergraduate program but also has teaching responsibilities to the dental hygiene graduate program with some instruction to the first- and second-year dental students and graduate students enrolled in the Health Professions Education program.

The Master’s in Dental Hygiene degree has been offered since 1996. Two tracks allow students to pursue a focus in either teaching or administration. Courses are taken at the college and at affiliated universities.

Faculty focus in research is mostly educational and related to program improvement.