Current Status of Post-Graduate Dental Hygiene Education in the United States

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore post-graduate dental hygiene education in the United States in order to acquire data and information that could be utilized for advancing dental hygiene education and stimulating the field of dental hygiene research in Korea. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Extensive literature review was conducted and official websites of all 22 schools that offer post-graduate dental hygiene programs and ADHA were utilized to obtain statistical data and significant information. Retrieved data were analyzed via Frequency analysis and descriptive analysis and then, visualized utilizing SPSS 20.0 for windows and Microsoft excel program. Findings: According to the official website of ADHA, based on survey data utilized in 2014, there are 332 dental hygiene programs (53 Baccalaureate level programs and 287 associate level programs) in America. Data revealed that 17 schools (77%) are offering Master of Science in Dental Hygiene (MSDH) while other five schools have related programs such as Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Master of Health Science (MHS). As these postgraduate dental hygiene programs’ most significant objective is to train and educate dental hygienists or dental hygiene students to succeed as educators, oral health professionals and researchers, they put a great emphasis on diversity, social and cultural sensitivity, health care policy, interpersonal collaboration advocacy, health informatics and technology, health promotion and disease prevention, leadership, professionalism, program development and administration, scholarly inquiry and research methodology. Improvements/Applications: Most post-graduate programs that conduct dental hygiene education in the states seem to focus on preparing their students to become educators, administrators and researchers in the field of dental hygiene.