Dental Hygiene Degree Program

Specific Admission Requirements

The Dental Hygiene program provides an extensive educational background for students seeking careers as Dental Hygienists. The program places a major emphasis on clinical work experience in the modern campus clinic as well as a variety of outside agencies and clinics. The clinical work is combined with classroom study in Dental Sciences, English, Biological Science, Nutrition and Social Sciences.

The degree of Associate in Science with a major in Dental Hygiene is awarded upon successful completion of the program. Graduates are able to find employment as hygienists or to continue their education at the baccalaureate level.

Admission to the Dental Hygiene program is very competitive. Selection is determined by a cumulative point system that is based upon high school level prerequisite courses and grades, applicable college courses and grades (only those courses required in the dental hygiene program), and the NLN score.

College level science and technical courses required in the program (e.g., Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, etc.) taken more than five (5) years prior to the desired date of entry into the Dental Hygiene must be either repeated or challenged. Final decisions will rest with the Department Head of Dental Hygiene.

Prior to the start of the clinical dental courses, students are required to have on file in the Health Services Office (603)271-7153 documentation of: current medical insurance; a complete physical examination; current immunizations; and current CPR certification for one and two person adult, infant, and child. Professional liability insurance is arranged by the College and will automatically be charged to the student’s account.

NHTI has transfer affiliations with four year institutions including:

• New England College
• University of Rhode Island
• Vermont Technical College

Please access suggestions on transferring to other institutions here.

FACTS ABOUT OUR DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM THAT MAKE IT SO SPECIAL

PROGRAM QUALITY

• Accredited by the American Dental Association
• Established in 1970
• High success rate in national and clinical board exams
• Excellent reputation in the dental community
• Low faculty/student ratios in clinics
• Modern, state of the art equipment

CURRICULUM FEATURES

• Hours of clinical experience with individual instruction
• Varied opportunities in the public health settings
• Transferability of general education courses
• Updated information from guest speakers in the profession
• Integration of computer work into the programs

Curriculum for students entering program in 2008-09.

CL - Numbers in the CL column below designate the number of lecture/classroom hours per week for the course
LAB - Numbers in the LAB column below designate the number of simulation laboratory, laboratory or clinical hours per week for the course
CR - Numbers in the CR column below designate the number of credit hours for the course

Access Dental Continuing Education information here. | Access to Dental Clinic Information here

Specific Admission Requirements

# Indicates major field courses.
* Students may elect to take a higher level math course; MT 103 - MT 113 do not meet this requirement.
** Dental Hygiene Specialty Clinic will be offered in the fall semester and completed in the Spring semester.

Health, Character and Technical Standards

Please Note: All students enrolled in a clinical course will be charged a $350/per semester clinical surcharge. The following courses carry this charge: DN 113, DN 114, DN 212 and DN 221.

A grade of “C” or higher is required in BI 195, BI 196, BI 202 and CH 110 to progress in the Dental Hygiene Program.

Readmission Policy for Dental Hygiene Program
Readmission to the NHTI Dental Hygiene Program is not guaranteed. Students who have withdrawn from the program due to extenuating circumstances or students who have been suspended from the program due to a failure in a non-clinical course may be considered for readmission only one time. Students who have been suspended due to a failure in a clinical course will not be considered. Applicants for readmission for any semester of the first clinical year who have been absent for one semester or longer will be required to repeat DN 113 Clinical Dental Hygiene I and DN 114 Clinical Dental Hygiene II (if previously completed). Applicants for readmission for any semester of the second clinical year who have been absent for one semester or longer will be required to repeat the clinical course schedule in the semester readmission is requested.

Use of Computers in the Allied Dental Education Programs
Allied Dental Education students will be using computers throughout their programs. Faculty will be instructing them in the application of dental software, as well as the use of conventional software to generate papers, do oral presentations and spreadsheets. To make this process easier for students, it is strongly recommended that they have a good working knowledge of computers before entering the program. Computer literacy courses, such as IS 166, are available through the college.

Access Dental Continuing Education information here. | Access to Dental Clinic Information here

• Highly qualified, full time faculty all have masters degrees
• Knowledge gained from many years of teaching
• Adjunct faculty teaching in clinic to provide their expertise from private dental office experience

Donna Clougherty, RDH, MEd.

Donna is the Department Head for Dental Auxiliaries, she is a graduate of The Forsyth School For Dental Hygienist. She earned a BA from Notre Dame college and a Masters Degree in Education from Plymouth State University. She has experience in private practice dental hygiene and in public health.

Marissa Gilligan, Program Coordinator (Full Time)

Marissa joined the Allied Dental Education Programs in 2005. She graduated from Rutland Business School and previously worked as an International Claims Representative for YBP Library Services.

Catherine Brock, RDH, BS

Catherine is a graduate of the NHTI's Dental Hygiene program. She went on to the College for Lifelong Learning to earn a BS in Education. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree. She has fifteen years as a dental assistant and ten years as a hygienist in private practice. She worked six years as an adjunct professor before taking on a full-time position working with both Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting students at NHTI.

Roderic Caron Jr., DMD

Roderic is a graduate of St. Anselm’s College and holds a DMD from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He Has practiced in both private practice and public health settings since his graduation from Tufts in 1983. He has held faculty appointments at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and Boston University Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry. He has been associated with NHTI since 1988 (outside clinical rotation preceptor), and has been on faculty full-time at NHTI since 1998 as Professor and Supervising Dentist in both the Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting Programs.

Connie M. George, RDh, MEd

As a graduate of the NHTI Dental Hygiene Program, Connie has had professional experience in private practice dental hygiene as well as early childhood education, social work and school counseling. She received her BS from Plymouth State University and her MEd from the University of New Hampshire in 1989.

Karen Wynn, RDH, MEd.

Karen Wynn is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a BS in Dental Hygiene. She received her MEd from Plymouth State University.

Rachel R. Leo, RDH, MA

Rachel Leo is a graduate of Westbrook College with an A.S. in Dental Hygiene. In addition to her Dental Hygiene degree, she received a M.A. from Connecticut College. Rachel has had eighteen years of Dental Hygiene experience in a variety of private practices.

Lisa Malfait, RDH, MEd.

As a graduate of the NHTI Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs, Lisa has returned to NHTI to teach. She received a B.S. from New England College and a Masters Degree in Education from Plymouth State University. She has experience in private practice dental assisting and dental hygiene in the areas of general dentistry, orthodontics, prosthodontics and periodontics.

Jean Magee, RDH, MEd.

Jean is a 1989 graduate of NHTI's Dental Hygiene Program, and has 15 years experience in private practice/public health settings. She earned a BS from College of Lifelong Learning and a Masters Degree in Education from Plymouth State University.

Katrina Magee, RDH, MS

Katrina received her BS in Dental Hygiene from West Virginia University in 1997 and her Master of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University in 1999. She has professional experience in the private practice setting of dental hygiene and public health. She enjoys researching topics on instrument sharpening, ergonomics, ultrasonic scaling and herbal medicine in dentistry.

Margaret Ray, RDH, MEd.

Maggie graduated with a certificate in dental assisting from Briarwood Jr. College. She received her A.S. degree in Dental Hygiene and her B.S. degree in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of Bridgeport, Fones School of Dental Hygiene. She was accepted into the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's MBA program and attended classes at the Hartford Graduate Center. Maggie earned her Masters degree in education from Antioch New England University. She has worked over 25 years as a dental assistant and dental hygienist in general and perio practices and was also a clinical instructor at Springfield Technical Community College.

Ann M. Babson, RDH, MEd.

Ann, a graduate of NHTI's Dental Hygiene Program, earned her Bachelor degree from Franklin Pierce College and earned her MEd from Plymouth State University. Prior to working in the Allied Dental Education department, she worked in private practice and public health.

Elizabeth "BJ" Brown, RDH, MS

BJ is a graduate of Westbrook College with an A.S. degree in Dental Hygiene and Boston University's Goldman school of Dental Medicine with an M.S. in Dental Public Health. BJ has 15 years of experience in private practice and 15 years experience in public health focusing primarily in geriatrics and long term care.

Eileen Carter, RDH, AS

Eileen C. Carter graduated from the University of Bridgeport, Fones School of Dental Hygiene with an Associate in Science degree in Dental Hygiene. Eileen is a member of the American Dental Hygienist's Association and is currently on the board of the New Hampshire Dental Hygienist's Association as a Trustee. Ms. Carter's 40 years working in private practice has made her a welcome addition to the adjunct clinical faculty at NHTI for the past 18 years.

Carolyn Hartnett, CDA, RDH,MEd

Carolyn is a graduate of The Forsyth School For Dental Hygienist. She earned a BS from Keene State College and a Masters in Education and Counseling from the University of New Hampshire. She has worked in private practice both as a dental assistant and a hygienist before coming to NHTI where she was a former Dept. Head. She teaches in the programs and works with the Business Training Center to coordinate the dental continuing education offerings.

Sandra Inzer, RDH, MS, RD, LD

Sandra is a Registered Dental Hygienist who has been working in private practice for 26 y ears. She has worked in the fields of perio, ortho, pedo and general practice. She is also a Registered and Licensed Dietician and has been an instructor at UNH in the Nutritional Sciences and Dietetic Technician Programs.

Ellen Legg, RDH

Ellen earned her A.S. and Certificate of Dental Hygiene from Bristol Community College and her B.A. in Community Health Education from San Francisco State University. She has practiced in four different states in a variety of practice settings. Ellen brings over twenty-five years of experience to her position as an instructor in the Dental Hygiene clinic.

Karen Mercer, RDH

Karen is a graduate of Middlesex Community College Dental Hygiene Program. She has a BS from Granite State College and is pursuing a Masters of Public Health from UNH. Karen has thirty years of clinical experience in private practice, she is currently practicing in a periodontal office and as an adjunct clinical instructor at NHTI. Her interest in public health has allowed her to participate in a grant-funded oral health program for prenatal patients and a research project to improve the oral health of residents in long term care.

Linda Seedner, RDH

Linda attended the Whittier School of Dental Assisting in Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated as a CDA. She attended the NHTI's Dental Hygiene Program and graduated as an RDH in 1977. She has worked in the same dental office for the past 31 years. She has been an active member of the ADHA, serving as an officer in the NHDHA, where she served as President in 1993. She currently serves on the Board of Dental Examiners.

Carolyn Alonardo - Class of 2000

" I have been out working only a short time, and I can see that we need to know everything that we were taught in school. This program did a good job in preparing me for my career."

Katherine Tuite -Class of 1997

"I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in caring for people and working with them to achieve maximum dental health."

Bonnie Brown - Class of 1998

"The Dental Hygiene Program at NHTI prepared me very well for my position as Dental Hygiene Coordinator in a three dentist family practice. I thank the instructors for caring enough to go that extra mile, being tough, helping me be the best professional that I can be. They really made my learning experience a good one."

Joanne Anderson - Class of 1998

"Great education, small classes. My instructors prepared me well for private practice."

Jen Mark - Class of 1999

"Going back to school after being out for 5 years was a tough choice, but the results of a career in Dental Hygiene are well worth it! I'm a health care provider and a dental educator and I love my job.""

Revised June 9, 2008