Why Study Pre-Dental Hygiene?

Get on track to become a dental hygienist, an important member of the dental healthcare team with direct interaction with patients working in a growing field.

Dental hygienists are licensed members of the dental healthcare team with special clinical and educational skills who help improve patients’ oral health through preventive services and education. If you have an aptitude for science and a genuine concern for people, consider becoming a dental hygienist. Pre-Dental Hygiene, as a pre-professional program, is a statement of intent on the student’s part, not an academic major. Students interested in pursuing a career in dental hygiene begin their studies at UMBC by following the Pre-Dental Hygiene curriculum, which varies slightly depending on the professional school to which they plan to apply. Students may choose to complete their prerequisites at UMBC and then transfer to a dental hygiene program, which is usually a two-year program that leads to a Bachelor’s of Science degree. Alternatively, students can earn a separate bachelor’s degree at UMBC before moving on to professional studies in dental hygiene at another institution.