The MSSU Dental Hygiene Program provides basic education and experience, to prepare graduates for licensure as dental hygienists. Each fall semester a class of 30 students will begin the two year program that includes summer classes. The curriculum is designed with courses meeting five days per week.
Dental hygienists are licensed, preventive oral health care professionals who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services to the public in a variety of settings. As a member of the dental healthcare team, the dental hygienist promotes and maintains oral wellness through services such as oral health assessments, taking radiographs, dental health education, non-surgical periodontal therapy, removal of deposits and stains from the teeth, and application of dental sealants and fluorides.
Applicants for whom English is a second language must take the Test of English as Modern Language (TOEFL) and obtain a minimum score of 600 on the paper test or 200 on the Internet-based TOEFL. Non-English speaking applicants must meet the same general admission requirements as all others applying for the Dental Hygiene Program. The TOEFL tests are offered only at selected sites and select dates in Missouri. Applicants are responsible for making their own arrangements for taking the TOEFL tests.
All applicants are required to complete the TEAS exam with a composite score of 50 or above. There are preparatory materials available online for the TEAS exam. There is no limit on the number of times the TEAS exam may be taken. Students may learn more about the TEAS exam or to schedule appointments to take the TEAS exam, by contacting the ACTS Office at 417-625-9577 or by following the link providedhttps://www.mssu.edu/student-affairs/advising-counseling-testing-services/testing-teas.php. Arrangements may be made through the ACTS office to schedule an appointment for the TOEFL exam.
Prerequisites must be completed before starting in the dental hygiene program, but applicants can be in progress to complete the prerequisites at the time of application. Prerequisites must be complete by the end of spring semester preceding entry into the program with grace “C” or better. If a passing grade is not achieved after two attempts in any program prerequisite course, an applicant will not be considered for the program. All science prerequisites must have been completed within 5 yrs. of applying to the program, or will not be accepted.
Minimum GPA 3.00
Minimum of 50 for TEAS exam
TOEFL minimum of 600 or TOEFLiBT of 200 if English is a second language
Clinical job shadowing requirement of a minimum of 16 hours
Submission of the Dental Hygiene Application prior to the deadline of March 31st.
Please find a link below to the Candidate Technical Standard Requirements that will be expected.
Candidate Technical Standards Requirements
For transfer students, please refer to the link below for assistance in identifying how courses from selected colleges will transfer to MSSU.
