PLEASE NOTE: This Courses and Programs Preview is not the final 2026-2027 Academic Catalog. The final Catalog will be published on July 1, 2026.
The CT State Tunxis Dental Hygiene program provides the skills and knowledge necessary to function effectively as an integral member of the dental health team. The program has a 45-year affiliation with University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Dental Medicine. The program utilizes the facilities of the UConn School of Dental Medicine, federal, state and local hospitals, and community health clinics. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the examinations for licensure given by Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and American Board of Dental Examiners. Graduates who pass both boards are eligible for a Connecticut license. The program is the only state supported dental hygiene program in Connecticut.
The Dental Hygiene program’s faculty are highly qualified with a wide range of clinical and community experience.
- Dental classes are held in a state-of-the-art simulated dental clinic and lab facilities.
- CT State Tunxis offiers the only publicly-supported program in Connecticut to provide a degree in Dental Hygiene.
- Students have many opportunities to participate in community outreach service-learning projects on the local, national, and international level.
Learning Outcomes:
The Dental Hygiene Program will utilize the following graduation outcomes in assessing students. CT State Tunxis dental hygiene students strive for achievement of these abilities as well as traditional grades.
- Health Promotion - develops, implements, and evaluates health promotion strategies directed toward assisting individuals as well as diverse populations achieve oral wellness as a component of overall health and awareness.
- Process of Care and Evidence-Based Practice - provides care to all clients without regard to economic, social, cultural, religious, or health status, based upon an individualized human need, evidence-based practice which includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, education, evaluations, and documentation.
- Teamwork - effectively engages in interpersonal activities and teamwork.
- Technology - appropriately and effectively uses technology to accomplish assigned tasks.
- Oral and Written Communication - delivers oral presentations or written text using appropriate information and/or analysis for the rhetorical situation.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving - identifies the problem or deficit, formulates an argument, explains, and analyzes relationships clearly, draws reasonable inferences, and conclusions that are logical.
- Ethical and Professional Standards - identifies and reflects critically on ethical issues presented in classroom, simulation, community settings, or clinical patient care. Demonstrates professionalism across the curriculum in all aspects of the program.
Career Fields for Dental Hygiene Graduates
Dental hygienists may work in a variety of health care settings such as private dental offices, schools, public health clinics, hospitals, managed care organizations, correctional institutions, nursing homes or in a corporate environment. In addition to the clinical role, dental hygienists may also work in an administrative capacity in any of these locations.
Accreditation and Affiliation
The CT State Tunxis program in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda.
Licensure for Graduates: Dental hygiene students at CT State Tunxis have excellent outcomes on the Dental Hygiene National Clinical Boards, which qualifies them to apply for licensure to practice.
Selective Admissions Criteria/Application Process
- Completion of the Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH). This exam is administered through the American Dental Association. Application and guide may be found at: Admission Test for Dental Hygiene and Users Guide. Students should release scores to Tunxis Dental Hygiene Program. A minimum score of 310 is required.
- Applicant must have completed the below courses with a minimum combined GPA prerequisite courses of 2.7. A minimum of a “C” must be achieved in each prerequisite course. Pass/Fail is not accepted.
- Applicant must take science courses within 5 years of applying to the program; and all science courses must be 4 credits with on ground laboratory components. Grades will be averaged for any science course repeated within this time frame.
- Applicant must attend a dental hygiene information session.
- Applicant is encouraged to complete general education courses prior to applying to the program.
The applicant must submit ALL of the following by the deadline:
- All college transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation which are professional or academic in nature
- Proof of a minimum of 4 hours of shadowing a licensed dental hygienist
Detailed information regarding selective admission events, deadlines, and community involvement is available on the CT State Selective Admissions Webpage.
In addition to the admission requirements, and prior to the start of the first semester of the program, applicant must complete:
Final acceptance of the applicant is contingent upon successful completion of these courses. Consideration is given to the number of college courses successfully completed per semester.
Non-Course Requirements for Dental Hygiene students
Immunizations
In addition to the state college immunization requirements, students are required to be immunized for tetanus, hepatitis B, and annual influenza. The COVID-19 vaccination is encouraged. Students will receive a packet of information at the time of acceptance into the CT State Tunxis Dental Hygiene Program.
Criminal Background Checks
Some clinical learning sites require students to undergo a background check for felony convictions. Students who do not pass the background check may be excluded from the clinical site and may not be able to meet the competencies required for the program. International students will be required to provide a copy of their passport.
Medical Emergency Response
Students are required to complete First Aid, Emergency Oxygen, and Basic Life Support. As part of the first semester curriculum, students will complete the certification. Students must successfully complete all certifications. Responding to medical emergencies is a dental hygiene standard of care and a professional obligation.
Clinical Site
Clinical learning experiences are planned as an integral part of the dental hygiene courses and are held at a variety of health care settings, such as hospitals, extended care facilities, and selected community health centers. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from assigned clinical sites. Clinical experiences may be assigned during daytime, evening, or weekend hours. Assignment of clinical sites is at the discretion of the dental hygiene faculty.
Waiver of Licensure Guarantee
Upon successful completion of the associate of science degree in Dental Hygiene, the graduate is eligible to take licensure examinations and apply for a license. The completion of the dental hygiene program does not ensure a license to practice dental hygiene. Licensure requirements and procedures are the responsibility of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Felony Conviction
Connecticut Department of Public Health has the authority to deny licensure to an individual that has committed or been found guilty of committing a felony or an act that does not conform to the accepted standards of the profession.
As a health care professional/student, you are at an increased risk for contracting bloodborne infectious diseases. The CT StateTunxis Dental Hygiene program is not responsible for any medical cost associated with you contracting any communicable disease during or prior to your education and/or participation in the CT State Tunxis Dental Hygiene Program sponsored functions. If you contract a bloodborne infectious disease before or during your enrollment appropriate health experts must be consulted to determine your ability to treat patients.
Special Admission Requirements Dental Hygiene Associate Degree Program
In addition to the academic admission requirements for Dental Hygiene, and for continual progression in the program, the following essential functions are also expected of all students with or without accommodations. Students must be able to fulfill these essential functions of the job without endangering patients or other healthcare workers. Students with disabilities may be eligible for accommodations.
Students must be competent in:
• an ability to withstand academic rigor befitting of a healthcare professional
• use of the English language
• gross and fine motor skills sufficient to lift, position, and operate equipment
• interpersonal skills such that they are capable of interacting with diverse populations individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, economic and ethnic backgrounds
• physical endurance and mobility necessary to move from place to place in small spaces, as well as full range of motion, manual and finger dexterity
• physical endurance
• hand-eye coordination
• auditory ability and other sensory skills sufficient to monitor and assess the health needs and recognize the oral conditions of patients as well as maintain patient safety
• visual acuity and adequate spatial perception
• intact proprioception (the ability to sense pressure/force)
• presentation of a professional appearance, attitude and performance level; maintaining personal health and be emotionally stable
Additional Information for Special Populations of Applicants
Dental Hygiene Special Admissions for High School Graduates
The CT State Tunxis Dental Hygiene Program will accept high school graduates to begin the three-year sequence of courses.The applicant must meet the following admission’s criteria:
- High school diploma
- SAT scores: Math 530 or greater, English reading score of 25+. SATs need to be taken within two years of application.
- High school GPA 3.0 or greater.
All applicants must take prerequisite courses in the sequence provided and maintain a C or better. If a student does not maintain a C in each course, the student will not be guaranteed automatic acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program but may apply for the regular selective admissions process.
Advanced Standing for CT State Certified Dental Assisting Graduates (CT State Tunxis and CT State Manchester)
Graduates from the above CT State campuses may have advanced standing in the CT State Tunxis Dental Hygiene Program with the following conditions:
- meet all other dental hygiene admission criteria
- be accepted into the dental hygiene program
- have graduated from the CT State Certified Dental Assisting Program within 3 years of admission into the Dental Hygiene Program and be a Certified Dental Assistant.
- be granted substitution of the following dental assisting courses into the dental hygiene program: Dental Materials, Radiology, Oral and Dental Anatomy.
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