The SUNY Broome Dental Hygiene Department offers a unique program and it provides quality educational experiences for the dental hygiene student. Dental hygiene is the science and practice of the recognition, treatment, and prevention of oral diseases. SUNY Broome graduated its first class over 50 years ago and the Dental Hygiene Department has become a premier program in New York State. The program’s reputation and examination results attest to the outstanding accomplishment of the SUNY Broome Dental Hygiene students performing dental checks on patients program.
The SUNY Broome Dental Hygiene Program is an associate degree program designed to prepare competent dental hygiene professionals, capable of providing quality dental hygiene care in a variety of settings within a changing health care system, and a culturally diverse society. Students gain skills and knowledge required to take the National Dental Hygiene Board and the Northeast Regional Board Examinations required for licensure.
The SUNY Broome on-campus dental hygiene “state of the art” clinic houses 26 dental units, 7 x-ray operatories, two labs and various classrooms for student utilization. All of the dental and x-ray units have computers utilizing computerized patient data management software, digital radiographs and clinical evaluation. Internet components are utilized as supplements to enhance instruction and promote student learning in the clinical and classroom setting.
The program is designed to nurture student growth, promote development of critical and ethical judgment, and encourage life-long learning. The curriculum includes didactic, laboratory and clinical instruction sufficient to graduate competent clinicians who are capable of practicing contemporary dental hygiene procedures. Students are educated to clinical competencies in both traditional and advanced procedures with emphasis placed on preventive and therapeutic services essential for providing total patient care to the public. As a result, graduates possess an increased understanding of dentistry and dental hygiene as members of the oral health team and provide them greater career mobility. Graduates of the dental hygiene program are also prepared to pursue further study in dental hygiene or related disciplines.
