What is Dental Hygiene?
B.S.D.H. students develop their skills in best dental hygiene practices and learn to professionally educate their patients about oral health through UW and Sheridan College. State-of-the-art equipment is available to all dental hygiene students at Sheridan College for great learning experiences as they prepare for rewarding careers. At UW, dental hygiene students will have the opportunity to engage in advanced coursework led by a distinguished faculty, expanding their knowledge and expertise even further.
The B.S.D.H. program at UW partners with Sheridan College to make this degree possible!
In order to earn a B.S. in dental hygiene through UW, a student must successfully
complete Sheridan College's Dental Hygiene Program.
Are you a Sheridan College graduate wanting to complete your bachelor's degree at
UW?
Contact the Health Sciences Advising Office at (307) 766-3878 or hsadvise@uwyo.edu.
Learn more about this key first step towards earning your B.S in Dental Hygiene.
Students in UW’s B.S.D.H. program typically finish their degree in 4 years. During
that time a variety of courses are completed such as Principles of Nutrition, Dental
Health Education and Ethics and Law in Dental Hygiene. All dental hygiene coursework
(classes containing "DHYG") is completed at Sheridan College.
Faculty in the B.S.D.H. program are driven to provide developmental learning opportunities
for each student. You can count on your instructors to offer one-on-one time to go
over course materials and serve as mentors. Everyone at Sheridan College and UW is
supportive, knowledgeable and ready to help train the next generation of hygienists.
What Can You Do with a B.S. in Dental Hygiene?
A B.S. in Dental Hygiene opens up a wide range of career opportunities beyond clinical practice. From roles in education, public health and research to positions in sales, administration and corporate settings, this degree offers flexibility and growth. It’s also a strong foundation for those considering graduate studies or leadership paths in healthcare!
- Dental Hygienist
- Research Assistant
- Outpatient Care
- Public Health Leadership
- Program Instructor
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
With a B.S. in dental hygiene, several non-clinical career paths are available, including:
- Dental hygiene educator
- Public health coordinator
- Dental product sales representative
- Health administrator
- Research assistant
- Corporate trainer or consultant
- Writer or content creator
These roles leverage your dental knowledge without requiring direct patient care.
A B.S. in Dental Hygiene is a strong starting point for becoming a dentist, but you'll still need to complete dental school prerequisites, take the DAT and earn a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree. Your hygiene background provides valuable patient care experience, though additional science coursework and training are required for licensure.
The job outlook for dental hygienists is really positive, with a projected growth over the foreseeable future. As people age and preventive care becomes more important, the demand for hygienists is rising. This opens up great opportunities for career growth, including options to specialize and earn more in areas like pediatric or public health dentistry.
“The UW/Sheridan College relationship will allow me the opportunity to expand my dental hygiene career beyond just clinical practice, giving me more flexibility and upward mobility in my career!"
- Former UW Dental Hygiene Student
