collageConsider factors such as tuition, accommodation, acceptance rate, graduation rate, etc. when preparing for university. Accordingly, if you plan to attend ualr in the near future, what are your thoughts about dental hygiene program there?
This article offers all the information you need to learn about ualr dental hygiene program, uams dental hygiene program cost, dental hygiene schools in arkansas, dental hygienist school in little rock arkansas, university of arkansas dental hygiene and university of arkansas fort smith dental hygiene. You will also find related articles on ualr dental hygiene program on Collegelearners..
Welcome to Dental Hygiene!
Graduates of the dental hygiene program serve as consumer advocates for oral health care. They are an integral part of the dental team, able to provide instruction and therapeutic services in the prevention of oral diseases.
The 120-credit-hour curriculum combines general education, biomedical science, and dental science and dental hygiene courses culminating in a Bachelor of Science. Students participate in didactic, laboratory, and clinical education experiences. Successful completion of the program prepares the graduate for the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination and the regional clinical examination. Successful completion of the written and clinical board is required for licensure in your selected state of practice.
Admission to the program is highly selective. Students should consult the College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences advising coordinator concerning admission, progression, and graduation requirements. A grade of C or above is required in all science/math and major courses to progress within the program.
Requirements For Dental Hygienist in Arkansas
In order to become a Dental Hygienist in Arkansas, you must be a graduate of a program that is accredited the ADA’s Commission on Dental Accreditation and by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners.
The requirements to become a dental hygienist in Arkansas include the successful completion of an accredited dental hygiene program and passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
Arkansas also requires dental hygienists to be licensed by the state. To obtain an Arkansas dental hygiene license, applicants must pass a complete criminal background check, complete an infection control course, pass an Arkansas jurisprudence examination and pay a license fee. You will also need to hold a current Healthcare Provider level cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
In Arkansas, a dental hygienist license must be renewed every two years. To renew a license, dental hygienists must complete 24 hours of continuing education credits and pay a renewal fee.
The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners is responsible for regulating dental hygiene in the state. For more information on the requirements to become a dental hygienist in Arkansas, please visit the ASBDE website at http://www.asbde.org/.
Dental hygienists in Arkansas are allowed to work in a variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, and schools. They may also be self-employed.
Dental Hygiene Admission Requirements
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Admission Criteria
To be considered for admission into the program, students must meet the following criteria:
- Complete university admission requirements to include submission of official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Have a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA for all college coursework (including transfer work and excluding developmental courses) and be in good academic standing
- Complete required prerequisite courses for the dental hygiene program with a minimum of C or higher in each course before the application deadline
- Take the ATI-TEAS entrance exam.
- Submit Dental Office Observation Verification Form (Verification forms may be used for two years after the dates of observation.)
- Students may not attempt any course more than twice and be eligible for admission into the dental hygiene program.
NOTE: The application process for the dental hygiene program requires a criminal background check. Licensure in Arkansas also requires a state and federal criminal background check.
Completion Program (A.A.S. to B.S.)
Admission Criteria
To be considered for admission into the program, students must meet the following criteria:
- Complete university admission requirements to include submission of official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Have a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA for all college coursework (including transfer work and excluding developmental courses) and be in good academic standing
- Complete required prerequisite courses for the dental hygiene completion program with a minimum of C or higher in each course before the application deadline
- Students may not attempt any course more than twice and be eligible for admission into the dental hygiene program.
- All science courses must have been completed with a lab requirement
- 88 hours of previous coursework including dental hygiene coursework will be required as pre-requisite courses in the subjects listed on the degree plan
NOTE: The application process for the dental hygiene completion program requires a criminal background check. Licensure in Arkansas also requires a state and federal criminal background check.
Dental Hygienist Salaries in Arkansas by Area
The average salary for Dental Hygienists in Arkansas in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $69,930, or $33.62 per hour.
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 220 | $34.18 | $71,090 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 150 | $29.02 | $60,350 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 50 | $27.77 | $57,760 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 130 | $33.18 | $69,010 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 470 | $31.24 | $64,980 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 730 | $28.44 | $59,150 |
| Pine Bluff, AR | ** | $26.48 | $55,080 |
Dental Hygiene Schools in Arkansas
There are many great colleges in Arkansas offering associate degree and bachelor degree programs. Some of the best ones include the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Harding University, and Southern Arkansas University. These schools offer excellent programs that will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful. Dental hygienist programs are not offered everywhere and there are currently no associate degree programs in dental hygiene. Be sure to do your research and find the program that is right for you. For dental assistant programs see this page. For an up-to-date list of colleges offering dental hygiene programs in Arkansas, including accreditation status, see below. This information is provided by the U.S. Department of Education. You can also search for schools here and request enrollment
UALR Children International Dental Program
Established in 1936, Children International (CI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit humanitarian organization with international headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Worldwide, Children International provides assistance to more than 330,000 impoverished children and their families through the support of caring sponsors and donors. Children International’s programs and services help meet the children’s basic needs and provide them with opportunities to break the cycle of poverty.
In 1994, Children International and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) established a partnership to nurture and provide educational enrichment, health and dental care, family assistance, and special gifts for children and youth attending the Little Rock Public Schools.
Children International works in partnerships with 16 UALR departments and 22 public and private agencies. In 2000, UALR CI launched the Dental Health Action Team and joined others around the state and nation to provide services for children without access to adequate dental care. The 22 organizations that comprise the Dental Health Action Team established the comprehensive Future Smiles Dental Program. With outstanding partners and committed volunteers, this group continues to provide dental services to children with the greatest need.
In 2005, Children International opened the Future Smiles Dental Clinic at Wakefield as the first elementary school-based dental clinic in Arkansas. In only six years’ time, the clinic has completed 6,795 patient visits and has provided more than 2,900 restorative treatments for children. Future Smiles is staffed by one dentist, a dental assistant, and clinic manager for eleven months each year. In partnership with Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH), the dentist works with the Future Smiles Clinic three days a week and two days at ACH. Each year, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) dental hygiene students perform dentist-supervised cleanings, X-rays, and sealants during their fall, spring, and summer rotation in the clinic.
The Future Smiles Dental Program provides comprehensive dental care to children in CI’s six partner elementary schools in the Little Rock School District, regardless of their participation in Children International, as well as all CI-sponsored students who attend local middle and high schools.
Children from Bale, Franklin, Stephens, Watson, Wilson and Wakefield Elementary Schools receive dental screenings each fall, in order to determine their dental needs. Children identified with dental decay are then scheduled for follow-up at the Future Smiles Dental Clinic (FSDC). Children from schools outside the clinic location are transported to FSDC by UALR CI staff.
At the initial visit, each child receives preventative care which includes an oral exam, prophylaxis (dental cleaning), sealants, fluoride treatments, and x-rays.
If needed, the dentist prepares a treatment plan for restorative care, and provides oral hygiene instruction and a toothbrush kit for at-home dental care. The child is then scheduled for restorative appointments, which may be as many as five or as few as one, depending on the number of teeth with dental decay and the quadrant of the mouth affected. Restorative and preventative services are provided at Future Smiles and include fillings, stainless steel crowns, and extractions.
Over the past 11 years, the Future Smiles Dental Program has provided critical resources to improve the oral health of thousands of children. Services provided include:
23,859 dental screenings and toothbrush kits
2,825 children received 8,527 dental sealants
2,140 children received two treatments of fluoride varnish
6,795 patient visits to the Future Smiles Dental
Clinic
2,653 prophylaxis (cleanings)
1,001 radiographs (X-rays)
2,137 sealants applied for 661 children
With valuable partnerships and continued support of volunteers, we will continue to improve oral health of children in Central Arkansas.
Though oral health care is vital to wellness, many children from low-income families in Little Rock suffer a lack of adequate dental care.
The lack of appropriate dental treatment has the potential to affect speech, nutrition, social development, quality of life, overall health and, in the worst cases, can lead to death. Studies have found that children with oral diseases are often restricted in their daily activities; nationwide, more than 51 million hours of school each year are missed because of oral diseases.
The high prevalence of dental disease, disparities in dental health, and barriers to obtaining care point to the need to improve access to dental services for low-income children. The UALR Children International’s (UALR CI) Future Smiles Dental Program and its partners are working together to improve the health of those impoverished children.
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