Department of Dental Hygiene

Empowering healthier communities

Dental hygienists are essential members of the healthcare team, providing preventive services, educating patients, and promoting oral health at every stage of life. Whether you’re helping someone manage gum disease, easing their anxiety in the chair, or teaching health habits that last a lifetime, you’ll make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives every day as a dental hygienist.

Why study Dental Hygiene at NAU

Since 1973, NAU has been a leader in educating dental hygiene professionals to elevate oral health in communities across Arizona. As the only Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program in the state, NAU offers an educational experience that blends clinical excellence with human connection. You’ll be joining a program that sets the standard for professional preparation and gives you the skills and confidence to become the kind of clinician who not only delivers excellent care but helps expand access to oral health where it’s needed most.

Learning outcomes

As a Dental Hygiene student at NAU, you will:

• use critical decision-making based on assessment data to reach conclusions about oral health needs to determine the dental hygiene diagnosis and need for care coordination.
• perform preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene interventions.
• plan and implement community-based oral health programs.
• provide dental hygiene care based on accepted scientific theories and the current standard of care that is humane, empathetic, and caring.
• act as a change agent to improve community oral health and/or advance the profession through service activities and affiliations with professional organizations.

Learn in NAU’s on-campus clinic

At NAU, you’ll practice and apply what you’re learning in the classroom while providing affordable preventive care in an on-campus Dental Hygiene Clinic that is open to the public. You’ll work with patients of all ages as you develop your clinical decision-making and learn to deliver compassionate, culturally aware care.

Student clubs and organizations

At NAU, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with peers and build professional skills through student clubs and organizations dedicated to dentistry, dental hygiene, and health.

Dedicated support

At NAU, you’ll have a network of mentors and resources available to you throughout your journey, ensuring you feel supported and capable as you embark on your career in dental hygiene.

Faculty mentorship

In the classroom and clinic, expert faculty will guide your growth with individualized mentorship and real-time feedback. Their expertise will support you as you navigate your first patient appointment, prepare for licensure, and build professional confidence during your externship.

Investing in your future

Your education is a major investment in a rewarding career, and NAU helps make it accessible through scholarships, program-specific awards, and financial aid resources. You can explore scholarships specific to Dental Hygiene on the Scholarship Universe website.

Career readiness

From your first clinic session to taking your licensure exam, you’ll be gaining experience that will prepare you for delivering expert, patient-centered care. Throughout the program, you’ll learn alongside faculty mentors and peers who support your growth and will help you develop the technical expertise, communication skills, and confidence to excel in any clinic setting. A two-week externship will further broaden your clinical perspective and deepen cultural understanding. By graduation, you’ll be prepared for licensure and ready to begin a meaningful career in improving oral health and expanding access to quality care. Curious where you’ll be able to practice based on licensure?