Hygienists provide essential services in the traditional dental office setting. You'll also find them in specialty centers, hospitals, long term care facilities, correctional settings, dental sales, education and even policy-making in community health settings.

As a Dental Hygiene student at the University of South Dakota, you'll have numerous opportunities outside the classroom for professional development, clinical experience and socializing with other students in the program, including the following:

• Interdisciplinary experiences with students and faculty in a wide variety of health professions.
• Providing oral cancer screenings at area health fairs and assisted living facilities.
• Giving oral health presentations at day care centers, schools, nursing homes and other organizations.
• A summer internship providing clinical experience in several practice settings
• An opportunity for student membership in the local chapter of the American Dental Hygienists Association, which sponsors activities throughout the year promoting community service and the dental hygiene profession.