Dental Hygiene

White coats and name tags will be ordered for each student by the department. White coat sizes should be based on blazers or jackets that you wear over other clothing. Students starting the program in fall 2024 should complete the white coat order form no later than July 31, 2024. For questions, you may contact Professor Irina Smilyanski at irina.smilyanski@mcphs.edu.

The Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene has stringent clinical attire criteria, which will be reviewed when you arrive for your first day of pre-clinical lab. In the meantime, please review the following preliminary information regarding uniforms, scrub caps, shoes, and socks that students are required to purchase.

Scrubs and warm up jackets can be purchased in advance online from any vendor or through a local vendor, Uniforms for America. Students should only purchase approved uniforms (see below) of the designated color to be worn at Forsyth clinic.

• Scrubs sets (pants, top and jacket) must be worn in all laboratory and clinical courses. Two sets should be purchased as soon as possible. Worcester dental hygiene students should purchase Cherokee WorkWear Revolution black colored scrubs.
• Shoes should be fluid resistant and wipeable with a full heel/back (slip-ons or shoes with back straps are not acceptable). There should be no shoelaces, nylon, mesh, or cloth on them. Exemption: Fluid-resistant Clove shoes with wipeable shoelaces may be worn.
• Shoes can be any color but should have minimal logos and/or additional colors.
• Socks must be high enough to cover exposed skin when the clinician is seated. The color of socks is optional, but the design must remain professional.
• Scrub cap - any color/professional design is acceptable as long as it covers all hair (a disposable bouffant cap will be provided if you decide not to purchase your own).

Uniform compliance for new students is required by September 16, 2024. Lack of uniform compliance after this date will result in dismissal from the lab.

Students have access to on-site lockers assigned to them for the entire duration of their clinical experiences at Forsyth. The lockers will be assigned during the first pre-clinical session. Please purchase and bring with you a CODE (no key) lock.

Please ensure that your computer and other devices are compliant with the MCPHS technology requirements.

Instrument kits/equipment will be distributed to students during the first pre-clinic session.

The Basic Life Support (BLS) course is required by all students in order to participate in labs and clinics. This must be completed no later than September 30. BLS training must have a hands-on training component to meet the FSDH program requirements.

Courses are accepted through:

• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross (Basic Life Support – BL r21)

If you hold a current certification, you will need to provide a copy of both sides of your signed card. You are not required to repeat CPR training until your current certification period expires.

It is strongly recommended that all students have a current eye exam prior to beginning the dental hygiene program. This will be helpful as students are fitted for dental loupes (magnification lenses). If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, you will need to have a copy of your prescription from your eye doctor when placing your order. More information about getting measured for dental loupes will be provided to you once the classes start.

To provide diverse, real-life patient experiences, students will be assigned to various external dental settings to provide patient care. These mandatory rotations may occur outside of the normal clinic schedule (Monday-Saturday) to accommodate the sites. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation.

Having (owning or renting) a textbook is essential for your success in the program. Verify the textbooks you need to obtain for individual courses within the Student Self-Service portal or by contacting the course faculty directly.

The MCPHS bookstore on the Boston campus is able to sell and rent textbooks to students. Shipping is free to students ordering course material.

Fall 2024 Booklist

DHY 209/209L: Process of Care I (all texts are required)

• Boyd, L. D. & Mallonee, L. F. Wilkins' Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, 14th Edition, Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2023. ISBN: 9781284255997 (paperback OR electronic copy is acceptable)
• Gehrig, J.S. Patient Assessment Tutorials, 4th Edition, Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2018. ISBN: 9781496335005 (paperback OR electronic copy is acceptable)
• Gehrig, J.S. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation & Advanced Root Instrumentation, 8th Edition, Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2019. ISBN: 9781975117504  (paperback OR electronic copy is acceptable)

DHY 231/231L: Dental Materials (both texts are required) 

• Eakle,S. & Bastin, K. Dental Materials Clinical Application for Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists. 4th Ed.Elsivier. Paperback ISBN: 9780323596589
• Companion lab manual (will receive additional information at a later time).

DHY 230/230L: Radiology (text is required)  

• Iannucci, J. & Howerton, L. Dental Radiography Principles and Techniques 6th Edition. Elsevier, 2021. ISBN (Print): 978-0-323-69550-3 or ISBN (eBook): 9780323695527 

DHY 204: Anatomical Science of Head & Neck 

• Fehrenbach and Herring, Illustrated Anatomy of the Head & Neck (6th Edition) ISBN: 978-0323613019 / 0323613012 (text is required) 
• Fehrenbach, Dental Anatomy Coloring book 3rd ed. ISBN: 978-0323473453 / 9780323473453 (text is optional)

DHY202: Oral Embryology, Oral Histology and Dental Anatomy (text is required) 

• Fehrenbach and Popowics: Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, & Anatomy (5th Edition) ISBN: 978-0323611077 / 0323611079

DHY232: Nutrition (text is required)

• Palmer. C.A. and Boyd L.D. Diet and Nutrition in Oral Health (3rd Edition). New York, NY: Pearson; 2016. Print ISBN: 9780134296722; eText ISBN: 9780134285931