Dental Therapy, AAS

OVERVIEW

Dental Therapy (DT) dəxʷx̌ayəbus (pronounced as dahf-hi-ya-boos) is a Lushootseed phrase that translates to a Place of Smiles.  Lushootseed is a common language of coastal Salish tribes, made up of many local dialects of Native Americans throughout the Puget Sound region. The objective of the Dental Therapy (dəxʷx̌ayəbus) program is to deliver “smiles” because smiles are strong indicators of personal confidence as well as physical and mental health.

The Dental Therapy program (dəxʷx̌ayəbus) was created to increase access to quality, culturally responsive providers who are oral health advocates in their communities. The expectation is that graduates of the Dental Therapy (dəxʷx̌ayəbus) program will be skilled clinicians who practice with confidence, and value the patient/provider relationship.  Graduates will have learned to treat all individuals with respect, and value the importance of life-long learning.

NOTE: dəxʷx̌ayəbus Dental Therapy is a self-supporting program. Please note that per credit tuition differs from the state tuition rate.