Michelle C. Arnett, DHSc, MS, RDH

Dr. Arnett currently serves as a Tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Primary Dental Care, Division of Dental Hygiene (DH) at the University of Minnesota (UMN) School of Dentistry (SOD). Dr. Arnett graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry with a certification in Dental Hygiene and a Bachelor of Science. She began working in private clinical practice and had a fulfilling clinical career before pursuing a graduate degree. Dr. Arnett’s interest in education and research led her to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry where she obtained a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene. She joined the University of Michigan faculty and taught in the entry-level and degree-completion dental hygiene programs and was a clinical research coordinator and practicing dental hygienist in the Department of Graduate Periodontics.

Dr. Arnett joined the University of Minnesota in 2018 as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the Department of Primary Dental Care. Her areas of research focus are motivational interviewing and periodontology. In addition to topics to enhance her teaching, student mentorship, and address dental hygiene educator burnout. In 2023, Dr. Arnett received the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) President Centennial Awards for Oral Health Education. This was a one-time award at ADEA’s centennial celebration for an allied dental faculty who has made and continues to make a significant and positive impact on oral health education. Dr. Arnett was promoted to a Tenure Associate Professor in 2024 and earned her Doctorate in Health Science (DHSc) in 2025 from the University of the Pacific.

Dr. Arnett has taught Communications, Periodontology, Leadership, and the Dental Hygiene Care Process: Clinical Application III and IV in the UMN undergraduate DH program and Instructional Strategies, Thesis I and II, and Capstone I-IV in the UMN graduate DH program.

Here professional memberships include Sigma Phi Alpha-Nu Chapter, American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).

Investigator status: Co-Investigator
Agency: American Dental Hygienists’ Association Institute for Oral Health (IOH) Foundation
Title: SACRED-DH: OHRQoL in patients undergoing dental hygiene treatment
Date: August 2025 – August 2026

Investigator status: Co-Principal Investigator
Agency: University of Minnesota, Technology Enhanced Awards for Teaching and Learning (TEATL)
Title: Development of a Generative Artificial Intelligence Chatbot for Continual Motivational Interviewing Skill Refinement
Date: May 2025 – December 2025

Investigator status: Co-Principal Investigator
Agency: FENO
Title: Impact of a full-mouth electronic toothbrush on indicators of gingivitis and patient perceptions: A randomized clinical trial
Date: November 2024 – December 2025

Investigator status: Co-Investigator
Agency: University of Minnesota Writing Enriched Curriculum
Title: Effects of Writing Interventions in Undergraduate Dental Hygiene Curriculum
Date: February 2024 – February 2025

Investigator status: Principal investigator
Agency: UMNII Medium Seed Grant
Title: The efficacy of endoscope-guided (EG) versus conventional SRP in posterior teeth
Date: August 2023 – July 2024

Investigator status: Principal investigator
Agency: Colgate CARE grant
Title: 3-year follow-up to evaluate longitudinal indicators of periodontal disease
Date: January 2023 – July 2023

Investigator status: Principal investigator
Agency: University of Minnesota Tenure Track Funds
Title: Impact of Covid-19 on dental hygiene educators: a national survey.
Date: April 2021-July 2021

Investigator status: Principal investigator
Agency: University of Minnesota Venden Grant Program
Title: Systemic markers of inflammation: 9 and 12-month follow-up post non-surgical periodontal therapy with and without minocycline HCl microspheres, 1 mg
Date: May 2020-May 2022

Investigator status: Principal investigator
Agency: University of Minnesota Tenure Track Funds
Title: Preliminary evaluation of dental hygiene curriculum: assessment and management of peri-implant conditions and diseases
Date: September 2019-Janurary 2020

Investigator status: Principal investigator
Agency: Bausch Health
Title: Effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy with and without minocycline HCl microspheres, 1 mg on bacterial load and systemic markers of inflammation
Date: September 2019-March 2022

Investigator status: Clinical Research Coordinator
Agency: Delta Dental Foundation
Title: Relationship between peri-implantitis and cardiovascular diseases
Date: 2017-2018

Investigator status: Clinical Research Coordinator
Agency: MICHR Pilot Grant & POM Supplement Award
Title: Sonographic imaging of oral and dental anatomical structures (a pilot study)
Date: 2017-2018

Investigator status: Blinded Examiner/Clinical Research Coordinator
Agency: Morita J USA
Title: Laser-assisted regenerative surgical therapy for peri-implantitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Date: 2017-2018

Investigator status: Examiner/Clinical Research Coordinator
Agency: Implant Dentistry Research & Education Foundation (IDREF)
Title: Vertical tooth movement adjacent to single Implant restorations in the esthetic area
Date: 2017-2018

Investigator status: Examiner/Clinical Research Coordinator
Agency: Delta Dental Foundation Title: The influence of mucosa thickness on peri-implant marginal bone loss: a cross-sectional study
Date: 2017-2018

Investigator status: Collaborator
Agency: University of Michigan School of Dentistry Roy H. Roberts Family Awards for Excellent and Innovation in Teaching
Title: Teaching and learning strategies for improving student writing skills

Investigator status: Principal investigator
Agency: University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School Block Grant
Title: Faculty perceptions of supporting students’ delivery of motivational interviewing during patient care
Date: September 2015-May 2016

• Google Scholar Profile
• ORCiD Profile

• Sigma Phi Alpha-Nu Chapter, American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA)
• American Dental Education Association (ADEA)