Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene Program will prepare the student for employment as a dental hygiene clinician and educator in a variety of settings including private dental practice, public health departments, institutional and research facilities, and public and private schools. Graduates of the Dental Hygiene Program will be awarded an associate in science degree and will be eligible to take the National Board Examination and the Florida State Licensing Examination which are both required for licensure in the state of Florida. The course of study includes general academic studies, technical courses in dental hygiene concepts and procedures, clinical experiences in the dental hygiene clinic and community facilities, and community and public health education experiences. Integrated into the program is the dental “team concept” with the inclusion of four-handed dentistry and those expanded dental functions that can legally be delegated to a dental hygienist in the state of Florida.

The Dental Hygiene Program’s goal is to provide an engaging learning environment for the education of oral health professionals who will provide ethical and comprehensive dental hygiene care for the community. The Program will foster the maturation of technical, communication and critical thinking skills in the development of excellent clinicians, oral health educators and lifelong learners. The Program is designed to meet the need of the Community by maintaining an industry current facility and a curriculum that supports the current standards of dental hygiene practice.

Program Goals

• Goal 1:  The Program will provide the students with engaging educational and clinical opportunities that promote entry level competency in dental hygiene practice.
• Goal 2:  The Program will meet the needs of the community and the curriculum will reflect the current standards of dental hygiene practice.
• Goal 3:  The Program will provide an accessible educational environment that encourages ethical practice, professional leadership, self assessment, effective communication, critical thinking and lifelong learning.
• Goal 4:  The Program will participate in ongoing activities to maintain the standards of accreditation, at the highest level, with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

What is a Dental Hygienist?

A licensed professional who promotes optimum oral health for individuals and groups of individuals through preventive education and clinical and therapeutic services.

The SCF Dental Hygiene Program will introduce the student to many concepts and skills.  All of the curriculum content is incorporated to prepare the student for clinical practice and to meet the standards set forth by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and the standards required by the state of Florida. 

Our process includes the introduction of the content in the classroom and by instructor demonstration.  After the demonstration, students will work on each other to develop skills.  The faculty will work individually with students to assure understanding and continued development of clinical skills.   Although amount of content is significant, the faculty who teach in this program create a student-centered learning atmosphere which is encouraging and supportive.  If a student feels additional support is necessary, the student has the ability to request one-on-one instruction time from one of the fulltime faculty.  Occasionally, the clinical faculty may note individualized time would be beneficial for the student and may recommend making an appointment with a fulltime faculty to improve student performance.

Students are provided with the program requirements necessary to graduate from the State College of Florida Dental Hygiene Program.  The Program Competencies and Clinical Skill Evaluations are available in the State College of Florida Dental Hygiene Handbook.  Students are encouraged to review each skill evaluation prior to formal evaluation by faculty. The program interpretation of competency is the student’s ability to perform the skill or evaluation without any verbal coaching or prompting.  Therefore, students should practice all of the skills numerous times before requesting faculty observation of a skill. The faculty will not provide feedback, coaching or prompting on a skill evaluation.  Students, who are unsuccessful on a skill evaluation, will be required to repeat the skill evaluation successfully later in the semester. 

Where are Dental Hygienists Employed?

The Dental Hygiene Program will prepare graduates for employment as a dental health educator and clinician in a variety of settings which may include a private dental practice, public health departments, institutional and research facilities, and public and private schools.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates employment of dental hygienists to grow 6 percent faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health to general health will continue to spur demand for preventative dental services, which are often provided by dental hygienists. For more information click here.

Dental Hygiene Program Accreditation

ADA Site Visit

The Dental Hygiene Program participates in ongoing activities to maintain accreditation, at the highest level, with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the  American Dental Association.

The State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of approval without reporting. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/100.aspx.

Required notice of Opportunity and Procedures to File Complaints with the Commission

Each program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation must develop and implement a procedure to inform the students of the mailing address and telephone number of the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The following is the official notice for the students of the State College of Florida Dental Hygiene Program on the procedure for filing a complaint with the Commission of Dental Accreditation.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of the individuals or act as a court of appeals for individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff and students.

A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and /or Commission’s policy and procedures for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611 or by calling 1-800-621-8099 extension 4653.

American Dental Association Policy on Third Party Comments

Statistics – Program Effectiveness Data

Annual Program Completion Rates

Performance on Post Graduate Examinations

 5 Year Average Job Placement Rate

Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association

The Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA) provides students with an opportunity to understand the importance and role of the professional organization. Student participants become members at the national, state, and local level of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA). Membership and participation with these professional organizations offer many benefits including the following:

• Security. Membership with ADHA will help to secure a future for dental hygiene. ADHA is working to protect the value of educational credentials and to preserve the integrity of professional licensure. Only through uniting in one voice can ADHA continue to represent dental hygienists successfully.
• Access to Information. Members receive a subscription to the Journal of Dental Hygiene, ADHA’s official publication that provides scientific and technical articles on clinical practice, research, and education. In addition, members receive the association’s magazine, Access, which helps professionals stay abreast to the issues that are critical to the dental hygiene profession.
• Continuing Education. ADHA membership offers a discount on self-study/virtual continuing education courses, courses offered at the ADHA annual session, and constituent and component continuing education events.
• Employment Assistance. Members benefit from state employment job referral services, national classified advertising and employment reference materials. ADHA is a professional partner, supplying foreign employment contacts, information on state licensing authorities, lists of accredited dental hygiene programs and details on research grants and scholarships.
• Professional Contacts. As part of your dues, you automatically become a member of your state constituent and local component organizations. These groups sponsor meetings and activities for your personal and professional benefit. By attending local, state and national functions, you have the opportunity to form new friendships and develop professional contacts.
• Insurance. Membership will provide opportunities to apply for various types of insurance such as professional liability, disability and major medical at competitive premiums.
• Leadership Opportunities. Becoming active in ADHA affords the opportunity to acquire and develop new skills and interests, such as leadership and public speaking.
• Recognition. Members can make contributions to the community’s oral health standards through professional activities with their local component.  Professional membership helps build an identity for individuals in the dental hygiene field. Participants can also become a role model for recruiting candidates into the dental hygiene program.
• Activities. Students participate in the Florida Dental Hygiene Association’s Annual Symposium during the fall semester. At this professional meeting second year students present and compete in poster presentation competition with other dental hygiene students from Florida dental hygiene programs. Additionally, students attend meetings and presentations specifically designed for students at this state meeting. This is a great opportunity for students to network with professional leaders in the state of Florida as well as national leaders in the profession. Additional meetings and professional activities are planned throughout the year.
• Cost of Membership
  • Membership is $85.00. It includes national, local, and state memberships.
  • Dues for national membership (ADHA) are currently $65.
  • Dues for state membership (FSDHA) are currently $10.
  • Dues for local membership (SCF SADHA) are currently $10.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions