Dental Hygeine Program Information

The program will provide the students with engaging educational and clinical opportunities that promote entry level competency in dental hygiene practice.

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Dental Hygiene Resources

Division of Health Profession and Wellness Estimated Cost of the Radiography Program Tuition and Fees

View the Estimated Cost of the Program Tuition and Fees

Dental Hygiene Program Brochure

The SCF Dental Hygiene Clinic Provides Dental Care

The students and faculty at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota are prepared to provide you with oral hygiene treatment of the highest quality. The Dental Hygiene Clinic is equipped with 16 industry current dental units for patient comfort and quality care.

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For questions related to the Dental Hygiene

DentalHygiene@SCF.edu

(941) 752-5245

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

YearInitial EnrollmentNumber of Graduates% Completion
C/O 2023161381%
C/O 2022161381%
C/O 2021161063%
C/O 202016 1488%
C/O 201914 8 57%
C/O 2018141071%
C/O 2017151280%
C/O 20161415107%
C/O 2015161488%

Performance on Post Graduate Examinations

Year# of Graduates% of Graduates Passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam# of Graduates Passing the Florida Dental Hygiene Clinical Exam first Attempt# of Graduates Passing the Florida Dental Hygiene Clinical Exam Second Attempt
C/O 202313100%13N/A
C/O 20221392%12N/A
C/O 202110100%910
C/O 202014100%14N/A
C/O 20198100%68
C/O 201810100%810
C/O 201712100%912
C/O 201615100%1415
C/O 201514100%14N/A

 5 Year Average Job Placement Rate

Year# of Graduates# of Graduates who returned surveys# of Graduates who actively sought employment# of Graduates who found employment% of Graduates that actively sought and found employment
C/O 2023131313100
C/O 2022131212100
C/O 2021101010100
C/O 202014— 1313100
C/O 2019888100
C/O 2018102 1010 100
C/O 201712 1212 100
C/O 201615 1515  100 
C/O 2015141 1414  100
Application Statistics

Application   Statistics
Application Total 
(Applications taken month of January 2023) Class of  202583 
(Applications taken month of January 2022) Class of 2024119 
(Applications taken month of January 2021) Class of 2023125 
(Applications taken month of January 2020) Class of 202288 
(Applications taken month of  January 2019) Class of 2021114 
(Applications taken month of  January 2018) Class of 2020108 
(Applications taken month of  January 2017) Class of 2019101 
(Applications taken month of  January 2016) Class of 201884 
(Applications taken month of  January 2015) Class of 201758 

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

How can I learn about the Dental Hygiene Program?

• Students are encouraged to meet with a College & Career Success Coach if they have questions regarding course and degree selection. (Advising Center 941-752-5035)
• Visit SCF.edu/dentalhygiene for program details and updated information.
• Contact the Dental Hygiene Program department at 941-752-5245 or email dentalhygiene@scf.edu.

How much does the Dental Hygiene program cost?

Current program tuition information is posted on the program website under Dental Hygiene Program Information “Estimated cost of the program – Tuition and Fees”.  A $35 application fee, which is good for three (3) consecutive years is also required.  After the three (3) application cycles, the application fee must be paid again.

When can I apply to the Dental Hygiene program?

• Dental Hygiene Program applications are accepted in January for the program which starts once a year at the start of the summer term.
•Details for submitting a program application will be posted on scf.edu/programs/dental-hygiene/?. Please check the website frequently for upcoming details.

Does this Dental Hygiene program have a “wait list”?

No, if students apply and are not selected, they must re-apply the following year to be considered for admission. 

How many students are accepted in the Dental Hygiene program each year?

Eighteen (18) students are accepted for the program annually; approximately 80-125 students apply for acceptance annually.

If I earned a “C” in a general academic course, can I retake that class to bring up my GPA?

Yes, per the current SCF college catalog, grade forgiveness policy, students can request to retake a course that they have successfully completed earning a grade of B or C.
Students may also reattempt courses following an unsuccessful attempt, in which a grade of D, F, W or WF has been earned.
NOTE:
• Approval and grade improvement does not guarantee admission to the program.
• No more than two program required or prerequisite courses can be repeated.
• No more than one retake will be allowed per course.
• The most recent grade will be used for program admission requirements.
Interested students must complete the Request to Retake A Course Form with Program Director Approval.

What are the requirements for applying to the Dental Hygiene Program?

In addition to the admission requirements of the college, the following are requirements for applying to the program:

1. Earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or better in ALL general education courses required by the program toward the degree and a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 to meet graduation requirements.

2. Satisfactory completion of any remedial course work needed to be eligible for college-level courses.

NOTE: Prerequisite courses may be required for ENC 1101 and Area II Math. These prerequisite courses MUST be taken PRIOR to entry into the Dental Hygiene Program to be eligible to take the required courses. Consult the course descriptions in the online Catalog at scf.edu/Catalog for additional information.

3. Program prerequisite courses MUST be completed with a grade of “C” or better by the end of the fall term prior to the year in which the applicant is applying.

BSC 2085C Anatomy and Physiology I
CHM 1020C Chemistry for Everyday Life (prior CHM 1022C) or higher level
Choose from Area II A.S. Math course (MAC 1105 College Algebra or STA 2023 Elementary Statistics preferred)

4. A minimum grade of “C” is required for all courses applied towards the Dental Hygiene degree.

5. A completed application for the Dental Hygiene Program and a $35 application fee which is good for (3) consecutive years is required. (If not an active SCF student, a separate application is required for admission to the College along with a $20 application fee.)

Note: Completion of all or part of the required academic courses does not assure acceptance into the program.

What are the general academic courses required of the A.S. Dental Hygiene degree?

Go to scf.edu/program/dental-hygiene/ and scroll down to General Academic Courses to view the list of prerequisite and general academic courses (36 credit hours.)  Students are encouraged to complete as many of the academic courses possible before applying to the program.

How are students selected for the Dental Hygiene program?

The Dental Hygiene Program is a limited enrollment program, so applicant priority is determined by the following criteria:

1. Selection will be based on a rubric evaluating completed general education courses, previous dental experience or observation, and previous degrees. Any required program academic course in progress during the application window will not be used in the selection process.

2. Submit a limited enrollment application during the application period and pay the application fee. 

3. If there is more than one student for the final seat in the program, the selection criteria will be the overall GPA.

Note: The Program GPA is calculated from the required General Academic Courses for the Dental Hygiene program, not the overall GPA.

Students not accepted into the program must reapply for admission the following year.

After I apply, when will I find out if I’m accepted?

Students are notified of acceptance or denial any time after applications have closed but no later than 8 weeks after the program application deadline.  Applicant status will be communicated via SCF student email.  It is imperative that students check their SCF email (including the junk folder) frequently.  Best practice to check on a computer not your phone. You will have one week to respond.

If I am accepted, when do I begin the Dental Hygiene Program?

This is a two-year program which begins at the start of the Summer term of the year the student is accepted. The sequence of terms once accepted into the Dental Hygiene program is Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring. Students can expect a full-time schedule beginning the Fall semester. (24 consecutive months)

Where do the Dental Hygiene program classes and clinical experience take place? What is the program’s class and clinical schedule?

The Dental Hygiene Program is located on the SCF Bradenton Campus in Building #2. The Dental Hygiene Program classwork and clinic experience are designed to be taken in sequence; therefore, students must adhere to the schedule given to them. Classes and clinic experience are scheduled during weekdays. However, classes could require attendance in the evening dependent on faculty scheduling and clinic experiences may also take place periodically on Saturdays for special events elsewhere in the community. If students must work outside the program, past program history has shown that working more than 20 hours a week decreases success in the program.

Why does the Dental Hygiene program require health screenings, immunizations titers and background checks?

Student health information is required by clinical agencies. The agencies will not allow any student entry unless the SCF Division of Health Professions can provide documentation that these requirements are met.  The titer is a blood test that determines a student’s current immunities to communicable diseases.

Students enrolled should understand that the required clinical experience in various healthcare facilities, including on campus clinics, may expose them to environmental hazards, infectious disease, blood borne pathogens including, but not limited to, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS and other viruses.

Clinical agencies also require background checks to participate in the clinical experience at their facility. Based on the results of the background check, students may become ineligible for program admission.

What is a “What If” Degree Audit and why do I have to submit one with my program application?

The “What If” Degree Audit enables the student to run an electronic degree audit/evaluation via MySCF.  The audit shows degree completion requirements and GPA.  The selection team uses the audit to evaluate an applicant for the program selection. 

NOTE: All transcripts must be received and evaluated by the Registrar’s office to complete a “What If” Degree Audit.

What are the directions for printing a “What If” Degree Audit?

Please see the Dental Hygiene application instructions at scf.edu/program/dental-hygiene/ for directions.

If I have been convicted of a crime can I apply to the program?

The applicant should be aware that the State of Florida periodically changes the laws in relation to persons with criminal backgrounds being licensed to practice dental hygiene in Florida.  It is the prospective student’s decision to enter the program based upon the knowledge and understanding that he or she may, or may not, be granted the right to be licensed in the State of Florida upon graduation. If you have questions, please contact The Florida Board of Dentistry at 850-245-4474.

What are the Additional Post-Acceptance Requirements & Fees?

Upon acceptance to the program, the following are required: Background checks, CPR certification, health and drug screening are required to meet local health care regulations.  This package runs about $200.00. Based on the results of these checks and screenings, students may become ineligible for program admission.  Continuation in the program is based on acceptable results from random/ongoing screenings and background checks.  Clinical facilities may limit or prohibit students with positive drug screen results or criminal histories from participating in clinical experiences, thus making the student ineligible to continue in the program.  Students are responsible for all fees incurred with these checks and screenings.

The applicant should be aware that the State of Florida periodically changes the laws in relation to persons with criminal backgrounds being licensed in Florida.  It is the prospective student’s decision to enter the program based upon the knowledge and understanding that he or she may, or may not, be granted the right to be licensed in the State of Florida upon graduation.