Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Description of Program:

The A.A.S. degree in Dental Hygiene prepares you for licensure as a dental hygienist so you may provide quality oral health care to the public. Our four program goals are to provide an environment that fosters respect for the ADHA Professional Code of Ethics and Conduct that supports state laws governing the practice of dental hygiene, provide high quality didactic instruction that precipitates critical thinking, teaching responsibility for evidence based decision making and creates a desire for lifelong learning, educates you in precision instrumentation that integrates didactic theory with oral hygiene therapy, and prepares you to deliver education and therapeutic services in your communities, while recognizing dental hygiene as a dynamic profession.

Once accepted into the program, the dental hygiene curriculum will prepare you for employment as a licensed dental hygienist. You will be expected to master competencies of the dental profession such as patient assessment, dental hygiene instrumentation, direct patient care services including debridement, taking and interpreting diagnostic radiographs, oral hygiene education, special population dental care, expanded functions, office management, infection control, ethics and jurisprudence. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be eligible to sit for the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination and the Florida State Clinical Licensure Examination.

Application Requirements:

In addition to the admission requirements of the college, the following are requirements for admission to the Dental Hygiene Program:

1. Satisfactory completion of any remedial course work needed to be eligible for college level courses.
2. Completion of the six pre-dental hygiene courses with a grade of C or higher in each, prior to applying, and an average cumulative GPA 2.75 or higher. (Some of the prerequisite courses may themselves have prerequisites; please verify this information with Counseling/Advising 863-784-7131 or in the College Catalog under Course Descriptions.) Laboratory science courses must have been completed within five years prior to application. 
   
   The pre-dental hygiene courses are:

   PREFIX NUMBER		COURSE NAME	CREDIT HOURS
   	BSC 1085C	Anatomy and Physiology I		4
   	BSC 1086C	Anatomy and Physiology II		4
   	CHM 1025C	Introduction to General Chemistry		4
   	MCB 2010C	Microbiology		4
   	MAC 1105	College Algebra		3
   	ENC 1101	Freshman English I		3

3. Verification from a licensed dentist or dental hygienist substantiating completion of at least 40 hours of observation, volunteer service, or work experience in a dental facility.
4. Competency in basic computer skills.
   You must demonstrate competency in basic computer skills in one of four ways:
   1. Have a passing grade in a computer course on a high school transcript;
   2. Have a passing grade in a computer course on a college or university transcript;
   3. Take Introduction to Microcomputers class during the Dental Hygiene Program at South Florida Community College;
   4. Verify through experiential credit.
5. A completed Dental Hygiene Program application (separate application required for admission to the college).

Admissions Procedures:

You are responsible for following the admissions procedures and for ensuring that their records are complete in the admissions office. No application will be considered unless it is complete.

1. The following should be submitted to the college Admissions Office prior to applying to the program:
   
   1. Completed college application;
   2. Official high school/GED transcript;
   3. Official transcript from each college attended for credit courses.
   4. An application for the Dental Hygiene Program (applications are available in January). Applications received after the date specified on the application will not be considered.
   5. Verification from a licensed dentist or dental hygienist, substantiating completion of at least 40 hours of observation, volunteer service, or work experience.
2. Submit the following to the Limited Enrollment Program advisor after acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program:
   1. Physical health exam and a record of immunizations from a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, and a statement of satisfactory dental health from a licensed dentist (form to be provided upon notification of admission).
3. Florida Department of Law Enforcement fingerprinting (will be scheduled first week of class).

Slection Criteria and Process:

Entrance to the program is competitive. The higher the GPA, the better the chance of being selected for the program. Following are specific criteria that will be used when selecting students for the Dental Hygiene Program:

1. Completion of six pre-dental hygiene courses with a grade of C or above in each course, and an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above for all pre-dental hygiene courses.
2. Documentation of residence in Highlands, DeSoto, Hardee, or Polk county for one year immediately prior to the time of application.
3. Verification from a licensed dentist or dental hygienist, substantiating completion of at least 40 hours of observation, volunteer service, or work experience.
4. In the event there are two or more applicants with an identical number of points, the following criteria will be used, in the given sequence, as a tiebreaker:
   1. a higher cumulative GPA for the six prerequisite courses.
   2. if GPAs are identical, then completion of any of the additional 12 hours of general education courses (Fundamentals of Speech Communication, General Psychology, General Sociology, and a three credit Humanities elective).
   3. If the same number of general education courses have been completed, then the candidate who has a higher cumulative GPA for the completed general education courses.
   4. If the GPAs of completed general education courses are identical, then the candidate with more experience in a dental office or clinic.
   5. If the experience in a dental office or clinic is identical, then the date of receiving the dental hygiene application.
5. You may anticipate notification of acceptance into, or rejection from, the fall class in May.

Selection Process Point System:

Length: Two (2) years (88 credit hours)

General Information:

1. SFCC reserves the right to deny admission to you if you demonstrates the lack of required qualifications for the Dental Hygiene Program.
2. You must reapply if they wish to be considered for a subsequent class. Each class is selected from the new applicant pool.
3. The college adheres to federal and state laws controlling equal access/equal opportunity.
4. You should understand that completion of all or part of the general education courses required in the degree does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
5. If you have excessive absences, you will be dropped from the program. Excessive absences are defined as being absent from 10 percent or more scheduled class contact hours. If you have life or health conditions that might hinder attendance, you may wish to consider another program or delay application until a strong commitment to attendance can be made.
6. An official criminal history background check is required for entry into the Dental Hygiene Program. Please be aware that some providers of clinical experience will not allow individuals with certain types of criminal history into their facilities. This may be cause for denial into the program, because such individuals would not be able to successfully complete clinical portions of the Dental Hygiene Program.
7. For information about the Dental Hygiene Program, application procedures, and employment opportunities, please contact the Director of Dental Education at 863-784-7021.
8. SFCC Dental Hygiene program may accept you with advanced standing, depending on space. We also recognize the State of Florida Articulation Agreement between ADA Accredited Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene Programs. Through this agreement, you may receive credit for the following three courses, depending on comparison of course outlines to assure content and rigor:
   • Dental Materials
   • Dental Radiography
   • Orofacial Anatomy

Approximate Costs:

The Registrar determines course equivalency of pre-dental hygiene courses taken at other colleges and universities. If the Registrar is unable to determine course equivalency, then course equivalency will be determined by the appropriate dean at SFCC that teaches the course or courses.