10 Best Dental Hygienist Schools in Florida

The teeth are one of the most important survival features that humans have evolved with and the dental hygienist schools in Florida will expose the secrets of how to prevent, cure, and treat the majority of the ailments that befall patients.

While those who are students of the various dental hygienist schools in Florida are aware of this but it is not obvious to many others, that a dental hygienist is classified as a licensed dentist, on the contrary, this is because they perform their duties independently of them and require their supervision. It is important to note that both a dental hygienist and a licensed dentist play a pivotal role in the health and treatment of dental ailments.

One of the roles which can be associated with a dental hygienist is the preparation of the teeth such as cleaning and setting of dental equipment before the patient is due to be seen by the dentist. Like most medical professions, both the dental hygienist and the licensed dentists are registered licensed dental professionals that are required to have successfully excelled in stringent academic work.

Such stringent academic work also produces some of the finest nurses through the accelerated nursing programs in Texas. The medical profession is considered a heroic field and care is taken to ensure that those who are practicing are actually licensed and registered professionals in the various fields they operate under.

To this end, the accelerated nursing programs of Virginia take their respective students through the rigorous course work and training process to fine-tune those who enroll in it and at the same time weed out those who unfortunately do not possess the affinity for the field.

To detour a little, for those who are wondering where they can fulfill their life goal of being a medical doctor, well the medical schools that are found in New York are one fine place to get the training you desire. Also, for students and medical professionals, there are great medical books that can be downloaded for free all thanks to the miracle that is the internet.

Requirements for Dental Hygienist Schools in Florida

Before you can be considered for enrollment by any of the dental hygienist schools in Florida, the following requirements must be met by you.

  • Pass the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination after graduating from a CODA-Accredited Dental Hygiene Program.
  • Take and pass the ADEX Dental Hygiene Licensing Exam Submit a License Application as well as the Required Documents.
  • Apply for Certification in Local Anesthesia Administration.
  • Keep Your Dental Hygiene License Current.

Cost of Dental Hygienist Schools in Florida

The cost of an associate degree awarded by the dental hygienist schools in Florida cost around $42,590 and the length of the program is approximately two years. Those that are enrolled in a four-year bachelor’s degree offered by the dental hygienist schools in Florida should budget upwards of $77,900.

Dental Hygienist Schools in Florida

10 Best Dental Hygienist Schools in Florida

1.      Miami Dade College

Miami Dade College is one of the state’s top dental hygiene programs. It prepares students for employment by combining didactic and laboratory sessions with significant clinical instruction at a fully-equipped dental clinic.

The institution provides an associate degree in dental hygiene that takes around two years to finish. The curriculum is available at the college’s Medical Campus and needs 88 credits, which include general education and dental hygiene courses.

It begins each year in August, and sessions are held throughout the day. General education classes, which are also available online, should ideally be completed before beginning dental hygiene instruction.

Dental anatomy, preventive dentistry, dental radiography, periodontology, community dental health, dental materials, and dental office administration and leadership are all included in the dental hygiene curriculum.

2.      Santa Fe College

The dynamic learning environment at Santa Fe College is enhanced by a devoted faculty, personalized attention, and hands-on learning opportunities at the college’s dental clinic. Clinical rotations at the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry and Alachua dental clinics also help to refine professional skills and knowledge.

Dental hygiene students can pursue an associate degree at the college.

You will finish a tough program that demands 35 to 37 class hours per week to achieve your degree. As a dental hygienist, you will be taught to work in a range of settings such as dental clinics, educational institutions, research laboratories, and public health.

The curriculum is diverse, encompassing anatomic, biological, dental science, and clinical subjects.

After completing this program, you will be qualified to take the local anesthetic certification test, as well as the national and state licensure exams.

3.      Eastern Florida State University

Eastern Florida State College is a Florida dental hygiene school that aims to give back to the community by providing an excellent platform for dental hygiene students to study and serve the community through yearly public dental service events and a fully equipped dental clinic.

This dental hygiene program at EFSC is an associate degree that takes two years to finish full-time. The curriculum consists of general education, science, and dental hygiene classes. Before beginning the dental hygiene curriculum, the institution suggests taking general education and science classes.

With just 12 students chosen each year, you can improve your chances of admission by passing the prerequisite courses in nutrition, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, and an introduction to healthcare with a grade of “C.”

4.      St. Petersburg College

St Petersburg College has been training dental hygiene students to thrive in this employment field for over 50 years. Graduates have been reported to do exceptionally well on state and national licensing tests.

St Petersburg College provides associate and bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene. While the associate degree is open to people without dental experience, the bachelor’s degree requires you to be a licensed dental hygienist.

Dental Hygiene Associate in Science Degree: This two-year program serves as a stepping stone to a doctorate in dental hygiene. The curriculum is delivered in cohorts with consecutive courses. Oral histology, dental radiography, preventative dentistry, dental materials, dental pharmacology, community dental health, periodontics, and clinical training are all part of the 58-credit dental hygiene program. Furthermore, if you qualify, you may be able to participate in a clinical learning experience in Jamaica.

B.A.S. in Dental Hygiene: This program’s courses are all delivered entirely online. It broadens your professional options in research, teaching, management, and sales by building on the information you obtained as an associate.

5.      Broward College

Broward College enables superior dental hygiene education with student-friendly resources such as a Career Center, financial assistance, and scholarships, all of which complement a job-ready curriculum.

This dental hygiene course in FL is presented in a unique manner in which you study dental assisting for one year before moving on to dental hygiene for another year. Each year, around 16 students are admitted to the dental hygiene cohort in August.

Some of the courses you will take as part of your dental hygiene program include dental pharmacology, pain management, dental anesthetic, oral histology, and periodontology.

The benefit of this curriculum is that after your first year of dental assisting, you may apply for internships and advance your career significantly. After completing your dental assisting education, you have up to three years to participate in the dental hygiene program.

During this time, some students work and get essential job experience while also earning money to pay for their second year of dental hygiene education.

6.      Valencia College

Valencia College has been offering a dental hygiene degree since 1977, and many of its graduates are now working as clinicians, academics, and public health hygienists around the country. With a fully operational dental clinic on campus, students may hone their professional abilities before entering the field.

You can enter the dentistry sector after completing this two-year associate in dental hygiene program. Every year, the curriculum begins in the summer and lasts six semesters. This comprehensive program comprises courses in general education, dental science, and dental hygiene, and prepares you to work as an entry-level dental hygienist.

To proceed through the program, you must finish all of these courses with a minimum grade of “C.” You will learn how to communicate effectively with patients, make evidence-based decisions, and promote patients’ dental health.

Furthermore, the college offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and Organizational Leadership, which can significantly improve your employment possibilities. It prepares you for employment in administration and supervision in the field of dental hygiene.

7.      Gulf Coast State College

Gulf Coast State College, located in a scenic setting among the lovely beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, has been teaching dental hygiene instruction since 1996. The institution is well-equipped with cutting-edge facilities, and its state-of-the-art dentistry clinic contributes to its students’ learning curve.

The college’s two-year associate degree in dental hygiene prepares you for state and national licensing tests and helps you become an important part of a dental team.

The college’s entrance process is exceptionally selective, with just 16 students admitted each year to this difficult full-time program.

The 88-credit curriculum combines biological and behavioral sciences with dentistry and dental hygiene sciences to provide you with a well-rounded education.

The clinical component requires you to practice professional skills with other cohort members. You will be able to work in a variety of settings after graduation, including dental clinics, dental schools, research, insurance, dental supply firms, and public health departments.

8.      Florida State College

Students passed the NationalBoard Dental HygieneExamination with high success rates because of Florida State College’s excellent dental hygiene instruction, which is backed by a devoted staff.

To become a dental hygienist in FL, choose this two-year associate program, which begins once a year in the autumn semester.

The curriculum consists of 16 credits in general education, 12 credits in science, and 60 credits in dental hygiene. To graduate, you must pass all of these courses with a minimum grade of “C,” after which you will have acquired the information and abilities needed to provide clinical and therapeutic dental services to patients in order to enhance their oral health.

Oral anatomy, oral histology, preventative dentistry, introduction to clinical procedures, dental radiology, periodontics, dental materials, community oral health, and ethics and legislation pertinent to your dental profession are among the courses presented in sequence.

9.      Tallahassee Community College

Tallahassee Community College is a well-known community college that serves dental hygiene students from Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties.

TCC’s dental hygiene program offers an associate degree that may be completed in six semesters if you complete 15 credit hours every term. To be qualified for the program, you must have at least a “C” in all pre-requisite courses.

This program, which is only available in the fall, accepts a limited number of students each year. You will finish its extensive curriculum by attending face-to-face didactic lectures, lab experiences, and clinical rotations. After graduation, you will have improved your clinical reasoning and communication skills, as well as the ability to execute all of the responsibilities expected of an entry-level dental hygienist.

10. Palm Beach State College

Palm Beach State College provides an economical and high-quality dental hygiene program in FL. Small class sizes, a great faculty, and a well-equipped dental clinic make it a very rewarding environment in which to pursue a career in the allied dentistry sector. Transfer agreements between the college and numerous other universities make transferring to a four-year college a simple affair.

The curriculum is an associate degree program that may be completed in 21 months of full-time study. Beginning in the autumn, you must finish a total of 88 credits, which includes 18 credits in natural science courses, 18 credits in general education courses, and 52 credits in dental hygiene courses. You will be qualified to take the national and state licensing examinations after completing this program.

Transfer credits towards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management if you want to pursue a broader professional path.

Conclusion

The Dental Hygienist Schools in Florida are some of the best in the country as they ensure that students are capable to become active, functional professionals.

Dental Hygienist Schools in Florida—FAQs

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