A dental hygienist is a professional licensed by the state and must have an associate's degree.  She or he often works one-on-one with patients performing tasks such as helping to prevent dental disease, applying preventive agents, and taking radiographs (X-rays).  Hygienists perform oral cancer screenings, take patients' medical history, take vital signs, and educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. Other job duties may include applying sealants and fluoride to teeth, teaching patients oral hygiene strategies, such as brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling; making impressions for study casts or models of teeth; and performing documentation and office management activities. Dental hygienists find employment in private dental offices, corporate dental practices, hospitals, public health, higher education, the armed services, marketing and research fields.

1. Our Dental Hygiene program provides hands-on training through classroom instruction and participation in a clinical setting.
2. This program will prepare you for a healthcare job that's in high demand and has opportunities for career growth.
3. Our Dental Hygiene program includes a clinical setting that mirrors a community dental practice, so you'll have hands-on opportunities to practice skills taught in the classroom and you'll have access to the latest technology such as digital radiographs.

Licensure Examination Results:

• The Dental Hygiene Program has a 100% pass rate within 6 months of graduation for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) for the Class of 2022.
• The CDCA-WREB Clinical Board pass rate is 100% within 6 months of graduation for the Class of 2022.

Students will:

• Discern and manage the ethical issues of dental hygiene practice in a rapidly changing environment.
• Acquire and synthesize information in a critical, scientific and effective manner.
• Be concerned with improving the knowledge, skills and values of the profession.
• Provide planned educational services using appropriate interpersonal communication skills and educational strategies to promote optimal health.
• Initiate and assume responsibility for health promotion and disease prevention activities for diverse populations.
• Systematically collect, analyze and accurately record baseline data on the general, oral and psychosocial health status of the patient using methods consistent with medicolegal principles.
• Discuss the condition of the oral cavity, the actual and potential problems identified, the etiological and contributing factors, as well as recommended and alternative treatments available.
• Provide treatment that includes preventive and therapeutic procedures to promote and maintain oral health and assist the patient in achieving oral health goals.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of planned clinical and educational services and modify them as necessary.

There are additional expenses for instruments, uniforms, equipment, professional memberships, and Board exam expenses.

This program is like a full-time job in itself and the faculty recommends that outside work commitments should be 10 hours or less during the semester.

The student's time must be flexible since there will be days when you will need to arrive earlier to prepare and stay later to finish the clinic duties.

Once you graduate from this program, you will find employment, have the potential for economic independence, and be part of a respected alumni group.

Academic Requirements:

• new, transfer, readmit and seeking 2nd SUNY Orange degree students ONLY: must have a current College application on file
• high school diploma or high school equivalency (HSE) diploma required
• placement into ENG 101 (Freshman English 1)
• eligible to take MAT 102 (Intermediate Algebra) or have successfully completed MAT 101 (Elementary Algebra) or equivalent, with a "C" or higher
• completed one of the following within five years of the application deadline: BIO 110 (Intro to Biology), BIO 101 (General Biology I), BIO 115 (Human Biology), BIO 111 (Anatomy & Physiology I), BIO 112 (Anatomy & Physiology II) with a grade of "C" or higher; Passing grade on the Biology CLEP examination; or high school AP Biology (score of 3 or higher) – submit the official AP transcript from College Board. BIO 112 (A&P II) can serve as a substitute for BIO 115 (Human Biology)
• completed high school regents (New York State) course or College Prep chemistry course with a grade of 75 or higher, passing grade on the chemistry CLEP examination (no credit will be given, but will count towards meeting admissions criteria), or a college chemistry course (with a lab), all with a grade of "C" or higher and all within five years of the application deadline
• students must attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5

Department Specific Requirements:

• attendance at a Dental Hygiene pre-admission seminar within three years of the application deadline
• submit Dental Hygienist Observation Form (16 hour minimum with documentation) within three years of the application deadline

Pre-Admission seminar dates and observation forms are available online.

Note: Admission to this program is selective. Applicants will be considered based on the total amount of non-clinical courses complete, program GPA and Science GPA. For Dental Hygiene, the following courses will be calculated in the Science GPA review: BIO 115, BIO 125 & MLT 106 

Attendance (mandatory) at a Dental Hygiene pre-admission seminar within three years of the application deadline where students will receive and sign off on information pertaining to health forms, drug testing, criminal record/criminal background check policies, infectious disease policies/information pertaining to infectious diseases involved in patient care, participation as a student patient, citizenship for licensure, and program policies for infection control, admissions, orientation, and student kits. 

All of the academic and department requirements must be completed on or before Feb. 1 in order for a student to be considered for acceptance into the program for the upcoming Fall semester.

While the A.A.S. degree leads to immediate employment, SUNY Orange dental hygiene graduates can transfer to:

• Manhattan College
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Pennsylvania College of Technology

Career opportunities exist with:

• private practice
• hospitals
• health service agencies
• overseas providers
• military branches

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This program has specific admissions requirements and requires a criminal background check and drug testing. The two-year Dental Hygiene program begins each fall semester in August with a maximum capacity of 20 students.  Selection for the program happens through a competitive application process. There is a minimum GPA of 2.5 but the average GPA in the past five years has been between 3.2 and 3.7.

Applicants must maintain high grades in all science and general education courses in the degree to be competitive for admissions.  Once in the program students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 and pass all classes with a grade of C.  Classes in Dental Hygiene are held on the Middletown campus.