Arvada	Aurora	Black Forest
Boulder	Brighton	Broomfield
Canon City	Castle Rock	Centennial
Cimarron Hills	Clifton	Colorado Springs
Columbine	Commerce City	Dakota Ridge
Denver	Durango	Englewood
Erie	Evans	Firestone
Fort Carson	Fort Collins	Fountain
Fruita	Golden	Grand Junction
Greeley	Greenwood Village	Highlands Ranch
Johnstown	Ken Caryl	Lafayette
Lakewood	Littleton	Lone Tree
Longmont	Louisville	Loveland
Montrose	Northglenn	Parker
Pueblo	Pueblo West	Security Widefield
Sherrelwood	Southglenn	Steamboat Springs
Sterling	Superior	Thornton
Welby	Westminster	Wheat Ridge
Windsor

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Dental Hygienist Job Description

When contrasting the job of a dental hygienist to that of an assistant, the most significant difference is probably that the hygienist works more independently. Dental assistants work with and in support of the Colorado dentists and the practice. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, work with the patients more on a one-to-one basis. They are frequently the first person a patient sees when called from the waiting room. They examine each patient's gums and teeth and present their findings to the dentists. They also may perform basic procedures. Depending on state law, a hygienist's duties may include:

• Removing stains, tartar and plaque
• Applying fluoride treatments
• Applying sealants and polishing teeth
• Teaching patients regarding oral hygiene
• Taking and developing X-rays
• Applying fillings and removing sutures

In order to be licensed in almost all states, dental hygienists must have graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) accredited dental hygiene program. They must also pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam as well as any state licensing exams. After they have fulfilled these requirements they are deemed fully licensed and can add the "RDH" designation to their names, standing for Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Training Options

As a result of the added responsibility as compared to an assistant, dental hygienists employed in Colorado dental practices are often required to hold an Associate Degree in dental hygiene rather than a certificate. These programs can take anywhere from 2 to as long as 3 years to complete and must be accredited by the CDA in almost every state. They are offered in trade and technical schools as well as community colleges. And in addition to classroom studies learning the fundamentals of dental hygiene, there will be a clinical component to the training as well| Many programs also offer internships with local dentists or dental practices.

Dental Hygienist Online Colleges

Enrolling in an online dental hygienist college may be a great option for obtaining your education. Just keep in mind that the program will not be totally online, since there will be a practical portion to your training. But the remainder of your classes will be available via your desktop computer in the comfort of your Colorado home or elsewhere on your laptop or tablet. For those working while attending college, online dental classes make education much more accessible. Some may even charge lower tuition fees than their on-campus counterparts. And additional expenses such as for commuting, books and school supplies may be reduced also. The clinical training can typically be performed at an area dental office or in an on-campus lab. With both the clinical and online training, everything needed to obtain the proper education is furnished. If you have the dedication for this mode of learning, you might find that enrolling in an dental hygienist online program is the ideal option for you.

Learn More About Training to Become a Dental Hygienist in Colorado

 

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