Dental Hygiene Courses
How to Select the Best One Near College Park Georgia
The most important first step to start your new profession in preventive dentistry is to select the ideal dental hygienist school near College Park GA. However, you must examine and compare your school options prior to making your final choice. There is far more to completing your due diligence than choosing the program with the most affordable tuition or enrolling in the college that is nearest to your residence. There are other crucial issues to consider as well, for instance the college's accreditation and reputation. A dental hygienist usually must spend anywhere from two to three years to complete an Associate Degree, in contrast to a certificate most often earned by dental assistants in about a year. Naturally with the more extensive training of a hygienist comes more expense. We will cover all of these considerations and additional questions that you need to be asking the dental hygienist schools you are reviewing later in this article. But first, let's review the roles of dental hygienists and the training programs offered.
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Dental Hygienist Job Duties
When contrasting the job of a dental hygienist to that of an assistant, the biggest difference is undoubtedly that the hygienist works more on their own. Dental assistants work with and assists the College Park GA practice and the dentists. Hygienists, while also supporting the practice, deal with the patients more on an individual basis. They are typically the initial person a patient encounters when called from the waiting room. They examine every patient's gums and teeth and report their results to the dentists. They also may carry out basic procedures. Based on state law, a hygienist's responsibilities may include:
- Removing tartar, stains and plaque
- Administering fluoride treatments
- Applying sealants and polishing teeth
- Educating patients regarding oral care
- Taking X-rays and developing film
- Applying fillings and removing sutures
Dental Hygienist Education Options
Because of the added responsibility in contrast to an assistant, dental hygienists working in College Park GA dental practices are generally 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 nearly every state. They are offered in trade and vocational schools as well as community colleges. And in addition to classroom studies learning the fundamentals of dental hygiene, there will be a clinical aspect to the training as well. A number of programs also sponsor internships with local dentists or dental practices.Dental Hygienist Online Training Programs
Choosing an online dental hygienist school may be a great option for obtaining your training. Just remember that the program will not be 100% online, since there will be a practical portion to your training. But the rest of your classes will be accessible by means of your desktop computer in the comfort of your College Park GA home or elsewhere on your tablet or laptop. For those continuing to work while going to college, online dental classes make education a lot more accessible. Some may even have lower tuition fees than their on-campus counterparts. And added expenses for items like books, school supplies and commuting may be lessened as well. The clinical training can often be completed at an area dental practice or in an on-campus lab. With both the clinical and online training, everything required to obtain the appropriate education is provided. If you have the dedication for this mode of education, you may find that attending an dental hygienist online college is the best option for you.
Issues to Cover With Dental Hygienist Schools
Now that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in College Park GA, you can start the process of comparing schools and programs. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students start by checking out the cost and the location of the colleges. Maybe they search for some online alternatives also. Although these are significant initial factors to consider, there are a few additional questions that you need to address to the schools you are looking at in order to make an informed decision. Toward that end, we have supplied a list of questions to help you with your evaluation and ultimate selection of the best dental hygienist program for you.
Is the Dental College Accredited? There are a number of valid reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist program. If you are planning to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a prerequisite in virtually all states. To qualify to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, your dental college must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality and comprehensive. College Park GA employers frequently prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited schools. And finally, if you are requesting financial aid or a student loan, usually they are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges.
Is Enough Practical Training Included? Practical or clinical training is an important part of any dental training program. This holds true for the online college options as well. Most dental hygienist schools have associations with local dental offices and clinics that furnish clinical training for their students. It's not only essential that the school you select offers sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you subsequently want to work in. As an example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, make sure that the program you select offers clinical rotation in a local College Park GA dental office that specializes in dental treatment for children.
Is There an Internship Program? Find out if the dental schools you are looking at sponsor internship programs. Internships are undoubtedly the best way to obtain hands-on, clinical experience in a professional dental practice. They help students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students create professional relationships in the College Park GA dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Most graduating students of dental hygienist programs require assistance obtaining their first job. Check if the programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Colleges with high job placement rates are likely to have good reputations within the College Park GA dental community in addition to broad networks of contacts where they can refer their students for employment or internships.
Are the Classes Small? Ask the schools you are reviewing how big typically their classrooms are. The smaller classes generally provide a more intimate atmosphere for training where students have greater access to the instructors. On the other hand, large classes can be impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If practical, find out if you can monitor a couple of classes at the College Park GA dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward in order to witness first hand the amount of interaction between students and instructors before making a commitment.
What is the Overall Cost of the Program? Dental hygiene colleges can fluctuate in cost based on the length of the program and the amount of clinical training provided. Other variables, for example the reputations of the colleges and whether they are private or public also have an impact. But besides the tuition there are other substantial costs which can add up. They can include costs for such things as commuting and textbooks as well as school equipment, materials and supplies. So when examining the cost of schools, remember to add all of the expenses associated with your education. Most colleges have financial assistance departments, so be sure to check out what is offered as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the College Park GA area.
Are the Classes Convenient? Before selecting a dental hygienist college, you must verify that the hygienist or assistant program offers classes that suit your schedule. This is particularly true if you continue working while receiving your education and have to go to classes near College Park GA at nights or on weekends. And even if you enroll in an online program, you will still need to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up procedure is if you should need to miss any classes because of illness, work or family responsibilities.
Find Out More About How to Become a Dental Hygienist in College Park
Choose the Right College Park Dental Hygienist School
Enrolling in the right dental hygienist program is important if you wish to take the National Board Dental Hygiene exam or, if required in your state, become licensed. As you now know, there are numerous alternatives offered to obtain your education and it takes a relatively short period of time to become a dental hygienist. You can acquire your formal training through dental hygienist programs at junior colleges, trade schools, vocational schools and technical institutes. Graduates of these schools usually obtain an Associate Degree. Dental Hygienists normally require approximately 2 years of studies before they enter the work force. When pursuing a degree you can elect to attend classes on-campus or online. Whichever mode of training you elect to pursue, by addressing the questions provided in this article you will be in a better position to make the ideal selection. And as a result, you will be ready to start your journey toward becoming a dental hygienist in College Park Georgia.
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