Dental Hygienist Schools Near Me in Weirton WV 26062 - Train to Become a Dental Hygienist

How to Enroll In a Dental Hygienist Program near Weirton West Virginia

Weirton WV dental hygienist with patient Picking the ideal dental hygienist school near Weirton WV is an essential first step toward beginning your new career in dentistry. But prior to making your choice, you must analyze and compare your school options. There is much more to completing your due diligence than picking the program with the least expensive tuition or enrolling in the program that is nearest to your residence. There are other significant factors to take into account as well, including the school’s reputation and accreditation. Dental hygienists generally earn an Associate Degree, as compared to a certificate usually earned by assistants, and can take anywhere from two to three years to complete. Naturally with the longer training of a hygienist comes more cost. We will cover all of these concerns and additional questions that you should be asking the dental hygienist schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let’s explore the duties of dental hygienists and the training programs provided.

The Function of a Dental Hygienist

Weirton WV pediatric dental hygienist with patient When comparing the duties 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 assists the Weirton WV practice and the dentists. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, deal with the patients more on a one-to-one basis. They are typically the initial person a patient interacts with when called from the waiting area. They examine each patient’s gums and teeth and report their results to the dentists. They also may perform basic procedures. Based on state law, a hygienist’s responsibilities may include:

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

In order to be licensed in almost all states, dental hygienists must graduate 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 completed these requirements they are deemed fully licensed and may add the “RDH” designation to their names, standing for Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Education Options

Due to the added responsibility in contrast to an assistant, dental hygienists working in Weirton WV dental offices are generally required to hold an Associate Degree in dental hygiene rather than a certificate. These programs can require anywhere from two to as long as three years to finish 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 aspect to the training as well| Many programs also sponsor internships with local dental practices or dentists.

Online Dental Hygienist Colleges

attending dental hygienist school online in Weirton WV Choosing an online dental hygienist college may be a great alternative for obtaining your education. Just keep in mind that the program will not be completely online, since there will be a clinical portion to your training. But the rest of your classes will be accessible via your desktop computer in the comfort of your Weirton WV home or elsewhere on your laptop or tablet. For those working while attending school, online dental programs make education far more accessible. Some may even have lower tuition rates than their on-campus competitors. And added expenses such as for commuting, books and school supplies may be reduced as well. The practical training can often be performed at a community dental practice or in an on-campus lab. With both the clinical and online training, everything required to get the appropriate education is provided. If you have the discipline for this method of education, you may find that enrolling in an dental hygienist online college is the best choice for you.

Points to Cover With Dental Hygienist Colleges

teeth cleaned by Weirton WV dental hygienist Now that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Weirton WV, you can begin the process of comparing schools and programs. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many students start by looking at the cost and the location of the colleges. Possibly they search for several online options also. Even though these may be significant initial considerations, there are several additional questions that you should ask of the schools you are reviewing in order to make an informed decision. Toward that end, we have furnished a list of questions to help you with your evaluation and final selection of the right dental hygienist program for you.

Is the Dental School Accredited? There are many valid reasons why you should only pick an accredited dental hygienist school. If you are intending to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a condition in virtually all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, your dental program must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps establish that the education you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Weirton WV employers often prefer or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited programs. And last, if you are applying for financial aid or a student loan, often they are not provided for non-accredited schools.

Is Sufficient Clinical Training Included? Clinical or practical training is an essential portion of any dental training program. This applies for the online college options also. Most dental hygienist schools have associations with regional dental practices and clinics that furnish practical training for their students. It’s not only essential that the college you select provides sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you ultimately would like to work in. For example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, make sure that the program you enroll in offers clinical rotation in a local Weirton WV dental office that specializes in dental treatment for children.

Are Internships Available? Find out if the dental programs you are exploring sponsor internship programs. Internships are probably the best way to get hands-on, clinical experience in a professional dental practice. They make it easier for students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students build professional relationships in the Weirton WV dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Many graduating students of dental hygienist programs require assistance landing their first job. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Programs with high job placement rates are likely to have good reputations within the Weirton WV dental community as well as extensive networks of contacts where they can refer their students for employment or internships.

Are Classes Smaller? Find out from the schools you are evaluating how large typically their classrooms are. The smaller classes usually offer a more intimate setting for training where students have increased access to the instructors. On the other hand, bigger classes can be impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If feasible, find out if you can monitor a few classes at the Weirton WV dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward in order to witness first hand the amount of interaction between teachers and students before making a commitment.

What is the Total Expense of the Program? Dental hygiene schools can vary in cost based on the length of the program and the volume of practical training provided. Other factors, for example the reputations of the colleges and if they are private or public also have an impact. But in addition to the tuition there are other significant expenses which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as textbooks and commuting as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when analyzing the cost of programs, don’t forget to add all of the costs related to your education. Most colleges have financial assistance offices, so make sure to ask what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Weirton WV area.

Are the Classes Convenient? Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you need to verify that the hygienist or assistant program furnishes classes that fit your schedule. This is especially true if you will be working while acquiring your education and must go to classes near Weirton WV at nights or on weekends. And even if you choose an online school, you will still have to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up practice is if you should need to miss any classes because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Attending Dental Hygienist School near Weirton WV?

Weirton, West Virginia

Weirton (pron. WEER-ton) is a city in Brooke and Hancock counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located primarily in Hancock County, the city lies in the northern portions of the state's Northern Panhandle region. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 19,746. It is a principal city within the Weirton-Steubenville Metropolitan Area, which had a population of 124,454 residents, and by extension part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area.

The small village called Holliday's Cove lanes — which is now most of downtown Weirton — was founded in 1793. (It eventually lost the apostrophe.) In 1909, Ernest T. Weir arrived from neighboring Pittsburgh and built a steel mill later known as Weirton Steel Corporation just north of Holliday's Cove.[5] An unincorporated settlement called Weirton grew up around the mill that, by 1940, was said to be the largest unincorporated city in the United States. By then Hollidays Cove and two other outlying areas, Weirton Heights and Marland Heights, which as their names suggest were on hilltops or ridges surrounding the "Weir–Cove" area, had also incorporated.

Hollidays Cove Fort was a Revolutionary War fortification constructed in 1774 by soldiers from Ft. Pitt. It was located in what is now downtown Weirton, along Harmons Creek (named for Harmon Greathouse), about three miles from its mouth on the Ohio River. It was commanded by Colonel Andrew Van Swearingen (1741–1793) and later by his son-in-law, Captain Samuel Brady (1756–1795), the famous leader of Brady's Rangers. In 1779, over 28 militia were garrisoned at Hollidays Cove. Two years earlier, Colonel Van Swearingen led a dozen soldiers by longboat down the Ohio to help rescue the inhabitants of Ft. Henry in Wheeling in a siege by the British and Indian tribes in 1777. That mission was memorialized in a WPA-era mural painted on the wall of the Cove Post Office by Charles S. Chapman (1879–1962). The mural features Col. John Bilderback, who later gained infamy as the leader of the massacre of the Moravian Indians in Gnadenhutten in 1782.[6]

On July 1, 1947, all of these areas — Hollidays Cove, Marland Heights, Weirton Heights, and unincorporated Weirton — merged and formed the city of Weirton as it currently exists. Thomas E. Millsop, the head of the Weirton Steel division of the other Ernest T. Weir company, National Steel Corporation, was elected as the city's first mayor. The city charter was approved by voters in 1950.

The location could not be found.

Pick the Right Dental Hygienist College near Weirton WV

Selecting the ideal dental hygienist course is crucial if you intend to take the National Board Dental Hygiene examination or, if required in your state, become licensed. As you now know, there are many options available to acquire your training and it takes a relatively short amount of time to become a dental hygienist. You can acquire your formal training through dental programs at junior colleges, trade schools, vocational schools and technical institutes. Graduates of these schools usually obtain an Associate Degree. Dental Hygienists typically require roughly 2 years of studies before they enter the job market. When earning a degree you can elect to go to classes on-campus or online. Whichever mode of training you choose to pursue, by addressing the questions presented in this article you will be in a better position to make the appropriate selection. And as a result, you will be ready to commence your journey toward becoming a dental hygienist in Weirton WV.