Dental Hygienist Colleges Near Me in Berwick ME 03901 Archives

How to Pick a Dental Hygienist School near Berwick Maine

Berwick ME dental hygienist with patient Choosing the ideal dental hygienist college near Berwick ME is an essential first step toward starting your new career in dentistry. But prior to making your choice, you need to analyze and compare your school options. There is much more to completing your due diligence than picking the college with the lowest tuition or enrolling in the program that is closest to your residence. There are other important issues to consider also, for instance the program’s reputation and accreditation. Dental hygienists typically earn an Associate Degree, as compared to a certificate usually earned by assistants, and can take anywhere from two to three years to finish. Obviously with the lengthier training of a hygienist comes more cost. We will discuss all of these concerns and supplemental questions that you need to be asking the dental hygienist colleges you are analyzing later in this article. But first, let’s review the roles of dental hygienists and the training programs offered.

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The Duties of Dental Hygienists

Berwick ME pediatric dental hygienist with patient When comparing the job of a dental assistant to that of a hygienist, the biggest difference is undoubtedly that the hygienist works more on their own. Dental assistants work with and assists the Berwick ME dentists and the practice. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, deal with the patients more on an individual basis. They are frequently the initial person a patient encounters when called from the waiting area. They examine each patient’s teeth and gums and report their findings to the dentists. They may also perform basic procedures. Depending on state law, a hygienist’s duties may include:

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

To qualify for licensing 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 licensure examinations. When they have fulfilled these requirements they are regarded as fully licensed and can add the “RDH” designation to their names, standing for Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Education Options

Because of the additional responsibility in contrast to an assistant, dental hygienists employed in Berwick ME dental practices are usually required to have an Associate Degree in dental hygiene rather than a certificate. These programs can take anywhere from two to as long as three years to complete and must be accredited by the CDA in almost 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 component to the training as well| Some programs also sponsor internships with local dentists or dental practices.

Online Dental Hygienist Programs

attending dental hygienist school online in Berwick ME Selecting an online dental hygienist school might be a good option for receiving your training. Just remember that the program will not be completely online, since there will be a practical portion to your training. But the remainder of your classes will be available via your personal computer in the convenience of your Berwick ME home or anywhere else on your tablet or laptop. For those working while going to school, online dental classes make education a lot more obtainable. Many may even charge lower tuition costs than their traditional competitors. And added expenses for items like commuting, books and school supplies may be reduced also. The practical training can typically be completed at a community dental office or in an on-campus lab. With both the online and clinical training, everything needed to get the proper education is provided. If you have the dedication for this method of education, you might find that attending an dental hygienist online school is the right choice for you.

What to Ask Dental Hygienist Schools

teeth cleaned by Berwick ME dental hygienist Now that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Berwick ME, you can start the process of comparing programs and schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students start by looking at the location and the cost of the colleges. Perhaps they search for some online options as well. Even though these are important initial points to consider, there are several additional questions that you need to address to the schools you are reviewing in order to make an informed decision. Toward that end, we have furnished a list of questions to assist you with your due diligence and final selection of the best dental hygienist program for you.

Is the Dental School Accredited? There are several valid reasons why you should only enroll in an accredited dental hygienist college. If you are going to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a prerequisite in almost 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 training you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Berwick ME employers frequently desire or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited programs. And finally, if you are applying for financial aid or a student loan, often they are not available for non-accredited colleges.

Is Plenty of Clinical Training Included? Practical or clinical training is an important part of any dental training program. This applies for the online school options as well. A number of dental hygienist schools have partnerships with local dental offices and clinics that provide practical training for their students. It’s not only important that the college you select offers adequate clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you subsequently would like to work in. As an example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, check that the college you choose offers clinical rotation in a local Berwick ME dental office that specializes in dental care for children.

Are Internships Available? Find out if the dental programs you are exploring have an internship program. Internships are undoubtedly the best way to obtain hands-on, practical experience in a real dental practice. They help students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students create professional relationships in the Berwick ME dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Most graduating students of dental hygienist schools require help landing their first job. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Programs with higher job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Berwick ME dental community as well as extensive networks of contacts where they can position their students for employment or internships.

Are Classes Small? Find out from the programs you are reviewing how big on average their classrooms are. The smaller classes tend to provide a more intimate atmosphere for training where students have increased access to the instructors. On the other hand, bigger classes tend to be impersonal and provide little individualized instruction. If feasible, find out if you can sit in on a few classes at the Berwick ME dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward so that you can experience first hand the degree of interaction between students and instructors before making a commitment.

What is the Entire Cost of the Program? Dental hygiene schools can fluctuate in cost based on the length of the program and the amount of clinical training provided. Other factors, for instance the reputations of the colleges and whether they are public or private 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 commuting and textbooks as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when examining the cost of schools, remember to add all of the costs associated with your education. Most schools have financial aid departments, so make sure to ask what is offered as far as loans, grants and scholarships in the Berwick ME area.

Are the Classes Convenient? Before selecting a dental hygienist college, you need to verify that the assistant or hygienist program provides classes that fit your schedule. This is particularly true if you continue working while getting your education and must go to classes near Berwick ME in the evenings or on weekends. And even if you choose an online program, you will still be required to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up policy is if you should need to miss any classes because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Attending Dental Hygienist School near Berwick ME?

North Berwick, Maine

Originally a part of Kittery called Kittery Commons, the area was first settled in 1693 by John Morrell, a Quaker who built a log cabin on Wells Street. It was set off from Kittery in 1713 as part of Berwick, named for Berwick-upon-Tweed on the Anglo-Scottish border. Doughty Falls in the Great Works River provided water power for a sawmill, gristmill and carding mill. After the Revolutionary War, the small mill town grew rapidly. It was set off and incorporated as North Berwick on March 22, 1831.[2][6] The town was named after Berwick, England.[7]

Development was spurred in 1842 by the arrival of the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth Railroad, joined by the Boston & Maine Railroad in 1873. North Berwick became a railroad hub from which its manufactured goods were shipped, including lumber, shingles, clapboards, wooden boxes, firewood, bricks, carriages, caskets, clocks, stove and shoe polish, toboggans and sleds. Also loaded aboard the boxcars were barrels of apples, blocks of ice cut from frozen ponds, granite from quarries, and tins of corn packed at a canning factory. But the 2 biggest North Berwick businesses during the 19th-century made woolens and farm implements.[8]

In 1834, the Maine Legislature incorporated Lang, Hill & Company to manufacture woolen blankets, called "printing blankets," at a mill beside the Great Works River. Renamed the North Berwick Company, by 1850 its principal owner was "Friend" William Hill, who trained as a machinist at the Great Falls Manufacturing Company in Somersworth, New Hampshire. The wooden mill was destroyed by fire in 1861, but rebuilt in brick in 1862. It produced blankets for Civil War troops. The factory had 40 looms turning out 1,500 yards of flannel daily, in addition to blankets. In 1955, the North Berwick Company would close. Its landmark Greek Revival building was used as the Parrish Shoes factory in the 1995 movie Jumanji, and has since been renovated and adapted as housing.[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.16 square miles (98.83 km2), of which, 38.02 square miles (98.47 km2) of it is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) is water.[3] North Berwick is drained by the Great Works River and its tributary, the Negutaquet River. Bauneg Beg Hill, elevation 866 feet (264 m) above sea level, is the town's highest point.

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Choose the Right Dental Hygienist Program near Berwick ME

Enrolling in the ideal dental hygienist course is important if you intend to take the National Board Dental Hygiene examination or, if mandated in your state, become licensed. As you now know, there are numerous alternatives offered to receive your education and it takes a fairly short amount of time to become a dental hygienist. You can obtain your formal training through dental programs at community colleges, vocational schools, technical institutes and trade schools. Graduates of these schools usually obtain an Associate Degree. Dental Hygienists usually require about two years of studies prior to entering the work force. When obtaining a degree you can choose to attend classes online or on-campus. Whichever mode of training you decide to pursue, by addressing the questions presented in this article you will be in a better position to make the best selection. And as a result, you will be ready to begin your journey toward becoming a dental hygienist in Berwick ME.