Dental Hygienist Schools Near Me in Southport ME 04576

Brian — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:01:10 +0000

How to Enroll In a Dental Hygienist College near Southport Maine

Selecting the ideal dental hygienist program near Southport ME is an important first step toward launching your new career in dentistry. But prior to making your choice, you need to examine and compare your school options. There is much more to completing your due diligence than selecting the training with the most affordable tuition or enrolling in the program that is nearest to your home. There are other important factors to consider as well, such as the school’s accreditation and reputation. 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. Obviously with the prolonged training of a hygienist comes more cost. We will cover all of these considerations and supplemental questions that you should be asking the dental hygienist schools you are analyzing later in this article. But first, let’s review the duties of dental hygienists and the training programs provided.

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The Role of Dental Hygienists

When contrasting the role of a dental assistant to that of a hygienist, the main difference is probably that the hygienist works more on their own. Dental assistants work with and in support of the Southport ME practice and the dentists. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, work with the patients more on an individual basis. They are frequently the initial person a patient sees when called from the waiting room. They examine each patient’s gums and teeth and report their results to the dentists. They may also carry out basic procedures. Depending on state law, a hygienist’s responsibilities can include:

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

To qualify for licensing in almost all states, dental hygienists must have graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) accredited dental hygiene program. They also must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination as well as any state licensure examinations. When they have fulfilled these requirements they are deemed fully licensed and may add the “RDH” designation to their names, signifying Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Training Options

As a result of the additional responsibility in contrast to an assistant, dental hygienists working in Southport ME dental offices are usually 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 nearly every state. They are offered in community colleges as well as trade and technical schools. 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 Schools

Selecting an online dental hygienist school might be a viable option for obtaining your training. Just keep in mind that the classes will not be 100% online, since there will be a clinical portion to your training. But the rest of your classes will be accessible via your personal computer in the convenience of your Southport ME home or anywhere else on your laptop or tablet. For those working while attending school, online dental classes make education far more accessible. Many may even offer lower tuition costs than their on-campus counterparts. And additional expenses such as for books, school supplies and commuting may be reduced as well. The clinical training can often be completed at a community dental office or in an on-campus lab. With both the clinical and online training, everything needed to get the proper education is furnished. If you have the dedication for this mode of education, you may find that attending an dental hygienist online school is the best choice for you.

What to Cover With Dental Hygienist Colleges

Now that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Southport ME, you can start the process of comparing schools and programs. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many prospective students start by looking at the location and the cost of the schools. Possibly they search for several online alternatives also. Although these may be important initial considerations, there are a few additional questions that you should address to the programs you are looking at in order to reach an informed decision. To start that process, we have supplied a list of questions to help you with your due diligence and final selection of the best dental hygienist college for you.

Is the Dental Program Accredited? There are many good reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist college. If you are going to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a requirement in nearly all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, your dental program must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality and comprehensive. Southport ME employers typically desire or require that new hires are graduates of accredited schools. And finally, if you are requesting financial aid or a student loan, frequently they are not obtainable for non-accredited programs.

Is Sufficient Practical Training Included? Clinical or practical training is an important component of any dental training program. This is true for the online college options as well. A number of dental hygienist colleges have partnerships with local dental practices and clinics that furnish clinical training for their students. It’s not only imperative that the college you enroll in offers adequate clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you ultimately want to work in. For example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, make sure that the college you select offers clinical rotation in a local Southport ME dental office that specializes in dental care for children.

Are Internships Available? Ask if the dental programs you are evaluating sponsor internship programs. Internships are undoubtedly the best means to get hands-on, practical experience in a professional dental practice. They help students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students build professional relationships in the Southport ME dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Most graduating students of dental hygienist schools need assistance getting their first job. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Schools with high job placement rates are likely to have good reputations within the Southport ME dental profession as well as broad networks of contacts where they can position their students for internships or employment.

Are Classes Smaller? Find out from the schools you are interested in how large typically their classes are. The smaller classes tend to provide a more personal setting for learning where students have increased access to the teachers. Conversely, large classes often are impersonal and offer little individualized instruction. If practical, find out if you can attend a couple of classes at the Southport ME dental hygienist school that you are leaning toward in order to experience first hand the level of interaction between students and teachers before making a commitment.

What is the Entire Cost of the Program? Dental hygiene colleges can fluctuate in cost based on the duration of the program and the amount of clinical training provided. Other variables, for example the reputations of the schools and if they are private or public also come into play. But besides the tuition there are other substantial expenses which can add up. They can include costs for such things as commuting and textbooks as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when examining the cost of schools, don’t forget to include all of the expenses related to your education. The majority of colleges have financial aid departments, so make sure to ask what is offered as far as loans, grants and scholarships in the Southport ME area.

Are the Classes Accessible? Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you must confirm that the hygienist or assistant program provides classes that suit your schedule. This is particularly true if you continue working while acquiring your education and need to attend classes near Southport ME at nights or on weekends. And even if you select an online program, you will still have to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up procedure is if you should have to miss any classes due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Attending Dental Hygienist School near Southport ME?

Southport, Maine

Southport is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 606 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Southport, West Southport, Cape Newagen, and Squirrel Island. The majority of the town's residents live on its main island, Southport Island.

Cape Newagen, at the southern tip of the island, was an early European fishing outpost. Southport was part of Boothbay until it separated on February 12, 1842.[4] Originally called Townshend after Lord Townshend, the name was changed to Southport in 1850.[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.16 square miles (59.98 km2), of which, 5.38 square miles (13.93 km2) of it is land and 17.78 square miles (46.05 km2) is water.[1] Southport is on Southport Island in the mouth of the Sheepscot River. The Town of Southport constitutes the whole of Southport Island and smaller islands.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 606 people, 316 households, and 195 families residing in the town. The population density was 112.6 inhabitants per square mile (43.5/km2). There were 1,051 housing units at an average density of 195.4 per square mile (75.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.5% White, 1.7% from two or more races, 1.3% Asian, 0.3% African American and 0.2% Native American. Hispanic and/or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.

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Pick the Ideal Dental Hygienist Program near Southport ME

Choosing the ideal dental hygienist program is important if you want to take the National Board Dental Hygiene exam or, if mandated in your state, become licensed. As we have covered, there are several alternatives available to obtain your training and it takes a relatively short period of time to become a dental hygienist. You can obtain your formal training through dental programs at community colleges, technical institutes, trade schools and vocational schools. Graduates of these schools typically earn an Associate Degree. Dental Hygienists usually require roughly two years of studies before they enter the job market. When pursuing a degree you can choose to attend classes on-campus or online. Whichever mode of training you decide to pursue, by asking the questions presented in this article you will be better prepared to make the right selection. And as a result, you will be ready to commence your journey toward becoming a dental hygienist in Southport ME.