What to Ask Dental Hygienist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Edgefield SC, you can begin the procedure of comparing programs and schools. As we covered at the start of this article, a number of prospective students start by looking at the cost and the location of the colleges. Possibly they search for several online options also. Although these may be significant initial considerations, there are a few additional questions that you should address to the programs you are looking at in order to make 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 right dental hygienist program for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental College Accredited?<\/strong> There are many valid reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist college. If you are going to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a condition in virtually all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, your dental college must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps ensure that the training you get is of the highest quality and comprehensive. Edgefield SC employers often prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited schools. And last, if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, usually they are not obtainable for non-accredited programs.<\/p>\nIs Enough Practical Training Included?<\/strong> Clinical or practical training is a vital part of any dental training program. This applies for the online school options also. Most dental hygienist colleges have associations with local dental practices and clinics that provide practical training for their students. It’s not only important that the school you enroll in offers enough clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you subsequently want to work in. For example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, confirm that the college you select offers clinical rotation in a local Edgefield SC dental practice that focuses on dental services for children.<\/p>\nAre Internships Available?<\/strong> Verify if the dental schools you are evaluating sponsor internship programs. Internships are probably the most effective method to obtain hands-on, practical experience in a real dental practice. They make it easier for students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students create professional relationships in the Edgefield SC dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes also.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Support Offered?<\/strong> Most graduating students of dental hygienist programs need assistance landing their first job. Check if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Schools with high job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Edgefield SC dental community in addition to large networks of contacts where they can refer their students for employment or internships.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Small?<\/strong> Check with the programs you are interested in how large typically their classes are. The smaller classes usually offer a more intimate setting for learning where students have increased access to the instructors. On the other hand, larger classes tend to be impersonal and offer little one-on-one instruction. If practical, find out if you can sit in on a couple of classes at the Edgefield SC dental hygienist college that you are most interested in so that you can experience first hand the level of interaction between instructors and students before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Total Expense of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene programs can fluctuate in cost based on the duration of the program and the volume of clinical training provided. Other factors, such as the reputations of the schools and if they are public or private also come into play. But besides the tuition there are other substantial costs which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as commuting and textbooks as well as school equipment, materials and supplies. So when comparing 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 ask what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Edgefield SC area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Accessible?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you must confirm that the hygienist or assistant program furnishes classes that accommodate your schedule. This is especially true if you continue working while receiving your education and must go to classes near Edgefield SC 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 addressing your concerns, ask what the make-up protocol is if you should have to miss any classes because of work, illness or family emergencies.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Edgefield SC?<\/h3>\nEdgefield, South Carolina<\/h3>
Edgefield is located slightly east of the center of Edgefield County at 33\u00b047\u2032N 81\u00b056\u2032W\ufeff \/ \ufeff33.783\u00b0N 81.933\u00b0W\ufeff \/ 33.783; -81.933 (33.7868, \u221281.9278).[5]U.S. Route 25 passes through the southwest part of the town, bypassing the center, and leads north 33 miles (53\u00a0km) to Greenwood and south 26 miles (42\u00a0km) to Augusta, Georgia. South Carolina Highway 23 passes through the center of the town, leading east 26 miles (42\u00a0km) to Batesburg-Leesville and west 17 miles (27\u00a0km) to Modoc on U.S. Route 221 near the Savannah River.<\/p>
According to the United States Census Bureau, Edgefield has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1\u00a0km2), of which 4.2 square miles (10.8\u00a0km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3\u00a0km2), or 2.71%, is water.[3]<\/p>
The story of Edgefield is more than a quarter of a millennium long, reaching back to before the first European settlers arrived, when only Native Americans roamed the forests. At that time the area which later became Edgefield County was a vast wilderness of virgin forests, occasional prairies, great cane brakes and sparkling rivers and creeks. It was bisected by the fall line, with sandy soils on the southeast side of this line growing primarily pine trees, and rich clay soils on the northwest side growing primarily oak and hickory. Wildlife was abundant with deer and turkey, but also with elk, buffalo (bison), panther and bear.<\/p>
The initial settlement of present-day Edgefield County occurred in the quarter century between 1750 and 1775. Some settlers came up from the South Carolina low country but more poured down \"the Great Wagon Road\" from the colonies to the north. In this colonial period the economy was primarily a subsistence one in which the settlers consumed what they raised. Initially there were no courts or law enforcement here, but beginning in the mid-1760s, the law-abiding settlers began their struggle to bring law, order and government to the \"backcountry\" of South Carolina.<\/p><\/div>\n