Questions to Ask Dental Hygienist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Odessa TX, you can begin the process of comparing programs and schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students start by looking at the location and the cost of the colleges. Maybe they look for several online options as well. Even though these may be important initial factors to consider, there are several additional questions that you need to ask of the colleges you are comparing in order to arrive at an informed decision. To start that process, we have supplied a list of questions to assist you with your due diligence and final selection of the right dental hygienist college for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental College Accredited?<\/strong> There are several valid reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist program. If you are planning to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a prerequisite 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 establish that the education you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Odessa TX employers frequently prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited schools. And last, if you are applying for financial aid or a student loan, frequently they are not available for non-accredited schools.<\/p>\nIs Enough Practical Training Included?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is an essential portion of every dental training program. This holds true for the online college options as well. Many dental hygienist schools have relationships with area dental offices and clinics that furnish practical training for their students. It’s not only essential that the program you select offers sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you subsequently would like to work in. For example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, check that the college you select offers clinical rotation in a local Odessa TX dental practice that specializes in dental services for children.<\/p>\nIs There an Internship Program?<\/strong> Ask if the dental programs you are exploring sponsor internship programs. Internships are probably the ideal way to receive 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 establish professional relationships in the Odessa TX dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes as well.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Support Offered?<\/strong> Most graduating students of dental hygienist schools need help landing their first job. Ask if the programs you are researching have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Schools with higher job placement rates are likely to have good reputations within the Odessa TX dental profession in addition to large networks of contacts where they can refer their students for employment or internships.<\/p>\nAre the Classrooms Small?<\/strong> Check with the programs you are reviewing how large on average their classes are. The smaller classes usually provide a more intimate setting for learning where students have increased access to the teachers. Conversely, large classes can be impersonal and offer little individualized instruction. If practical, find out if you can monitor a few classes at the Odessa TX dental hygienist college that you are most interested in in order to witness first hand the level of interaction between students and instructors before making a commitment.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Entire Expense of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene colleges can differ in cost depending on the length of the program and the volume 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 in addition to the tuition there are other significant costs 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 include all of the costs associated with your education. Most colleges have financial assistance departments, so be sure to check out what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Odessa TX area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Convenient?<\/strong> Before enrolling in a dental hygienist school, you need to confirm that the hygienist or assistant program offers classes that fit your schedule. This is particularly true if you will be working while getting your education and need to attend classes near Odessa TX in the evenings or on weekends. And even if you choose an online program, you will still need to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up protocol is if you should have to miss any classes because of work, illness or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Odessa TX?<\/h3>\nOdessa, Texas<\/h3>
Odessa \/\u02cco\u028a\u02c8d\u025bs\u0259\/ is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County.[3] Odessa's population was 118,918 at the 2010 census making it the 29th-most populous city in Texas; estimates as of July 2015 indicate a population of 159,436 in the city.[4] It is the principal city of the Odessa Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Ector County. The metropolitan area is also a component of the larger Midland\u2013Odessa combined statistical area, which had a 2010 census population of 278,801; a recent report from the United States Census Bureau estimates that the combined population as of July 2015 is 320,513.[4][5] In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Odessa as the third fastest-growing small city in the United States.[6]<\/p>
Odessa was founded in 1881 as a water stop and cattle-shipping point on the Texas and Pacific Railway. The first post office opened in 1885. Odessa became the county seat of Ector County in 1891 when the county was first organized. It was incorporated as a city in 1927, after oil was discovered in Ector County on the Connell Ranch southwest of Odessa.[8]<\/p>
With the opening of the Penn Field in 1929, and the Cowden Field in 1930, oil became a major draw for new residents. In 1925, the population was just 750; by 1929, it had risen to 5,000. For the rest of the twentieth century the city's population and economy grew rapidly during each of a succession of oil booms (roughly in the 1930s\u201350s, 1970s and 2010s), often with accompanying contractions during the succeeding busts (particularly in the 1960s and 1980s).[8]<\/p>
Odessa is well known for its Kiss and Kill Murder in March 1961. Betty Williams, an Odessa native, was murdered by Mack Herring because he claimed she begged him to. Her body was discovered in a stock pond several miles outside Odessa. Mack Herring was tried and acquitted for temporary insanity.[9] In 2013, Odessa had the highest rate of violent crime in Texas, with 806.4 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.[10]<\/p><\/div>\n