Questions to Ask Dental Hygienist Programs<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Central AZ, you can start the process of comparing schools and programs. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many potential students begin by looking at the location and the cost of the schools. Possibly they search for some online options as well. Although these may be relevant initial considerations, there are several additional questions that you need to address to the colleges you are looking at in order to arrive at an informed decision. To start that process, we have provided a list of questions to help you with your evaluation and final selection of the ideal dental hygienist school for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental School Accredited?<\/strong> There are many good reasons why you should only enroll in an accredited dental hygienist school. If you are intending to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a prerequisite in nearly all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, 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. Central AZ employers frequently prefer or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited schools. And last, if you are applying for financial aid or a student loan, often they are not obtainable for non-accredited programs.<\/p>\nIs Enough Practical Training Provided?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is a vital portion of any dental training program. This is true for the online school options also. Many dental hygienist schools have partnerships with area dental practices and clinics that provide clinical training for their students. It’s not only important that the school you choose provides enough 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 select offers clinical rotation in a local Central AZ dental practice that specializes in dental care for children.<\/p>\nIs There an Internship Program?<\/strong> Find out if the dental colleges you are exploring have internship programs. Internships are undoubtedly the most effective way to obtain hands-on, practical 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 form working relationships in the professional dental community. And they look good on resumes also.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Assistance Offered?<\/strong> Many students that have graduated from dental hygienist programs need assistance landing their first job. Check if the schools 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 Central AZ dental community in addition to large networks of contacts where they can refer their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre the Classrooms Small?<\/strong> Ask the schools you are reviewing how large on average their classes are. The smaller classes tend to offer a more intimate environment for learning where students have increased access to the teachers. On the other hand, bigger classes often are impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If feasible, find out if you can monitor a couple of classes at the Central AZ dental hygienist college that you are most interested in so that you can experience first hand the amount of interaction between teachers and students before making a commitment.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Entire Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene colleges can fluctuate in cost based on the length of the program and the amount of practical training provided. Other factors, for example the reputations of the schools and whether they are private or public also have an impact. But besides the tuition there are other substantial expenses 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 analyzing the cost of colleges, don’t forget to add all of the costs associated with your education. Most colleges have financial assistance departments, so make sure to find out what is offered as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Central AZ area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Accessible?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you need to make sure that the assistant or hygienist program offers classes that fit your schedule. This is especially true if you will be working while receiving your education and need to go to classes near Central AZ in the evenings or on weekends. And even if you choose an online school, you will still need to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up practice is if you should have to miss any classes due to work, illness or family responsibilities.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Central AZ?<\/h3>\nCentral, Arizona<\/h3>
Central is at 32\u00b052\u203213\u2033N 109\u00b047\u203235\u2033W\ufeff \/ \ufeff32.87028\u00b0N 109.79306\u00b0W\ufeff \/ 32.87028; -109.79306, at an elevation of approximately 2900 feet above sea level.[6]\nFrom this location just south of the Gila River within the Upper Gila Valley, Mount Graham of the Pinale\u00f1o (Pinaleno Mountains) range dominates the southern skyline.\n<\/p>
Central was first homesteaded by the Cluff family in 1880. The Cluffs extended the Central Canal to their lands on the eastern side of Central. Later settlers extended the canal west and north. In 1883 construction began on a one-room white rock building to be used as a church meeting house and school house. By 1884 twenty families, including Cluff, Norton, Shurtz, Bigler, and Webster households resided in Central. In 1978 the streets were named after these early Mormon pioneers. In December 1883 the Central Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized and Joseph Cluff was ordained the first bishop. A new red brick church was built in 1885. It was the first regular meeting house built in this part of Arizona and was also the first home of the LDS Academy from December 1890 to May 1891. A plaque east of Hwy 70 on Central Road commemorates the original home of the St. Joseph Stake Academy that later moved to Thatcher and became Eastern Arizona College.\n<\/p>
In 1894, LDS Church historian Andrew Jensen reported on the Central Ward: \"Thirty-five families or 178 souls, constitute the Mormon population, and there are only two other families in the district. Central excels in point of large orchards, extensive alfalfa fields and good grain. The meeting house is the only public building in the settlement, in which there is also a small store and a post office. There are a number of fine and comfortable private residences, built mostly of brick and adobe.\"[8]<\/p>
The Gila Valley Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opened in 2010, is located in Central. The temple is the third LDS temple built in Arizona and the first temple announced by Thomas S. Monson after being sustained as President of the Church in 2008. Monson dedicated the temple on May 23, 2010.[10]<\/p><\/div>\n