Points to Ask Dental Hygienist Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Westport CT, you can start the procedure of comparing programs and schools. As we discussed at the start of this article, a number of prospective students start by checking out the cost and the location of the schools. Perhaps they search for some online alternatives as well. Even though these may be relevant initial points to consider, there are several additional questions that you should ask of the schools you are looking at in order to make an informed decision. Toward that end, we have supplied a list of questions to help you with your evaluation and ultimate selection of the right 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 program. If you are planning 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 school 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. Westport CT employers typically prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited programs. And last, if you are requesting financial aid or a student loan, frequently they are not provided for non-accredited programs.<\/p>\nIs Adequate Practical Training Provided?<\/strong> Clinical or practical training is an essential portion of every dental training program. This is true for the online school options as well. Many dental hygienist colleges have partnerships with local dental offices and clinics that provide practical training for their students. It’s not only imperative that the college you choose provides adequate clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you subsequently want to work in. For example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, confirm that the school you choose offers clinical rotation in a local Westport CT dental office that specializes in dental care for children.<\/p>\nAre Internships Available?<\/strong> Verify if the dental programs you are considering sponsor an internship program. Internships are undoubtedly the most effective way to get 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 develop professional relationships in the Westport CT dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes also.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Assistance Offered?<\/strong> Most graduating students of dental hygienist programs require assistance landing their first job. Ask if the schools you are researching have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Colleges with high job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Westport CT dental community in addition to broad networks of contacts where they can refer their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Smaller?<\/strong> Ask the colleges you are reviewing how large on average their classrooms are. The smaller classes generally offer a more intimate environment for training where students have greater access to the teachers. On the other hand, bigger classes can be impersonal and offer little individualized instruction. If practical, find out if you can monitor a few classes at the Westport CT dental hygienist school that you are most interested in so that you can witness first hand the level of interaction between students and teachers before making a commitment.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Overall Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene schools can vary in cost dependent on the length of the program and the amount of clinical training provided. Other factors, for example the reputations of the schools and if they are public or private also come into play. But besides the tuition there are other significant expenses 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 examining the cost of schools, remember to add all of the expenses related to your education. The majority of schools have financial aid departments, so make sure to find out what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Westport CT area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Convenient?<\/strong> Before enrolling in a dental hygienist school, you must verify that the hygienist or assistant program provides classes that accommodate your schedule. This is especially true if you will be working while getting your education and have to go to classes near Westport CT at nights or on weekends. And even if you choose an online program, you will still need to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while addressing your concerns, ask what the make-up practice is if you should need to miss any classes because of work, illness or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Westport CT?<\/h3>\nWestport, Connecticut<\/h3>
Westport is an affluent town located in Connecticut, along Long Island Sound within Connecticut's Gold Coast in Fairfield County, Connecticut. It is 29 miles (47\u00a0km) northeast of New York City. The town had a population of 26,391 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, and is ranked 22nd among America\u2019s 100 Richest Places[5] as well as second in Connecticut, with populations between 20,000 and 65,000.[6][7]<\/p>
The earliest known inhabitants of the Westport area as identified through archaeological finds date back 7,500 years.[8] Records from the first white settlers report the Pequot Indians living in the area which they called Machamux translated by the colonialists as beautiful land.[9] Settlement by colonialists dates back to the five Bankside Farmers; whose families grew and prospered into a community that continued expanding. The community had its own ecclesiastical society, supported by independent civil and religious elements, enabling it to be independent from the Town of Fairfield.[10] The settlers arrived in 1693, having followed cattle to the isolated area known to the Pequot as the \"beautiful land\".[9] As the settlement expanded its name changed: it was briefly known as \"Bankside\" in 1693, officially named Green's Farm in 1732 in honor of Bankside Farmer John Green and in 1835 incorporated as the Town of Westport.[8][11]<\/p>
During the revolutionary war\u2014on April 25, 1777, a 1,850 strong British force under the command of the Royal Governor of the Province of New York, Major General William Tryon landed on Compo Beach to destroy the Continental Army\u2019s military supplies in Danbury.[12]Minutemen from Westport and the surrounding areas crouched hiding whilst Tryon's troops passed and then launched an offensive from their rear. A statue on Compo beach commemorates this plan of attack with a crouching Minuteman facing away from the beach; looking onto what would have been the rear of the troops.[13]<\/p>
The Town of Westport was officially incorporated on May 28, 1835, with lands from Fairfield, Weston and Norwalk.[8][14] Daniel Nash led 130 people of Westport in the petitioning of the Town of Fairfield for Westport\u2019s incorporation. The driving force behind the petition was to assist their seaport\u2019s economic viability that was being undermined by neighboring towns\u2019 seaports.[15] For several decades after that, Westport was a prosperous agricultural community distinguishing itself as the leading onion-growing center in the U.S.[16] Blight caused the collapse of Westport's onion industry leading to the mills and factories replacing agricultural as the town's economic engine.[10]<\/p><\/div>\n