Topics to Cover With Dental Hygienist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Decatur GA, you can start the process of comparing schools and programs. As we discussed at the start of this article, many students start by checking out the location and the cost of the schools. Maybe they search for several online alternatives as well. Although these are relevant initial considerations, there are several additional questions that you should address to the schools you are looking at in order to reach 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 best dental hygienist college for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental Program Accredited?<\/strong> There are several good reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist college. If you are intending to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a prerequisite in virtually all states. To qualify to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, your dental program must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps establish that the training you get is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Decatur GA employers typically desire or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited programs. And finally, if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, usually they are not obtainable for non-accredited schools.<\/p>\nIs Plenty of Clinical Training Provided?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is a vital part of any dental training program. This applies for the online school options as well. Many dental hygienist schools have associations with area dental practices and clinics that furnish practical training for their students. It’s not only important that the program you enroll in provides enough clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you subsequently would like to work in. As an example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, verify that the program you select offers clinical rotation in a local Decatur GA dental office that focuses on dental services for children.<\/p>\nAre Internships Available?<\/strong> Find out if the dental colleges you are looking at sponsor an internship program. Internships are probably the best method 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 create working relationships in the professional dental community. And they look good on resumes too.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Assistance Offered?<\/strong> Most graduating students of dental hygienist programs require help obtaining their first job. Check if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Programs with high job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Decatur GA dental community as well as extensive networks of contacts where they can position their students for employment or internships.<\/p>\nAre Classes Small?<\/strong> Check with the colleges you are interested in how large typically their classes are. The smaller classes usually offer a more intimate setting for learning where students have greater access to the teachers. Conversely, large classes can be impersonal and provide little individualized instruction. If feasible, ask if you can monitor a couple of classes at the Decatur GA dental hygienist school that you are leaning toward so that you can witness first hand the amount of interaction between teachers and students before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Entire Expense of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene programs can differ in cost based on the duration of the program and the amount of clinical training provided. Other factors, 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 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 comparing the cost of colleges, remember to include all of the expenses related to your education. The majority of colleges have financial assistance offices, so be sure to check out what is available as far as loans, grants and scholarships in the Decatur GA area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Convenient?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist college, you must make sure that the hygienist or assistant program offers classes that suit your schedule. This is particularly true if you will be working while acquiring your education and have to go to classes near Decatur GA at nights or on weekends. And even if you enroll in an online college, 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 need to miss any classes because of work, illness or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Decatur GA?<\/h3>\nDecatur, Georgia<\/h3>
Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States and is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 20,148 in the 2013 census,[3] the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name. The city is served by three MARTA rail stations. The city is located approximately 5 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and shares its western border with Atlanta.<\/p>
Decatur was established at the intersection of two Native American trails: \u2009the Sandtown, which led east from the Chattahoochee River at Utoy Creek, and the Shallowford, which follows today's Clairmont Road, and eventually crossed near Roswell. It was named for United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur.<\/p>
During the American Civil War, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. In July 1864, Major-General James McPherson occupied the town to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta. On July 22, during the Battle of Atlanta, Confederate cavalry under Major-General Joseph Wheeler attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. A historical marker at the old courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.<\/p>
In the last half of the twentieth century the metropolitan area of Atlanta expanded into unincorporated DeKalb County, eventually surrounding two sides of the town of Decatur. Concurrently many well-to-do and middle class white Americans fled the area to more distant suburbs. The 1960s and 1970s witnessed dramatic drops in property values. However, more recently the city has regained economic vigor, partially thanks to several long-term downtown development plans that have come to fruition, making Decatur a trendy small mixed-use district with easy transit to downtown Atlanta. Over the past twenty years, it has gained a local and national reputation as a progressive city with a high level of citizen involvement that retains a small town feel despite its proximity to Atlanta.[citation needed]<\/p><\/div>\n