{"id":3863,"date":"2018-04-05T19:00:37","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T19:00:37","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2018-04-05T19:00:37","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T19:00:37","slug":"elk-horn-ia-51531","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oralpreventionedu.info\/dental-hygienist-schools-near-me\/iowa\/elk-horn-ia-51531","title":{"rendered":"Dental Hygienist Schools Near Me in Elk Horn IA 51531"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Choose a Dental Hygienist School near Elk Horn Iowa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"ElkChoosing the right dental hygienist college near Elk Horn IA<\/strong> is an important first step toward launching your new career in dentistry. But before you can make your selection, you need to examine and compare your school options. There is far more to doing your due diligence than selecting the program with the lowest tuition or enrolling in the college that is closest to your residence. There are other significant issues to take into account as well, for instance the program’s accreditation and reputation. Dental hygienists typically earn an Associate Degree, as compared to a certificate usually earned by assistants, and can take anywhere from two to three years to finish. Obviously with the longer training of a hygienist comes more cost. We will cover all of these issues and supplemental questions that you should be asking the dental hygienist schools you are looking at<\/a> later in this article. But first, let’s look at the roles of dental hygienists and the training programs provided<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The Role of Dental Hygienists<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"ElkWhen contrasting the duties of a dental hygienist to that of an assistant, the biggest difference is undoubtedly that the hygienist works more on their own. Dental assistants work with and in support of the Elk Horn IA practice and the dentists. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, work with the patients more on an individual basis. They are usually the initial person a patient encounters when called from the waiting room. They examine every patient’s teeth and gums and present their findings to the dentists. They also may carry out basic procedures. Depending on state law, a hygienist’s responsibilities can include:<\/p>\n