What to Ask Dental Hygienist Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Minden LA, you can begin the process of comparing programs and schools. As we discussed at the start of this article, many students start by checking out the location and the cost of the schools. Perhaps they search for some online options also. Even though these are relevant initial considerations, there are a few additional questions that you should address to the colleges you are comparing in order to arrive at an informed decision. Toward that end, we have supplied a list of questions to help 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 many good reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist school. If you are intending to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a prerequisite in nearly all states. To qualify to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, your dental college 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. Minden LA employers typically desire or require that new hires are graduates of accredited colleges. And last, if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, often they are not obtainable for non-accredited programs.<\/p>\nIs Enough Clinical Training Included?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is an essential portion of every dental training program. This is true for the online college options as well. Many dental hygienist schools have relationships with local dental practices and clinics that provide practical training for their students. It’s not only important that the school you choose provides sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you ultimately would like to work in. As an example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, verify that the program you enroll in offers clinical rotation in a local Minden LA dental office that specializes in dental care for children.<\/p>\nAre Internships Available?<\/strong> Find out if the dental colleges you are evaluating have an internship program. Internships are undoubtedly the best means to receive hands-on, practical experience in a professional dental practice. They help students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students develop professional relationships in the Minden LA dentistry community. And they look good on resumes too.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Assistance Provided?<\/strong> Most students that have graduated from dental hygienist programs need assistance getting their first job. Check if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Schools with higher job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Minden LA dental profession as well as extensive networks of contacts where they can position their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre Classrooms Smaller?<\/strong> Ask the programs you are looking at how big on average their classes are. The smaller classes usually provide a more personal environment for learning where students have increased access to the teachers. On the other hand, bigger classes often are impersonal and provide little individualized instruction. If feasible, ask if you can attend a few classes at the Minden LA dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward in order to experience first hand the degree of interaction between teachers and students before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Total Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene schools can differ in cost based on the duration of the program and the volume of clinical training provided. Other factors, for instance the reputations of the colleges and whether they are public or private also have an impact. But besides the tuition there are other significant expenses which can add up. They can include costs for such things as commuting and textbooks as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when analyzing the cost of programs, don’t forget to add all of the expenses related to your education. The majority of colleges have financial aid departments, so be sure to ask what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Minden LA area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Accessible?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist college, you must confirm that the assistant or hygienist program provides classes that fit your schedule. This is particularly true if you continue working while getting your education and must attend classes near Minden LA at nights or on weekends. And even if you select an online program, you will still have to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up policy is if you should need to miss any classes because of work, illness or family responsibilities.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Minden LA?<\/h3>\nWebster Parish, Louisiana<\/h3>
As of the 2010 census, the Webster Parish population was 41,207.[2] In 2017, the population estimate was 39,710, a decline of nearly 3.8 percent since the 2011 estimated count of 41,259. The decline represents an average loss of 258 persons per year. Public officials who have long sought to increase the industrial potential of the parish, expressed concern over the downward spiral. Jim Bonsall, the president of the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, cited the ending of the Haynesville Shale boom as the primary reason for the population losses. The parish has long depended on jobs in the petroleum and natural gas fields.[3]<\/p>
The parish is named for 19th-century American statesman Daniel Webster of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It was created on February 27, 1871[4] from lands formerly belonging to Bienville, Bossier, and Claiborne parishes. The parish centennial celebration was held in May 1971. Speakers included Police jury president Leland Garland Mims and Judge Enos McClendon of the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court, who gave a biographical sketch of Daniel Webster. Many officials and parish employees dressed in period costume of the 1870s for the event.[5]<\/p>
Among the first settlers in Webster Parish was Newett Drew, a native of Virginia, who about 1818 established a grist mill at the former Overton community near Minden. At this time the area was Natchitoches Parish and later Overton became the Parish Seat of Claiborne Parish in 1836 until it moved in 1848. His son, Richard Maxwell Drew was born in Overton and served as a district judge state representative prior to his death in 1850 at the age of twenty-eight. R. M. Drew's descendants held judicial or legislative positions in Webster Parish as well, Richard Cleveland Drew, Harmon Caldwell Drew, R. Harmon Drew, Sr., and Harmon Drew, Jr.[6]<\/p>
The existing Webster Parish Court House in Minden, built at a cost of $876,000,[9] was dedicated on May 1, 1953, with Governor Robert F. Kennon, who was reared in Minden and formerly served as its mayor, as the featured speaker.[10] Planning on the courthouse began in 1950, when it was determined that the previous structure had become obsolete.[11][12]<\/p><\/div>\n