Topics to Cover With Dental Hygienist Programs<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Silver Spring MD, you can start the procedure of comparing programs and schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students begin by checking out the location and the cost of the colleges. Possibly they search for several online options as well. Although these may be relevant initial considerations, there are a few additional questions that you need to address to the colleges you are looking at in order to reach an informed decision. Toward that end, we have supplied a list of questions to assist you with your evaluation and final selection of the best dental hygienist program for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental Program Accredited?<\/strong> There are many important reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist program. If you are planning to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a prerequisite in virtually all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, your dental program must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps ensure that the training you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Silver Spring MD employers typically prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited colleges. And last, if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, frequently they are not provided for non-accredited schools.<\/p>\nIs Sufficient Clinical Training Provided?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is a vital part of any dental training program. This is true for the online school options also. A number of dental hygienist colleges have partnerships with local dental offices and clinics that provide practical training for their students. It’s not only essential that the school you enroll in 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 have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, verify that the college you select offers clinical rotation in a local Silver Spring MD dental office that focuses on dental care for children.<\/p>\nIs There an Internship Program?<\/strong> Verify if the dental schools you are considering sponsor internship programs. Internships are undoubtedly the ideal way to receive hands-on, clinical experience in a real dental practice. They make it easier for students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students create professional relationships in the Silver Spring MD dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes too.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Help Offered?<\/strong> Many graduating students of dental hygienist schools need help landing their first job. Check if the programs you are looking at have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Colleges with higher job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Silver Spring MD dental profession as well as extensive networks of contacts where they can refer their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre Classrooms Small?<\/strong> Find out from the programs you are reviewing how large typically their classrooms are. The smaller classes usually provide a more intimate atmosphere for learning where students have greater access to the instructors. On the other hand, large classes can be impersonal and offer little one-on-one instruction. If practical, ask if you can sit in on a few classes at the Silver Spring MD dental hygienist school that you are most interested in so that you can witness first hand the degree of interaction between students and instructors before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Overall Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene colleges can fluctuate in cost based on the length of the program and the volume of practical training provided. Other variables, such as the reputations of the colleges and whether they are public or private also come into play. But in addition to the tuition there are other significant 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 examining the cost of schools, remember to add all of the costs associated with your education. Most colleges have financial assistance offices, so make sure to ask what is available as far as loans, grants and scholarships in the Silver Spring MD area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Accessible?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you need to confirm that the assistant or hygienist program furnishes classes that fit your schedule. This is especially true if you continue working while receiving your education and must attend classes near Silver Spring MD 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 making your inquiries, ask what the make-up policy is if you should have to miss any classes because of work, illness or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Silver Spring MD?<\/h3>\nSilver Spring, Maryland<\/h3>
Silver Spring is a city located inside the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 76,716 according to 2013 estimates by the United States Census Bureau, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.[2] Silver Spring consists of the following neighborhoods: Downtown Silver Spring, East Silver Spring, Woodside, Woodside Park, North Hills Sligo Park, Long Branch, Montgomery Knolls, Franklin Knolls, Indian Spring Terrace, Indian Spring Village, Clifton Park Village, New Hampshire Estates, Oakview, and Woodmoor.<\/p>
The urbanized, oldest, and southernmost part of Silver Spring is a major business hub that lies at the north apex of Washington, D.C. As of 2004, the Central Business District (CBD) held 7,254,729 square feet (673,986\u00a0m2) of office space, 5216 dwelling units and 17.6 acres (71,000\u00a0m2) of parkland. The population density of this CBD area of Silver Spring was 15,600 per square mile all within 360 acres (1.5\u00a0km2) and approximately 2.5 square miles (6\u00a0km2) in the CBD\/downtown area.[3] The community has recently undergone a significant renaissance, with the addition of major retail, residential, and office developments.<\/p>
Silver Spring takes its name from a mica-flecked spring discovered there in 1840 by Francis Preston Blair, who subsequently bought much of the surrounding land. Acorn Park, tucked away in an area of south Silver Spring away from the main downtown area, is believed to be the site of the original spring.[4][5]<\/p>
As an unincorporated area, Silver Spring's boundaries are not officially defined. As of the 2010 Census the United States Census Bureau defines Silver Spring as a census-designated place with a total area of 7.92 square miles (20.5\u00a0km2), all land; however, it does contain numerous creeks and small lakes. This definition is a 15% reduction from the 9.4 sq. mi. used in previous years. The United States Geological Survey locates the center of Silver Spring at 38\u00b059\u203226\u2033N 77\u00b01\u203235\u2033W\ufeff \/ \ufeff38.99056\u00b0N 77.02639\u00b0W\ufeff \/ 38.99056; -77.02639, notably some distance from the Census Bureau's datum. By another definition, Silver Spring is located at 39\u00b00\u203215\u2033N 77\u00b01\u20328\u2033W\ufeff \/ \ufeff39.00417\u00b0N 77.01889\u00b0W\ufeff \/ 39.00417; -77.01889 (39.004242, -77.019004).[6] The definitions used by the Silver Spring Urban Planning District, the United States Postal Service, the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, etc., are all different, each defining it for its own purposes.<\/p><\/div>\n