Dental hygienist schools are vital to helping train aspiring hygienists for their careers. The dental industry continues to expand substantially as oral healthcare is becoming greater in demand throughout the U.S. Since many new age dentists are choosing to hire assistants and hygienists (that of which many of their predecessors chose not to hire), prediction estimate that these positions are expected to grow by nearly 38% in the next seven years. This growth shows how important it is for those individuals seeking these positions to have the proper education and requirements needed for a career as a dental hygienist.
In order for dental hygienist schools to accept your application, the following credentials need to be met first (credentials change depending on the school):
Be 18 years old
Completed high school courses in English, Math, Chemistry, and Biology
Maintain a “C” average or above throughout high school
Finished high school and received a diploma
ACT or SAT exams were satisfactory or above
Upon completing the above requirements, individuals should be eligible to be accepted by an accredited American Dental Association (ADA) school. They must then graduate with either a certificate, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree to be eligible to take their board examinations.
Upon graduation from one of these dental hygienist schools, the individual will then need to take a National Board Dental Hygiene Exam. This examination is made up of a clinical board exam, and usually a written or computerized board exam. These tests are used by state boards to check the aspiring oral hygienists' qualifications before being licensed as a practicing hygienist. The examination tests the individual's capacity to understand basic dental procedures and knowledge and their ability to apply this knowledge in a problem-solving context.
The method these exams are given can change depending which region or state is administering the tests. Individuals should contact the state they plan to become licensed in to identify which form of exam they will be tested on and to see if they have met all qualifications that will be needed.
There are over 200 ADA accredited schools for dental hygienist. However, out of that number, there are a select few that stand out compared to the rest. For 2011, these dental hygienist schools are among the best:
University Southern California
-The University of Southern California's four year bachelor's program usually stands among the top of the best dental schools. The school has an on site dental clinic that benefits the student's training progress with live practice. Also, students will be paid well during their residency.
New York University
-Also one of the top academic schools in the nation, New York University's dental program is well known for their outstanding research, advanced clinical training, and diverse, wide patient pool.
University of the Pacific
-This university is always ranked as one of the best 100 universities nationally, and typically lead each year in applications for admittance. This school was also the first to introduce an advanced three year bachelor's program.
Western Kentucky University
-This university's dental program is quite prestigious. Those who attend this university have a choice between four programs they can start: an assoicate's degree program, and three bachelor's degree programs. One bachelor's program is a normal program, the next is a program that focuses more on clinical procedures, and the final program is an online program. One of the bonuses this university has is its own dental clinic on campus that enables students to gain live training.
St. Petersburg College
-This college is an affluent school that offers an associate's degree program and bachelor's degree program. The bachelor's program is for licensed hygienists and requires no campus involvement for course work or clinical training. All necessary work is completed strictly online.
The dental hygienist schools listed previously are all considered to be the top schools for this field of study. Any individual that is considering becoming a oral hygienist should greatly consider one of these institutions.
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