Dental hygiene training takes two years at an accredited vocational school or community college. High school graduation is usually the only requirement. Hands-on experience is gained through internships and dental clinics. The American Dental Association website lists accredited schools in the US.
Dental hygiene training is usually done at a vocational school or community college. These institutions must be accredited by a regional accreditation organization and present a certification that qualifies a person as a dental hygienist. When dental hygienist training begins, it typically takes two years to complete the course and prepare the individual for a dental hygienist job.
Often, the requirement for dental hygiene training is simply high school graduation or obtaining an equivalent degree through other means. That done, the next step is to research the schools that offer the training. Not all vocational schools or community colleges will have a dental program. For most people, however, there should still be an option close to where they live. Larger and medium-sized cities may have several dental hygiene schools.
For those who know they are interested in high school dental hygienist careers, training can even begin before graduation. Science courses, in particular, are often prerequisites for entry into the main part of any college program. Taking these courses in high school will give you a better foundation for college work. In some cases, a high school and college may combine to offer double credit, which applies to both high school and college, for the same course. Thus, the core curriculum of dental hygiene training can begin earlier for students who take advantage of it.
In addition to classroom work, dental hygiene training will involve a certain amount of hands-on experience as well. In some cases, this can be achieved through internships at local practices. In the vast majority of cases, the school will have a dental clinic where members of the public can come in to have it cleaned at a reduced rate. This gives the student a chance to practice on real customers in a real world environment. Obviously, the dental hygienist cannot take care of any serious oral health problems. If these are discovered, the client will likely be encouraged to seek the services of a dentist.
For more information on finding a school in your area, the American Dental Association website lists accredited schools in the United States. Those who don’t know where to start looking for dental hygiene training may find that this is a good place to start. Enrolling in such a program is similar to enrolling in any other college program. Requirements typically include submitting an application, accepting and participating in an orientation.
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