{"id":5870,"date":"2018-04-05T19:01:28","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T19:01:28","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2018-04-05T19:01:28","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T19:01:28","slug":"westfield-ma-01085","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oralpreventionedu.info\/dental-hygienist-schools-near-me\/massachusetts\/westfield-ma-01085","title":{"rendered":"Dental Hygienist Schools Near Me in Westfield MA 01085"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Select a Dental Hygienist School near Westfield Massachusetts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"WestfieldPicking the ideal dental hygienist school near Westfield MA<\/strong> is an essential initial step toward launching your new career in dentistry. But before you can make your selection, you need to evaluate and compare your school options. There is far more to completing your due diligence than selecting the school with the least expensive tuition or enrolling in the program that is nearest to your home. There are other significant issues to take into account also, such as 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 2 to 3 years to finish. Naturally with the prolonged training of a hygienist comes more cost. We will cover all of these concerns and additional questions that you should be asking the dental hygienist programs you are looking at<\/a> later in this article. But first, let’s look at the duties of dental hygienists and the training programs offered<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The Job of a Dental Hygienist<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"WestfieldWhen contrasting the duties of a dental hygienist to that of an assistant, the biggest difference is probably that the hygienist works more independently. Dental assistants work with and in support of the Westfield MA dentists and the practice. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, deal with the patients more on a one-to-one basis. They are usually the first person a patient encounters when called from the waiting room. They examine every patient’s teeth and gums and report their results to the dentists. They also may perform basic procedures. Based on state law, a hygienist’s responsibilities may include:<\/p>\n