Looking to pursue a career in dental hygiene in North Dakota?
There are so many factors that go into choosing the right dental hygienist schools in North Dakota, such as location, accreditation, financial aid, student activities, and more.
The first thing you need to do when choosing the right school is to determine what you want out of your education and career.
Ask yourself questions like;
- Do you want to work in an office, a hospital, or some other setting?
- What kind of salary do you hope to make?
Once you’ve answered these questions, then you can start narrowing down the schools that will be good fits for you based on those criteria.
In this article, we carefully laid down 3 of the best dental hygiene schools in North Dakota and how you can apply them to each one.
But before then, we shall answer some related questions about the topic;
Who is a dental hygienist?
Before you even think of applying to any of the dental hygienist schools in North Dakota, you need to understand what you are signing up for, you need to understand who is really a dental hygienist.
A dental hygienist is a licensed healthcare professional that focuses on prevention and oral health promotion in patients of all ages.
A dental hygienist helps to reduce plaque and tartar through activities such as;
- Regular cleanings
- Removing stains from teeth
- Assisting patients with special needs, and
- A dental hygienist may serve as an educator for patients on oral health topics.
They also help monitor diseases in various mouth tissues for signs of cancerous or precancerous growths.
As a dental hygienist, you will identify any of the suspiciously related syntopms so that they can be removed before they become malignant.
How do I become a dental hygienist in North Dakota?
To become a certified dental hygienist in North Dakota, applicants should;
- Attend any of the Dental Hygiene Schools and Education Programs in North Dakota
- Graduate from an ADA-Accredited Dental Hygiene School
- Complete the National Exam and Regional Clinical Exam
- Submit the Application to the North Dakota State Board of Dental Examiners
- Complete Jurisprudence Examination
- Take Continuing Education Coursework
What are the Best Dental Hygienist Schools in North Dakota?
This list below is the top 3 schools in North Dakota where you can study dentistry;
- North Dakota State College of Science
- Bismarck State College
- University of North Dakota
North Dakota State College of Science
The NDSCS (North Dakota State College of Science) is one of the best dental hygienist schools in North Dakota.
This academic institution offers a dental hygiene program for students with an Associate’s degree in Applied Science.
The program here emphasizes skill development, self-assessment, and professionalism, with the majority of clinical experience taking place in the NDSCS dental clinic.
The associate’s degree takes two years to complete and allows for early graduation.
Students are able to apply for scholarships, paid internships, leadership opportunities, community service projects, sports teams, and more.
During your time as a student at NDSCS, you will have access to many affordable healthcare services that include dental hygiene care as well as eye exams, lab work, or radiology diagnostic tests.
Contact details:
Address: 800 6th St N, Wahpeton, ND 58076, United States
Phone: +1 800-342-4325
Bismarck State College (BSC)
Bismarck State College is a pre-dentistry school in North Dakota.
This school offers students entering the dentistry field the ability to complete some of the prescribed prerequisites needed to apply to a dentistry program.
Coursework contains general education classes with an emphasis on the sciences. BSC courses can be taken during the first two years of school, not only for transfer students.
Some who enter the program with community college credits may take on less debt during their undergraduate years and maybe in the best position to go to dentistry school since they have built relationships with faculty over that time.
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota offers a Pre-Dentistry program for aspiring dentists in the region.
This program is not a major, but it is a pathway for undergraduate students to go into dental school and study everything required for entrance.
By pairing this plan of study with any major, you’ll get the well-rounded undergraduate education needed for dental school.
You’ll work with an advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences at UND to develop a plan of study for dental school.
Here are the classes required for dental school:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physics
- Use of English
- Algebra
And others, you can learn more from the website below;
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the documented questions usually asked about this topic;
Can I become a dental hygienist without going to university?
You can learn dentistry anywhere, but to be a licensed dental hygienist, you need to have official documents to prove it.
Becoming a dental hygienist typically requires an associate’s degree in dental hygiene, although high school students can prepare for the career by taking courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics.
Every state requires hygienists to be licensed, so passing written and practical licensing exams is also essential.
How long is a Dental Hygienist Program in North Dakota?
A program in dental hygiene at a school in North Dakota takes an average of two years to complete.
The program itself consists of didactic study, which is simply an academic course of study focused on oral health education, and clinical study, which is hands-on experience with patients in a clinical setting.
Students might expect to spend an average of 15 hours per week studying outside of class as well as around 36 weeks taking classes every semester.
Therefore, if you take into account both classroom time and additional learning time spent preparing for class and studying outside of class.
It’s not surprising that dental hygienist students may need more than four years to complete their studies!
Dental Hygienist Salary in North Dakota
According to salary.com, the average dental hygienist salary in Fargo in North Dakota as of April 26, 2022, ND is $73,077 but the range typically falls between $63,454 and $83,095.
Conclusion
The Career can be very rewarding and you can start by attending any of the top dental hygienist schools in North Dakota.
As you continue on through your education, you will find out exactly what steps are necessary to become a successful dental hygienist.
Get started today so that in no time at all, you’ll be working towards your career as a dental hygienist!
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