Dental Clinic Manager Blog

Thinking of taking some online dental courses to assist you with earning a dental degree?

While learning online instead of on a traditional campus can save you lots of money (fuel, car maintenance, childcare, appropriate clothing, meal expenses, etc.), if you’re goal is to transfer some of your online credits to another institution, consult with that institution before investing in the online program.

With so many online programs being readily available, it is important to choose a program carefully. Keep the following information in mind when reviewing online dental degree programs:

Is the school accredited?

Beware of “diploma mills.” These are companies that exist solely for profit; they do not grant degrees that are actually meaningful in the workplace or to other educational institutions. In the US, institutions of higher education are overseen by one of six regional organizations who evaluate the school’s facility, curriculum and program degrees. If a school passed accreditation, it will advertise that it’s “accredited” by one of the following six organizations:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools & Colleges

Verify that the school you’re interested in enrolling with is accredited by one of the above groups or by some other regulatory body (i.e., the Distance Education and Training Council). Many credits earned from an accredited degree program are transferable toward degrees at other accredited institutions.

What are the differences among accredited programs?

Differences may include program prerequisites, the ability to take a single class vs. multiple classes, program length (6 weeks, 1 year, 2 years, etc.), costs as well as your own learning style and the way in which the program evaluates your performance and the support they offer students (e.g, academic advising; writing assistance; library access; tutoring; and assistance finding internships and employment).

People have different learning styles, and instructors in both traditional schools and online have different teaching styles. Some instructors may rely exclusively upon audio lectures delivered on MP3 files. Others may use a technology system like Blackboard that allows you learn in real time.

Some students learn best when interacting with the instructor and other students. In this case, they may benefit from online forums. Others may prefer less interaction and consider themselves more independent learners. Some students may feel more comfortable taking oral exams, while others prefer submitting essays or taking online examinations.

Once you have determined the type of programs that fit your online needs, begin the application process:

Some online programs have application processes that are identical to or very similar to traditional university applications. That is, they involve writing essays, providing letters of recommendation, and perhaps completing a phone interview.

If the program requires an essay, allow yourself time to consider the question. Think about the question for several days before writing a response. Then, write your first draft and set it aside for a day. Return to it and see if it should be amended in any way. Before submitting the final version, have a friend or family member review it. You should also consider using the services of EssayEdge to assist you with your essay. They offer online services for essay editing and instruction as well as resume writing. With a team of more than 250 editors, they assist college, graduate, and professional school applicants with their admission essays and personal statements. Make certain that your essay and application are completely error-free.

You may also be required to mail transcripts and pay an application fee. If you neglect to send in all of the required materials, the school may reject your application outright. Use a checklist to ensure that you submit everything requested in the application packet.

Take your online courses, learn and move ahead!

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If you are someone is in need of funding for schools, whether High School or College, I would recommend using the Scholarship Experts database. It took me less that 10 minutes to go through the questions and I was immediately given a list of scholarship. I paid nothing, but the information I received was priceless!

Dental Hygienists examine patient’s teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities. They remove calculus, stains, and plaque from teeth, perform root planning as a periodontal therapy, take and develop dental x-rays, and apply cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. In some States, hygienists administer anesthetics; place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings; remove sutures; and smooth and polish metal restorations. Although hygienists may not diagnose diseases, they can prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret. Hygienists sometimes work chair side with the dentist during treatment.

Dental Hygiene Degree Programs include classroom, laboratory, and preclinical instruction in dental-assisting skills and related theory. In addition, students gain practical experience in dental schools, clinics, or dental offices. Most programs take 1 year or less to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Two-year programs offered in community and junior colleges lead to an associate degree. All programs require a high school diploma or its equivalent, and some require science or computer-related courses for admission. View the list of all dental hygiene programs in the US and Canada.

In many cases, it is actually the dental technician who is the artist behind a completed prosthetic and not the dentist! Dental lab technicians tend to perform much of their work without close supervision and their job offers both flexibility and several opportunities for advancement. Get more information about this often overlooked, yet rewarding career!