The dental hygiene program at Taft College in Taft, Ca begins one program every Fall semester. 20 students who have successfully completed the prerequisites and application process are accepted each year. For the Fall 2017 program, applications are accepted between January 1st 2017 and March 31st 2017. The Taft College dental hygiene program doesn’t accept applications with any prerequisite class “In Progress”. This simply means that you need to complete all 6 prerequisite classes before applying.
When compared to the other 27 dental hygiene schools in California, Taft has by far the lowest numbers of necessary prerequisites. In order to have your application accepted, each prerequisite course must be completed with at least a “C” or higher. If you’ve received a lower than “C” grade, the dental hygiene program at Taft College allows you to retake the class in order to get a better grade. There is also a 5 year time limit on each prerequisite, which is known as the “Recency Requirement”. So, if you plan on applying for the Fall 2017 program, your prerequisites must have been completed in 2011 or later. Prerequisites:
There are also 3 “Co-requisite” classes. These classes don’t need to be completed before applying, but they must be finished prior to graduating from the dental hygiene program. The classes are:
To qualify for the dental hygiene program at Taft College, your OVERALL GPA (that’s your GPA for all classes taken, whether they are prerequisites or not) must be 2.5 or higher.
The dental hygiene program at Taft College did away with their waiting list back in 2015. Now it is done on a point system. So, a total of 250 points are the maximum that can be earned. Once all of the applications have been accepted, those with the most number of earned points will be granted a slot in the dental hygiene program. So, how are points awarded? The first listed is your GPA for the prerequisite classes, so you want to do as well as possible to max out your points awarded. Points are also awarded for the student’s GPA in ALL classes, whether prerequisite or not.
So, even if you’re taking a basket-weaving class, you want to get as high a grade in that class, as well. Also, points are awarded for the number of units the student has earned at Taft College. So, whenever possible, you want to take any classes at Taft as opposed to Bakersfield College. If you have a prior college degree, regardless of the field, you’ll get some points that way. The last three ways are any work experience in the dental field, any letters of recommendation, and the quality of your own “Personal Statement” that you fill out during the application process.
The dental hygiene program at Taft College estimates the total cost for attending the program at $13,800. The biggest chunk of that cost comes in the first year. the program itself is a total of 58 units. So, 58 units times $46.00 per unit comes out to approximately $2,670. That’s the total for the WHOLE program. Then, there are instruments and supplies. The “dental kit” is included in this. Taft College estimates the cost of instruments and supplies at $5,100. Uniforms and miscellaneous expenses are approximated at $550. Another cost required at ALL dental hygiene schools in California is the mandated malpractice insurance. This is one of the cheapest expenses at $22.00 per year.
The fees for the 2nd year includes the National and State Board exams, as well as the 4 day Board Review Course. This Board Review Course is an incredibly important part of ensuring success when taking the State and National Boards. Most other dental hygiene programs in California, such as Cerritos College dental hygiene, make use of these Board Reviews.
Taft College Dental Hygiene 661-763-7700 29 Emmons Park Dr. Taft, California 93268
An estimated 75% of adults suffer from dental problems at some point in their lifetime. Prevention is the best way to manage oral care. Good dental hygiene is necessary for prevention of dental cavities, periodontal diseases and other dental problems. Continuous preventive oral care and regular dental checkups can keep many of the dental problems at bay.
Dental checkups are done by a dentist or a dental hygienist. A dental hygienist works alongside the dentist and provides assistance when required. Unlike dental assistants, dental hygienists can attend to patients on their own. Their duties include cleaning patient’s teeth and giving proper counseling on oral hygiene.
Dental hygienists work in dental clinics, colleges and vocational schools, hospitals, community health centers, research companies, etc. They have various roles to perform in their profession like educator, clinician, researcher, administrator and manager and as an advocate for oral hygiene.
One has to graduate from an accredited dental hygienist school to become a dental hygienist. You are required to complete a two year or a four year college degree program. The minimum qualification required to join the program is a high school diploma. The students undergo training in dental anatomy, oral pathology, periodontics and patient management. Those who qualify with a four year baccalaureate degree have better job prospects. After graduating, one must pass the licensing exam of the respective state to work as a licensed dental hygienist in the state.
Like any other profession, dental hygienists also should possess specific skills. They should have the ability to put the patients at ease as many people tend to tense up during a procedure. Effective communication and manual dexterity are other skills that a dental hygienist should have.
Dental hygienists play the critical role of providing clinical services and oral health education to patients. Their work also includes:
Some states also allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia, remove sutures and dressings and put temporary fillings.
Dental hygienists play an important part in oral healthcare. They are paid hourly or daily salaries or work on commission basis. Many dental hygienists do part-time work and work at multiple locations.
The dental hygienist salary varies with educational qualifications, experience, place of work and geographical location. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the starting dental hygienist salary was $36,067 in 2010. The average salary was $68,250. The top paying state is Alaska with an annual average salary of $90,740.
Dental hygiene jobs are bound to grow as awareness for dental hygiene is on the rise. BLS ranks dental hygienists as one of fastest growing occupations in the country. With the right experience and skills, a dental hygienist can pursue a career which is well paying, has good growth prospects and offer considerable job security.