Im confused about being a dental hygenist!?

[mickey86]

Ok I want to be a dental assistant and I also want to grow in that field. I would like to become a dental hygenist down the line but what do you need to get in to a dental hygenist program? Im going to a career college to be a dental assistant only I dont think there gonna teach the basic prerequisits but ive been researching and they say you need at least 1 or 2 years of college and basic classes like mathmatics, chemistry, biology and so on, so my question to that one is do you need that even though you already have experience being a dental assistant or would I have to go back to a community college to take the basic classes or would it be a good idea to go through this career college become a dental assistant and take night classes for the basics (if I need them, do I?) or is career colleges just a waist of money Im so confused

[Unknown]

All the dental hygiene programs are listed by state on www.ada.org. Go to yahoo search page and type in something like "ada dental hygiene programs list by state" and the page should come up. Then choose your state and apply to as many colleges as are near you for dental hygiene.
Not many colleges teach DHY AND they only accept people ONCE a year (fall semester only). They take usually only 20-30 people per year (some take as high as 60 but thats rare). It is both a 2 year college degree and a 4 year college degree (you only need a 2 year degree to work in a private practice as a hygienist).
Many people do go to college for a 1 year certificate to become a dental assistant because you take a state test and become a licensed assistant in your state. And the assistants take a few of the same courses as hygienists. Also many colleges save a few class spots in the next years dental hygienist program for the dental assistant students that score the best in all their classes (the A students) . Which helps you get into a program a little faster.
There are 2 states (unfortunately) that no longer require hygienists to have college degrees (which means they dont know what they are doing). Those states are Alabama and Texas (just started i hear not requiring a college degree for hygienists). However you want the degree because without it you won't be doing your job well at all. I would never have my teeth cleaned by a person that was not properly trained by an ADA accredited college for hygiene.
Most of these colleges have a long waiting list and require many steps before you can get into the program. You have to go to each college's website and read their requirements. Each college is different as to their requirements before being allowed to even apply.