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Becoming a dental hygienist is a great job for anyone looking for a permanent career, or a flexible job that leaves time to pursue other opportunities. Dental Hygienists can work full time, part-time, evenings and on weekends. They generally work in private dental offices, hospitals or public health organizations.
To become a dental hygienist, one must enroll in a dental hygienist program at an accredited school. Most community colleges offer a two year program that results in an Associate’s degree, a four year program at a university where you will obtain a bachelor’s degree, or you can advance further and obtain a master’s degree. Courses for the dental hygienist focus primarily in the sciences. Anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, microbiology, pathology and nutrition are all required to graduate from both the two and four year program. However, with a higher degree, you will take more courses in the humanities, such as psychology and sociology.
Obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree will allow you even more opportunities for advancement in this career. If you are seeking dental hygienist jobs in the public sector, you will most likely be required to have a bachelor’s degree. These jobs are great for the career-minded person because you will have more stability and they generally provide better benefits than a private dental office. Additionally, with a more advanced degree, you can conduct research and teach in a dental hygienist program.
Once you have successfully graduated from the dental hygienist program, you will be required by whatever state you wish to practice in to take written and clinical exams to obtain a license. Most states also require you to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and an examination on the legalities of being a hygienist.
Dental hygienists work directly with the patients to teach them about proper oral health care and ways to prevent diseases and infections to their teeth and gums. Other duties include removing plaque and tartar, inspecting patients’ mouth and neck for signs of infection and disease, applying sealants to prevent cavities, performing x-rays on patients, installing fillings, and sometimes administering anesthetics.
The starting salary of a dental hygienist ranges from $20,000.00 to $30,000.00. The average salary of a more experienced hygienist ranges from $57,000.00 to $74,000.00.
