What is it like to be a dental hygienist?

Answer 1

It's wonderful being a dental hygienist. I think hygienist are in a position to build a real relationship with their patients. It is very rewarding, you get most of the job satisfaction from your patients. My patients are like family. I am very attached to them. The key to being a happy hygienist is finding the right doctor to work for. That's the hardest part. Once you have found the right place the rest is easy. In my opinion, hygienist are usually very caring and mothering of their patients. If there is anyone who will stick up for a patient... it's the hygienist. A hygienist has other hidden roles too. A hygienist deals with many different personalities, different attitudes towards dentistry, different degrees of oral health. So some times the hygienist has to distract the patient from the dental treatment in order to do her job. Another characteristic of a hygienist is they have to learn how to avoid that weird silence by holding one-sided conversations. The patients just listen and laugh or nod since they can't talk with your hands in their mouth. I hope this answers your question with out rambling too much. Remember I am used to this one-sided thing and I could continue on this subject for at least an hour by myself!