Dental Hygienists

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

One of the fastest growing occupations, dental hygiene is projected to increase by 3 percent over the next decade. Dental hygiene is a flexible career that allows most dental hygienists to work part-time and choose from day, evening and weekend hours. Full-time dental hygienists can earn as much as forty-dollars an hour. Also, many dental hygienists find satisfaction in providing a valuable health care service.

Dental hygienists are required to complete an accredited dental hygiene program and to be licensed by the state. In 26, 286 dental hygiene programs were accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. These programs prepare students with the skills necessary to earn licensing and perform quality work. Courses on oral health, anatomy of the mouth, nutrition, periodontal disease, dental care laws, and more are required to earn a certificate, associates degree, or a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. Dental hygienists are also trained to interact with patients and with health care professionals.

Dental hygiene programs are generally two year programs resulting in an associate’s degree or a certificate. However, some programs offer a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. A four-year program is not required but continued education is often preferred by employers. Dental hygienists who hope to be competitive in the job market may want to enhance a degree in dental hygiene by taking classes in chemistry, pharmacology, radiology or physiology.

Also, dental hygienists not only clean teeth and process x-rays, they educate patients about oral health and often interact with patients more then dentists. Communication skills are vital to a dental hygienist, so classes in English, foreign languages, and communication are useful as well.

In order to enter a dental hygiene program, a high school diploma and college entrance test scores are often required. In addition to the many traditional programs there are also online dental hygiene programs that allow students to take classes from home. Penn Foster Career School, Northern Arizona University, and St. Petersburg College are regionally accredited online colleges that offer dental hygiene programs. Some online colleges offer full online degree programs but still require residencies or internships with local dental offices.