Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists are respected members of a dental team. They work closely with the dentists to determine the best treatment for your oral health.
Find the Best Brands at Best Buy
Professionals
Dental hygienists are health professionals that are part of the dental care team and play an important role in preventive dental care. Hygienists perform oral hygiene or health care reviews that include collecting and evaluating medical history. They examine your head and neck along with oral cancer screening and dental charting. Dental x-rays are also taken. They educate and counsel their patients how to take proper care of their teeth. Plaque control, at home oral hygiene programs, and good nutrition for oral health are taught. Periodontal therapy is also done. This includes root planing, removing plaque, calculus, and stains from teeth. Depending on the state where they live, hygienists are allowed to administer anesthetics or use a syringe to give a local anesthetic.
Hygienists need to learn psychology, or the knowledge of human behavior, as well as have a good knowledge of the principles and processes for providing good customer and personal services. It’s imperative for hygienists to have an understanding of all equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies for necessary protection and security of people, data, property, and institutions.
Skills include active listening, which includes giving full attention to what people are saying. Good eye contact is important when going over treatment plans with your patients so they trust you. Hygienists should be active learners, so they can solve problems and make decisions for present and future problems. They also should recognize their responsibilities as a teacher and adult learner. It’s vital that all dental hygienists have the ethics, values, skills, and knowledge essential for this health care profession.
Education
Dental hygienists must be licensed by the state in which they practice. Licensure is a protection for the public from persons that aren’t qualified and from unsafe practices. This means graduation from an accredited dental hygiene school. You’ll also need to pass a written and clinical examination admistered by the American Dental Association’s Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. Admission to a dental hygiene school requires a high school diploma and college entrance test scores. It is helpful to take classes in high school such as English, biology, speech, math, algebra, chemistry, and nutrition. You need to be 18 before you can start dental hygiene training.
Most programs offer a certificate, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. If you want to work in a private dental office, then you’ll need an associate degree or certificate. Teaching or clinical practice in public or school health programs requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree. With a master’s degree, a dental hygienist can work in the oral health products industry in sales, marketing, research, and management. You can also direct dental hygiene programs when you have a master’s degree.
Supervised patient care experiences are provided to students enrolled in dental hygiene education programs. Liberal arts courses such as sociology and psychology, and basic sciences such as physiology, pharmacology, and immunology are some classes that you will be taking as a dental hygiene student. This includes courses in clinical procedures, dental anatomy, pharmacology, dental equipment, and dental radiography, which are part of clinical sciences. Courses in community and public health dentistry will also be given. Additional training is available in business administration, basic science, marketing, public health, and education. It’s important to continue your education to keep up on the latest skills and knowledge.
Advantages
Personal achievement and satisfaction can come from providing valuable health care to patients that helps them prevent disease or future problems with their oral health. Opportunities to help children, the elderly, and the disabled can be rewarding, as well.
The variety of the work can be appealing if you like a lot of different responsibilities. You can use creativity when approaching patient management and education because of the different personalities of your patients. The flexibility of working full or part time and scheduling according to your needs is another advantage of being a hygienist. If you’re an independent type person, you’ll probably enjoy getting the job done with little or no direction.
Dental hygiene as a pre-dentistry major can be a great advantage for students. They will have hands-on experience in dentistry because clinical training will begin in their sophomore year and then in the dental clinic for two years.
Dental hygiene is a wonderful career opportunity for men and women. All ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds can become a dental hygienist. Being able to use the abilities you’ve learned can give you a feeling of success. This is a much in demand career with many job opportunities. Hygienists have said they enjoy the close relationships they form with their patients. A compassionate personality toward people’s fears and helping them ease their fears are the keys to success in this type of business.
Abilities
Capable communication abilities are needed for interaction with patients, supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates. You’ll also need to communicate by telephone, letters, or email. Treatment procedures and teaching about oral health prevention will require good communication skills. You need to be able to talk to people from different social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds. Hearing or auditory ability is important to assess health care needs and be able to understand patient concerns or problems. You also need excellent auditory ability to respond quickly in case of an emergency. Visual ability or corrected visual ability should be good, so oral health conditions can be observed. Any changes on x-rays need to be noted, as well.
Dental hygienists need the physical ability to move around in the workplace and laboratory. They also need the ability to crawl, bend, squat, and reach above shoulder level. Lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. and exerting up to 100 lbs. of force are done by hygienists. Walking, climbing stairs, and standing are also necessary parts of a dental hygienist job.
Working Conditions
Most dental hygienists work in well-lighted and heated dental offices that are modern with up-to-date dental equipment. They have close contact with many people including members of the dental team and patients. Much of the work is done while sitting. Hygienists also use their hands frequently and often with the same motions. Good finger dexterity and vision are necessary because there is detail work involving sharp instruments. They use small tools constantly, so working well with their hands is a necessary part of the job. There is stringent adherence to proper radiological procedures. Protective devices are used when giving anesthetic gas. Safety glasses, surgical masks, and gloves need to be worn for protection from infectious diseases.
Dental hygienists have many practice settings to choose to work at besides dental offices. Hospitals, schools, assisted living facilities, cruise ships, and health clinics are a few of the places where a hygienist can get a job. Scheduling is also very flexible. You can work full time, part time, evenings, or on the weekend.
Work Styles
When you choose dental hygienist as a career, you should make sure you’re comfortable working independently. You need to be able to complete tasks in your own way without constantly asking for supervision. Being dependable and responsible in fulfilling all your job obligations is also important. You should be loyal and reliable, so the person you work for can completely depend on you to get everything done. Any extra responsibilities should be taken on with a good attitude. You must have integrity or honesty because of the high level of personal and professional responsibilities.
Any negative emotions such as anger should always be kept under control, no matter how difficult the situation might be. Hygienists can’t show any aggressive behavior and need to stay composed at all times. This job requires a pleasing and cooperative attitude. Concern for others should be the first priority.
Job Outlook And Salary
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, an expected 37% increase in dental jobs may open by 2010. Hygienists provide an important service that keeps the demand for them consistent. Some areas of the country have a shortage of dental hygienists, so openings are plentiful. Dental hygienists are expected to be the fastest growing career throughout 2014, which will make job prospects excellent. Demand for hygienists will grow also because of population growth. Dentists with large workloads are also apt to hire more hygienists.
Salary for hygienists can vary by the geographic region and employment rates. When looking for information about how much salary you’ll be paid, you can search for starting salary, annual salary, and salary range. Some offices and states pay hygienists more than others. Salary can depend on how many responsibilities are in a specific position. Private practices pay higher wages then public health settings. Some hygienists work a few days a week at more then one dental office, which increases their salary. You may be paid an hourly, daily, or weekly salary, or work on commission.
According to reports by corporate HR departments, a dental hygienist working in the United States earns a median base salary of $71,461. Hygienists that have a bachelor’s or master’s degree have a higher salary because of their advancement into management or supervisory positions.
Places Of Employment
There are many settings where dental hygienists can work. Many hygienist graduates work in dental offices, but they also find great jobs in other places. There are jobs in education where a hygienist can teach dental students and dental hygiene students. Teaching jobs are available at universities and colleges, and dental hygiene can be taught to elementary school students or community organizations
Dental companies also hire dental hygienists as educational consultants. Employment as a consultant can be found with dental product companies and insurance companies. Administrator and manager positions are available. There are administrative positions in public health, education, or professional organizations. Magazines or places that need textbook information hire dental hygienists to write for them about their knowledge and skills. Employment can also be found with the federal government or state agencies. Some specialty practices where hygienists can work are periodontics, orthodontics, paedodontics, and research or marketing companies. There are dental hygienists jobs offered at private and public centers for pediatric, geriatric, and other special needs groups.
Finding The Right School
It’s very important to choose the right school for a career as a dental hygienist. You should read thoroughly about the school’s programs, what they have to offer, and the admission requirements. You can find information in college guidebooks, brochures, and catalogs. Make sure the books are updated or current. A college fair is also a great way to learn about school programs. You’ll be able to talk to admission officers to find out exactly what courses are available. Take notes so you can remember the answers to your questions. Advisors will give you a list of colleges that offer your major. You can also look for dental hygienist or oral hygienist programs on the Internet. If you’re interested in a specific school, ask other people about the school if they have already attended.
Location of the school you choose should also be considered. Do you want to attend school in an area that’s close to your friends and family? Would you be comfortable in new places? Some students prefer small classes, and others prefer large classes. Find out how many students will be attending the school. You can also find out if the professors are available to the students.
Another issue to look into when choosing a dental hygiene school is the school’s credentials as they relate to national boards. Also, check out the school’s reputation in the dental community. Visit each school you’re thinking about attending and talk to the hygienist students about the school. Costs of different schools can vary, but there are financial aid programs you can apply for that will help cover the costs. Students are required to purchase supplies, books, and instruments. Go over all the pros and cons of each school before you make your decision.
Local Articles
Career
Home