The Scoop on Dental Hygienists
Dental Hygiene isn't just something you keep up with by brushing your teeth and flossing. Nope, it's a job too! Dental Hygienists are your first line of defense at the Dentist's office. With jobs expected to stay healthy (with the rise in the population) Dental Hygienists can continue to be your favorite person at the Dentist's (primarily because they're NOT the Dentist) and they can help along the path the healthy teeth.
What in the World Does a Dental Hygienist Do Anyways?
Dental Hygienists clean your teeth when you go to the Dentist's office. In more technical terms they "remove hard and soft deposits from teeth." (I know, it sound technical and important...that's because it is!) Hygienists also examine a patient's teeth before the Dentist comes to see them. They are also charged with taking x-rays, administering fluoride treatments, making molds of patient's teeth, and assisting Dentists with more complex procedures like doing fillings.
If you worked in a Specialist's office you might assist with periodontal therapy, root canals, implant surgeries, wisdom teeth removal and a host of other procedures that a Dentist or Oral Surgeon needs an assistant to do.
Typically, you will be left with the patient after the Dentist is done and you will also be responsible for modeling good brushing and flossing, counseling patients on good dental care, and answering any questions the patient might have. In essence, you do ALL the grunt work in a Dentist's office.
What Kind of Training do I need (A.K.A. - Will I have to go to School?)
In order to work as a dental Hygienist you need to have graduated High School and been accepted to a Dental Hygiene School. There are 286 of these programs in the U.S. so you should have a pretty good time finding one that will suit your needs and your schedule. The program usually lasts two years because at the end you are granted an Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene.
After getting your Degree you will need to be licensed by the State Dental Board to work as a Dental Hygienist. You will have to pass a written test and pass a "skills" exam in order to get your license, but once you do it's smooth sailing to the job market.
How Do I get One of These Jobs Anyways?
Most Dentists work in private practices and that means that most Hygienists work in private practices assisting Dentists. 50,000 new jobs in this field are expected to be created by 2016 and with the rise in population it should be simple to find a job working for a Dentist.
Many Dental Hygienists (about half) work part-time and that means that you can find something that will work around your family and your social life. The majority of Hygienists can hold down this career until retirement, but if you are looking to go to Dental School working with a Dentist is great training and this is a good place to start.
Advancement in this job usually requires an advanced degree which means you are looking to teach Dental Hygiene at a College or you are looking to get into research (which might require a science degree) where you can assist Dentists and Doctors in medical research and bring your Hygienist experience to the table. Either way, you don't have to work 40 hours a week (many people work a couple days in more than one Dentist's office) and you can get into teaching if you want. This is the ultimately flexible job.
