Posts Tagged ‘training for dental hygienists’

How To Get A Job As A Dental Hygienist

With improved dental practices, more and more people are able to maintain their own teeth for a lifetime.  These improved practices include the care provided by skilled Dental Hygienists.  The demand for Dental Hygienists is growing rapidly and will continue to do so.  Remuneration for Dental hygienists is excellent.

Dental Hygienists work in clean, brightly lit, surroundings.  They may work full or part time in a variety of locations, including: dental offices, clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes.  Dental Hygienists may be required, or choose, to work evenings or weekends.  When working, Dental Hygienists protect their health and safety as well as the health of their patients by the use of safety glasses, gloves, and surgical masks.

Dental Hygienists are responsible for the overall oral health of their patients.  Good Dental Hygienists must have good communications skills, and good manual dexterity.  They must enjoy working and serving the public.  They must be gentle, compassionate, cheerful, and able to work as part of a team, whether or not they are independently employed.

Dental Hygienists perform many vital duties.  They take patient histories, and give the patients mouth, including the gums and teeth, a complete examination, checking for signs of decay, and disease.  They then clean the teeth, removing calculus and plaque.  They may then apply Fluoride.  They advise patients on proper tooth care and cleaning.  They may also take and develop x rays and administer local anesthetics.  Dental Hygienists are responsible for keeping patient records and discussing any areas of concern, with the dentist.  Most Dental Hygienists are independently employed but do work cooperatively with the dentist in charge.

Education

The first step to becoming a Dental Hygienist is to complete High School.  High school subjects that are especially beneficial to the profession are English, biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics.  After obtaining a High School Diploma, applicants must then take training from an accredited school of dental hygiene.

Requirements vary from state to state so make sure you investigate and understand fully what is required by the state in which you intend to practice.

Training programs for Dental Hygienists are offered by Community Colleges, Technical Schools, and Universities.  After a two year program you will typically receive an Associate Degree, and after a four year program you will receive a Bachelor’s Degree.  Some University programs may require a year or even two years of college as an admission requirement.  Courses offered during training include such subjects as; pathology,nutrition, microbiology, pharmacology, and histology.

Licensing
In order to practice, Dental Hygienists must obtain a license from the state.  To do this applicants must first graduate from an accredited program in dental hygiene and then pass both a written and a clinical exam.  Many states now require Dental Hygienists to have taken and passed both the State and National exam before being licensed to practice.  Applicants who pass these exams are then considered Registered Dental Hygienists.

With advanced training and experience, Dental Hygienist can move up to related positions in research, marketing, administration, and education.