|
A
dental hygienist school can provide dental hygienists with ample
training and education in order to provide preventative dental
care to patients. A career in dental hygiene can start with
certification or a degree program, and many hygienists
choose to manage their own practices. Dental hygienists follow
specific safety and radiological procedures, and are responsible
for educating students on maintaining good oral health.
Job Description and Responsibilities of Dental Hygienist School Graduates
Graduates are expected to:
-
Educate patients on the
importance of good oral health
-
Inform patients on how to
brush and floss their teeth appropriately
-
Use a variety of cleaning
instruments and dental hygienist equipment
-
Learn how to take dental
pictures
-
Prepare clinical and
laboratory diagnostic tests
-
Work with trained dentists
during treatment
-
Making molds of patients'
teeth
-
Developing dental x-rays
-
Removing stains and plaque
-
Collecting information about
oral and medical health history
Career Options After Dental Hygiene School
Students can choose to work in:
Dental Hygienist Training, Education, Courses & Certification
After graduating, dental hygienists must receive a license from the state they
wish to practice in. In order to receive this license, they will
take both a written and clinical exam. The written examination covers basic
topics, but can be fairly extensive. The clinical examination involves hands-on
projects where the student must work well with others and show good manual
dexterity.
Dental hygienist schools can
train students for an associates degree, bachelor's, master's, or certification.
An accredited school can provide a firm foundation for a
rewarding career. A prospective dental hygienist must look for an accredited
dental hygiene school that accepts their college entrance scores and high school
diploma. Students typically pursue a two- or four-year degree,
and most programs are two years in length to fulfill associate degree
requirements. Most associate degree programs take place at community colleges.
This is sufficient for most private dental offices, but students interested in
pursuing research, administration, or teaching will need additional training for a bachelor's or master's degree. The majority of dental
hygiene school programs require at least one year college prior to enrollment.
Common courses include:
-
Anatomy
-
Chemistry
-
Microbiology
-
Physiology
-
Radiography
-
Periodontology
-
Histology
-
Clinical Dental Hygiene
-
Pathology
Dental Hygienist Schools Accreditation
The Commission on Dental
Accreditation of the American Dental Association (ADA) sets the standards and
provides accreditation for dental hygiene schools around the country.
Dental Hygiene School Graduates Earning Potential and Employment Prospects
Dental hygienists made a median average hourly rate of $28.05 in
2004. Some dental hygienist offices are organized on a commission basis, so the
average earnings can vary. In addition, earnings can vary based on skill level and years of experience. The demand for
dental hygiene professionals is expected to grow faster than other
health-related occupations, and more dentists are hiring additional dental
hygienists to manage their workloads. Related occupations include:
|
