Dental Hygienist Career
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What a Dental Hygienist does:
A Dental Hygienist is licensed to perform
clinical tasks in a Dental Clinic. Many dental
practices only hire a dental hygienist to work
one or two days per week. Over one half of
dental hygienists in the U.S. work part time
which makes this a flexible career for many.
Others Hygienists work in more than one dental
office.
The main duties of a Dental Hygienist
include:
- Examining patients teeth and gums
- Documenting the presence of oral disease
- Administering preventive dental care
- Removing calculus, stains and plaque
- Educating patients on good oral hygiene
- Obtaining a patients dental records
- Administering local anesthetics
Education & Qualifications:
To become a qualified dental hygienist you must
complete a degree in Dental Hygiene from an
accredited school. You must them complete the
licensure requirements of the state in which you
wish to work. Having your high school diploma is
a prerequisite for enrolling in a Dental Hygiene
program. If you are interested in a career as a
dental hygienist you should take high school
courses in chemistry, biology and mathematics.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
provides accreditation for suitable Dental
Hygiene Programs. If you complete a program
accredited by CODA you can rest assured that the
skills you have learned are up to date and your
qualification will be recognized nationwide.
Typical subjects studied in a Dental Hygiene
program include: physiology, anatomy, chemistry,
pharmacology, microbiology, nutrition, histology
(tissue structure), radiography, periodontology
(gum disease), dental materials, pathology,
clinical dental hygiene, and social and
behavioral sciences.
A dental hygienist must be licensed by the state
in which he/she wishes to practice. In most
states you can gain licensure by graduating from
an accredited dental hygiene program and passing
a written and clinical examination. The American
Dental Association’s (ADA) Joint Commission on
National Dental Examinations administers the
written examination. This licensure examination
is accepted by all States and the Distrait of
Columbia.
Salary & Job Prospects:
Dental Hygienists can earn salaries between
$50,000 and $80,000 depending on experience,
qualifications and location. As the work for
dentist’s increases, more dental hygienists are
likely to be employed. Dental Hygienists can
perform routine dental tasks such as cleaning,
while Dentists can concentrate on more complex
tasks.
Find an Allied Health School:
Use the red search box above, to find Allied
Health schools and colleges in your area that
offer Dental Hygienist programs.
Below is a list of some of the various types of
allied health careers / professions: |
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