Dental Hygienists

Dental Hygienists teach people how to properly care for their teeth, remove deposits from teeth, and provide other preventative care. They may also use x-ray machines, syringes to administer anesthetics, molding equipment, remove sutures, and prepare diagnostic tests for the Dentist to examine.

To become a Dental Hygienist, you must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school and pass a written and clinical exam. An associate's degree will allow you to work in a Dentist's office, but some institutions also offer bachelor's and master's degrees in this field. Typically, individuals with a bachelor's or master's degree may work in research or teaching.

Many accredited programs require one year of college to enter and offer laboratory, clinical, and classroom instruction. Daytona Beach Community College offers a 2-year program in Dental Hygiene that requires courses in College Algebra, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Dental Radiography.

As a high school student preparing for this career, you should take courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. This occupation is projected to be one of the top thirty fastest-growing occupations, and a Dental Hygienist usually earns between $20.46 and $29.72 an hour.