What are the Top Dental Hygienist Schools?
DentalPost takes a look at the benefits, career prospects, and things to consider when choosing a Dental Hygienist school.
Dental hygiene is among the most beneficial professions in the health and medical sector. The job offers preventive and educational services that help maintain excellent oral health, directly linked to people’s overall health and the strength of their immune system.
For this reason, access to the best and most reputable dental hygienist programs or schools will be imperative. This article will provide all the details you will need to know concerning the position, and it will help you determine if you want to become a hygienist.
Services Carried Out by a Registered Dental Hygienist
To begin with, understand what the role of a dental hygienist is. It will also be vital to confirm your preferred program can adequately handle all the responsibilities and duties of a dental hygienist.
Click here for a list of accredited dental hygiene programs
In general, the following are the patient care services carried out by a hygienist in a general dental office.
- Remove tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth
- Apply sealants and fluorides for teeth protection
- Take develop dental x-rays
- Assess a patient’s oral health and report results to a dentist
- Document patient care and treatment plans
- Teach patients about optimum home dental care
It will be vital to note that the duties of a registered dental hygienist will vary depending on the state and settings of the work environment for the dental office, including the extent to which the dentist must supervise the hygienist.
Working Environment
The US Bureau of labor statistics estimates that around 94% of dental hygienists work in dentists’ offices. Many will work part-time in a practice, making it possible to work for multiple dentists simultaneously.
The other 6% are likely to work in physicians and government offices and work full time in those offices.
The working environment requires the hygienists to wear protective gear while treating patients.
Therefore, as a dental hygienist, expect to wear safety glasses, surgical masks, gloves, and other protective gear to ensure your protection against any infectious diseases.
As employees, dental hygienists are eligible for paid time off and other benefits, which vary from practice to practice.
Do You Need a Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Hygiene?
You will need an associate degree or preferably a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree may not be required unless you want to conduct research, teach, or perhaps work a clinical practice in either public or school health programs.
It will be very crucial to enroll in a good school and program for the best possible results, in addition to the quality of your bachelor’s degree. Generally, you can find dental hygiene programs in most community colleges, schools, and universities.
These programs will typically take three years to complete. Expect to study anatomy, medical ethics, and periodontics within three years, including laboratory, clinical, and classroom instruction.
To become a Registered Dental Hygienist or RDH, you will also be required to pass a licensing exam in the state you intend to practice.
There are a few essential skills you will need to excel and provide the optimal patient experience. Let’s go through them.
Critical thinking – You will be required to assess and evaluate patients continually. You must, therefore, have good necessary thinking skills to gather and analyze the information presented to you.
Communication skills – This is a vital skill in the field. As a dental hygienist, you are required to share correct information with dentists and patients. Proper oral hygiene is critical, and therefore, you must be able to communicate the right knowledge effectively.
Interpersonal skills and problem-solving skills are also among the very crucial skills you will need. As a dental hygienist, you must be considerate and empathetic when working with patients.
You must also be able to devise and implement dental health plans to achieve the best patient results. Above all, you must be a significant team player in all activities.
Job Position Outlook:
On average, the demand for the dental hygienist position will grow by 11 percent by 2028, in part because of the growing population. The demand for high-quality dental hygienists also increases as the population ages. In other words, the need to maintain and treat patients’ teeth will continue, driving demand for the full-time dental hygienist position.
Although the job postings will vary depending on your geographical location, the job is often very competitive and assessed according to your years of experience.
Useful Associations for Dental Hygienists
Some associations support you as a registered dental hygienist. These associations may also certify dental hygienists as qualified to carry out their duties to take care of patients’ teeth.
There are two leading associations, the ADHA and the ADA.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association, ADHA, is the largest, representing over 180,000 registered dental hygienists.
This association works to support any registered dental hygienist throughout their career and professional path. This dental group will help you become the best by expanding opportunities and providing the latest training and information at every job stage.
This association connects you with hygienists and educators and the latest news and research in the industry.
The American Dental Association, ADA, is a strong advocate for dental professionals and public health. They exist to support the profession of dentistry and to assist its members in advancing their skills and knowledge of dental care.
As a member, you are offered benefits such as help with provider issues and the latest clinical information you might need.
Currently, the association has over 163,000 registered dental hygienists as members.
Conclusion
If you are passionate about dental hygiene, DentalPost will help you once you have your degree and license to find the ideal position in the dental community.
Dental hygiene can be a very lucrative profession but can be very competitive as well. But help is there with DentalPost every step of the way.
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