A large number of high school graduates these days are looking to pursue dental hygienist training due to the flexible work schedule that can be enjoyed by a dental hygienist. As a specialist in preventative oral health care, a dental hygienist has the option of working full or part-time, in the evenings or only on weekends.
Recent surveys suggest that most dental hygienists only work part-time – amounting to less that 35 hours per week. Dental hygienists also have the freedom to work in more than one dental office. This is due to the fact that dentists usually hire hygienists for only two or three days in a week. Dental hygienists are often seen working side-by-side with dentists, cleaning teeth and educating patients on how to best care for their teeth and gums before and after dental appointments.
A prospective dental hygienist can best prepare themselves for formal training by studying the right subjects at high school. You must have a high school diploma and college entrance test scores in order to join a dental hygiene school. Those looking to pursue dental hygienist training will have preferably studied subjects like biology, chemistry, and mathematics in their senior high school years. In some states it is mandatory for applicants to have completed at least 1 year of college. Though it varies from one school to another, you may sometimes expect specific entrance requirements to join the training program.
Trainees in dental hygienist programs you will learn a variety of skills enabling you to know how to collect information about a patient's oral and medical health history. You will be taught to examine teeth and gums as well as inspect the neck and head to find out if there are any abnormalities or other health problems. You will become skilled in the use a diverse set of tools such as hand and rotary instruments and ultrasonic devices to clean and polish teeth, including removing calculus, stains and plaque (hard as well as soft) from all surfaces of the teeth. You will learn to apply preventative materials like fluorides and sealants and fluorides to the teeth. You will be taught to use x-ray machines, to take dental pictures, and also how to develop the film.
In certain states, trainees are also taught to place and remove filling material, temporary fillings and periodontal dressings. They are taught the art of smoothing and polishing metal restorations, preparing clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests to be interpreted by the dentist. You also learn how to administer anesthetics before a major oral surgery is undertaken by the main dental surgeon.
Most dental hygienist courses grant an associate dental hygienist degree, although some also offer a certificate, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. A minimum of an associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene is generally required for practice in a private dental office
Once your training is complete you will need to apply for a formal license in order to work in a particular state, depending on the local laws. You will have to demonstrate that you have passed both a written and clinical examination. The written examination is conducted by the American Dental Association’s Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, which is accepted by all states and the District of Columbia.
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