You can rest assured that you are in good hands when you’re seen by a registered dental hygienist. Dental hygienists are well-trained professionals who help people every day.
A Career with a Future
If you like helping people, then becoming a dental hygienist might a good career choice for you. You also have to have a strong aptitude for science and chemistry classes and the ability to work well as part of a team.
If you choose to pursue a career as a dental hygienist, you will be joining a profession with an outstanding future. The demand for “dental hygienists is projected to grow 19 percent” through the year 2014. This rate of growth is “much faster than the average for all occupations.”
There are over 183,000 dental hygienists working in America. Not all dental hygienists don’t just work in traditional dental office settings. In recent years, new opportunities for where dental hygienists can treat patients have developed in very different settings. These opportunities include:
- Clinics
- Physician’s offices
- Assisted living facilities
- Emergency room
What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?
A dental hygienist is typically very busy, and they are asked to wear several different hats. Their duties include:
- Teaching students and other groups about the importance of good dental hygiene
- Performing regular dental cleanings for patients
- Screening patients for early signs of oral cancer
- Performing office duties
- Providing preventative dentistry, including sealants and fluoride treatments.
- Taking blood pressure and monitoring patients’ oral health history
Skills Required for a Dental Hygienist
Do you have what it takes to become a dental hygienist? A dental hygienist should have these skills and aptitudes:
- Attention to detail
- Willing to speak in front of people
- Good at with your hands
- Do well in math, chemistry, and biology classes
- Prepared to occasionally take on additional tasks, such as answering phones
- Work well as part of a team
- Enjoy helping people
How to Become a Dental Hygienist
There’s three steps to becoming at dental hygienists:
- Education–You must earn your associate’s degree in hygienics, which typically requires three years of study.
- Examination–In most states, you must pass your state or regional examination in addition to passing a national exam called the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
- Licensing–After completing an AS degree and passing two demanding tests, you can apply for your dental hygienist license with your state or regional licensing agency.
A Difficult Course Load
You need to complete a rigorous course of study to become get your AA degree in hygienics, which will include the following types of classes:
- Radiology
- Dental materials
- Oral Pathology
- Pain management
- Community dental health
- Periodontics
Meet your Hygienists in Haworth
At Gentle Dentistry in Haworth, we’re proud of the way our exceptional dental hygienists serve our patients every day. In fact, our whole team is outstanding.
If you’re thinking about restoring your smile with dental implants, we’d love to meet you. Get in touch with us today to arrange your consultation with Dr. Spector. Your new smile is waiting for you.