How long do you have to go to school to be a dental hygienist? Looking for a good career? Consider becoming a dental hygienist.
They are more in demand than ever before. Dental Hygienists do more than just clean teeth.
These highly skilled professionals examine people’s mouths, necks and heads looking for signs of dental problems. The hygienist performs a range of other services.
Not only do they apply sealants including fluoride, they handle dental x-rays and teach patients about dental health and oral hygiene.
The job also requires the compiling and review of patient’s medical histories. Training to become a hygienist is an education that lasts a lifetime.
Doing well in this growing field requires learning some very specialized tasks, tools and technology. They include using accounting, medical and word processing software and handling customers, marketing and sales.
Qualifications for Dental Hygienist
There are a number of other skills involved with being a successful hygienist. Part of the training focuses on the communication skills necessary to deal with both the dentist and the patients both orally and in writing.
A skilled hygienist needs finger dexterity and the ability to hold their arms and hands steady in order to do their job thoroughly and without causing the patient pain.
But the ability to gather, document and assess information is just as important. A good hygienist must be able to handle both aspects of the job.
Often the way information is relayed to the patient can have as big an impact on the treatment outcomes as the treatment itself.
Do You Need A Degree to be A Dental Hygienist
So how long do you have to go to school to be a dental hygienist? Two to three years or more depending on where you receive your schooling. Grades also play a factor in many cases.
Some companies offer on-the-job training. People can also earn Associates, Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in this very lucrative and fast growing field.
The ideal candidate has to be a dependable, detail-oriented, flexible team player. However, the job also calls for independence, creativity and the responsible use of autonomy.
The national employment trends show a hygienist can earn hourly wage of over $30 an hour and in excess of $70,000 a year. This makes it one of the top employment growth industries.
People who enter this field can find work in several different fields. They could be employed as a registered dental hygienist, mobile dental hygiene coordinator, dental education coordinator or a pediatric dental hygienist.
If you are looking for a great career with flexible hours then maybe you should become a dental hygienist. Most schools offer financial aid if needed. Hygiene school is not that expensive either so any loans that you get won’t take 3 life times to pay back.