Overview of Dental Hygienist Job Description

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As a dental hygienist, you are going to work in the office of a dentist and your training will include concepts, skills and techniques regarding the dental care domain. If you want to become a dental hygienist, you should know that your main duty would be to clean the teeth of patients and teach them how to maintain the proper dental hygiene. If you’re interested in a healthcare job and if you like working with people, then this might be a great profession for you.

Short Overview

Licensed dentists always supervise the dental hygienists, and they cannot perform a dentist’s procedures. They will focus on helping patients keep their gums and teeth clean. The dental assistants will work closely with the dentists, but a dental hygienist is able to see patients on his or her own. He or she will work directly with patients, so great communication skills are a must.

The Duties of a Dental Hygienist

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states the following responsibilities for a dental hygienist: cleaning teeth, providing preventive dental care and examining the patients to see if they have any oral diseases. The duties of this professional vary depending on the clinic that hired him. A dental hygienist will also remove the plaque, stains and tartar from the teeth, and polish the teeth of the patient. They can also screen the patients and educate them towards using the appropriate flossing and brushing techniques. Other additional tasks related to dental hygiene are removing stitches, maneuvering the mental tooth components, sculpting the materials that are going to fill the cavities, and administering anesthesia.

The salary you will receive for these duties is pretty rewarding. So, the average salary for a dental hygienist is $70,210. Moreover, by 2020, the average job growth for this profession will be 28%.

Requirements for Becoming a Dental Hygienist

If you want to practice dental hygiene in the U.S., you will have to get a license released by the state you want to work in. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association reports that most states will require you to complete an accredited degree program before getting the licensure. In some states, you will also have to pass a region or state exam or pass a national exam.

When it comes to education, if you want to be a dental hygienist, you must complete an accredited program offered by universities, vocational schools or community colleges. You choose from various degrees: master, bachelor or associate degree or a certificate. The associate’s degree in dental hygiene is the most common degree for hygienists.

This program lasts 2 years and will include courses such as pharmacology, anatomy, clinical sciences, chemistry or physiology. The Commission on Dental Accreditation has approved almost 270 dental hygiene trainings and programs. In order to be accepted in a dental hygiene program, you need a high school diploma. At the same time, the prerequisites include courses like health, biology, math and chemistry. Before applying for various bachelor’s degree programs, you might need to have completed 2 years in a junior college. Finally, in order to become a fully licensed dental hygienist, you will have to pass the national Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a local dental hygiene test.