What Will You Learn In a Dental Hygiene Program?

---

If you’ve considered your career choices and decided to look more into dental hygiene programs, you’re probably wondering what they teach, how long they last and how they prepare you for a job. While each program varies, the skills and learning should remain the same. Let’s take a look at the basics.

Training in Dental Hygiene Programs

Think of the program you choose as a training ground for what you’ll do for your career. You’ll learn about the anatomy of the mouth, including the teeth, tongue and throat. You’ll learn how to detect and treat oral disease, and how to clean the teeth properly. Through labs and supervised clinical experience, you’ll get to practice what you learn in the classroom.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these are some of the skills you should learn in a dental hygiene program:

•Cleaning tartar, stains and plaque from teeth
•Taking and developing X-rays in the mouth
•Applying sealants and fluoride to protect teeth
•Tracking patient care and treatment plans
•Educating patients about oral hygiene

You’ll also learn about the many tools of the trade and how to use them. Dental hygienists use hand tools, power tools and ultrasonic tools to get the job done.

How Long Is Schooling?

Depending on the path you take, dental hygiene programs can run as short as two years or last as long as four years. If you pursue the two-year path, which is most common, you’ll probably look into certificate programs at a technical school or an applied sciences associate’s dental hygiene program. Both programs should include classroom and clinical study. This is a popular route because you can earn the required education quickly and begin working sooner.

The four-year route involves earning a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. While it takes longer to complete, the more involved study, particularly in clinical dental studies, sets a strong foundation for career growth and advancing your education in the field later.

How Do These Programs Prepare You for a Job?

As well as teaching you about dental hygiene and helping you gain early clinical practice, dental hygiene programs also prepare you to pass the board exams needed for licensure. While licensure requirements can vary from state to state, all dental hygienists need a license to work.

After graduating from an accredited program, you can take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Passing this test is at least one requirement for licensure, but some states also ask you to have a CPR certificate.

Dental hygiene programs can prepare you for a career field that’s growing much faster than others on average—33 percent employment growth is expected between 2012 and 2022, according to the BLS! Take your time learning in the program you choose, and ask as many questions as you can. Once you graduate and begin work, the rest of your learning comes from direct patient contact.