How to Become a Dental Hygienist: The Ultimate Guide
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Dental hygienists are healthcare professionals who perform routine dental cleanings and assist patients with maintaining oral health. To become a dental hygienist, you need to meet the education and licensure requirements. Candidates should also have the right demeanor and qualities to succeed in the field. Understanding the requirements will help those interested in this profession start their careers.
Dental hygienists are professionals that perform a variety of healthcare procedures related to oral health. They work under the supervision of a dentist.?
They have high wages, flexible schedules and training programs that help them prepare for a successful career.
Learn more about what a dental hygienist does, the requirements to become one and the benefits of working in this profession.?
What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?
Dental hygienists play a huge role in patient comfort and health at the dental clinic. They support the dentist and perform some of the most important duties to ensure patients have a well-rounded experience.?
Important Qualities for Dental Hygienists?
Dental hygienists should have exceptional critical thinking skills to assess patients and collaborate on oral health treatment plans. They also need to possess excellent communication skills to clearly explain procedures to patients.
Other qualities that a dental hygienist may need include:
This career involves working with patients from all backgrounds, including those that may have poor oral health. Dental hygienists must remain professional in these cases and commit to always helping patients with their oral hygiene.?
Benefits of Becoming a Dental Hygienist
A major benefit of choosing dental hygiene as a career path is flexibility. Dental hygienists may work full-time or part-time, at multiple locations or one location and even with a customized schedule. All these possibilities help create a healthy work-life balance.?
Another benefit is the salary, which is higher than other careers with similar education and background requirements.?
How much do dental hygienists make? The median salary for a dental hygienist in the US was $77,810 in 2021.?
A few of the other main benefits of being a dental hygienist include:
Education Requirements for Dental Hygienists
If dental hygiene seems like an interesting career, the first step is to consider the education requirements.?
A dental hygienist needs at least an associate degree in dental hygiene (DH). Candidates need to meet minimum requirements to earn admission into an associate degree program, such as earning a high school diploma or GED.?
Using another route, candidates can potentially begin as dental assistants and then go on to become a dental hygienist says job coach and LinkedIn Learning author, Christine Alexander in her course on the top entry-level healthcare jobs.
All states in the US require a dental hygienist’s license, which you cannot obtain without an associate degree.
To become a licensed dental hygienist, students need to complete an accredited dental hygiene program covering:
Along with classroom experience, these programs offer supervised clinical experience to obtain hands-on practice in the field.?
Dental hygienists that decide to pursue other opportunities will need more education. Typically, these positions would require at least a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. However, a master’s degree (or even a doctorate) in dental hygiene may be necessary for certain roles, such as:
The specific admission requirements for a dental hygiene program depend on the school and program type.
How Long Does It Take To Become a Dental Hygienist?
You can expect to spend two to four years in school to become a dental hygienist. But this depends on which level of education within the industry you pursue, as associate degrees take less time than bachelor’s degrees.
After the educational program, students will need their license to practice within the state. In almost all states, candidates must do the following before applying for licensure:
Students should contact the licensing authority in their state to learn more about this process.
Once a candidate has their license, they are free to start working as a dental hygienist. If that person decides to pursue another degree after licensure, they may do so while working if they maintain their license within the state where they practice.?
?How to Find and Apply for Dental Hygienist Jobs
When it is time to search for a dental hygienist job, there are several routes to take. The most popular option in the modern age is to search for open positions on popular job search sites, such as LinkedIn.?
Some websites are specific to the dentistry field, including DentalPost or iHireDental. The American Dental Hygienists Association Career Center is another option to narrow the search even more.?
It is acceptable to start looking at available options while waiting for licensure exam scores if employers know that you cannot practice until you obtain your license.
When starting the search, consider the following factors:
Always check the resume formatting before applying to a role. It should have no errors and showcase high-quality skills related to the profession. Research common interview questions and answers (and practice responses) before attending any interviews.
Final Thoughts on Becoming a Dental Hygienist
There are many opportunities for advancement with higher education and greater experience. Additionally, the increase in job opportunities and competitive wages in the field (even as a beginner) make it an attractive field to consider.?
Being a dental hygienist takes great dedication and care, as it puts you in a position to educate and positively impact others. People who love working with their community are ideal candidates for a career in dental hygiene.
Top Takeaways
How to become a dental hygienist
(Reporting by NPD)