Dental Hygiene

The healthcare field is one of the biggest and fastest growing fields in our society today.

Due to the growing older population, we need people to go into this field to care for those who

used to care for us and those who will soon replace us. Going into this field will really show an

impact on the world.

A dental hygienist is responsible for keeping a smile clean and examining the mouth for

any dangerous diseases or conditions. They work alongside a dentist to provide the best care for

their patients. Being a dental hygienist requires having certain skills. Some of these skills include

good communication, teamwork, attention to detail, and good motor skills. These abilities are

required to effectively work with your employees and your patients. If working specifically with

kids you need to be able to calm them down when they are scared. You also need to be calm in

stressful situations in order to efficiently assist the dentist.

Dental Hygienist’s do get paid a fair amount as well. The median salary in 2018 was

$74,820. The lower 25 percent earned $62,490 and the higher- paid 25 percent made $89,610.

The average does vary by where you work or your education but it will still be a good amount. In

most dental offices, a hygienist gets one patient each hour in an eight hour shift. Many hygienists

work three to four days a week and often work in more than one dental office. This is not true for

all hygienist workers but it is common. Dentists and dental hygienists do have different roles in

the office but they do compliment each other. The dentist provides the main care, he is the actual

doctor for the patient while the hygienist provides side services. The dentist handles the bigger

issues and the hygienist reports them. Teamwork is a vital skill because with this job, you are

constantly being supervised. Dental hygienists do not only work in a dental office. Job situations
can vary and there are many options. A person doing dental hygiene can work at a corporate

office, they can work to educate people, or they can focus on public health. This job is not going

to be the same for everyone but it will still be a good experience.

Educational requirements for a dental hygienist typically include an associates degree in

dental hygiene. Other degrees such as masters and bachelors are available, however they are less

common. Students going into this field are expected to take classes relating to anatomy,

physiology, chemistry, radiology, microbiology, and more. Some say that school for a dental

hygienist is harder than nursery school but if persistent, a person will get through it. Dental

hygiene programs are hard to get into so in order to get in, an application must stand out. There

are many outstanding schools that offer dental hygiene programs. Schools such as University of

Southern California, University of Michigan, and New York University have some of the best

programs and could ultimately lead to higher paying jobs. You have to persevere through college

and it might get tough but it could lead to an amazing outcome. Occasionally this job might get

stressful because you are constantly under a supervisor, but if you stay calm you will get through

the week.

Going into the general dentistry field may seem like it has some negatives but there are

also a lot of benefits. For example, there are more high demand jobs in society today, especially

in the nursing field. So going for those positions, a person might get paid more than if they were

to become a dental hygienist. However becoming a dental hygienist can allow you to gain

experience and it can lead to more advanced positions in the dentistry field. Most dentists were

initially dental assistants. This is how they enter the field. Something to motivate a person into

going into the medical field is knowing that you are making a difference and adding to this crazy
world. You could be turning around a person's day doing what you do. Being a dental hygienist,

you are taking care of a person’s smile and actually putting one on their face. You could cheer up

a child depending on your attitude in the office. A dental hygienist has the ability to teach

children how to take care of their smile and their teeth. This is truly something that could affect

the child. Having good listening and communicating skills is vital in order to take care of

patients efficiently. Some people choose to go into this field because most hygiene jobs are

flexible. This job only requires working office hours so you usually will have the rest of the day

and weekends off. It still allows you to have a successful personal life and a successful career.

Another bonus is that it does not take up half of your life going to school and the other half

paying off loans. Requirements may vary by state, but dental hygiene programs take about three

years to complete. The average total cost of an instate hygienist associate's program is $22,692.

Average cost for a bachelor's degree is $36,382 and a master's is $30,421. School costs are not

that bad compared to other degrees. Pricing may also vary by which school you go to. If you go

to an in-state school, it will obviously be cheaper than if you go to an out-of-state school. Other

careers in the healthcare field, such as working in the emergency room. It requires a lot of hours

put into it and there could be overnight shifts or weekend shifts. The pay is higher but it does

require a lot more time and dedication than dental hygiene.

Times are changing. People need help. If this could change someone's day, even one

person’s day, it is all worth it. The first thing people see when someone walks into a room is that

person’s smile. If a person has a bad smile, people would run the other way. If a person has a

good smile, they look approachable and it will spark conversation. Ultimately a smile can dictate

a person’s life, and I would love to help people take care of it.