Pursuing a Career as a Dental Hygienist
Job Description
Dental hygienists work in assistant dentists with such duties as cleaning patients' teeth and teaching them good dental hygiene. You may also take and develop dental x-rays, carve fillings, or apply sealants to teeth. In some states, dental hygienists also administer local anesthetics. You will administer diagnostic tests that the dentist will use to determine a patient treatment plan. Working as a dental hygienist, you will need to take proper safety precautions against disease and injuries. Administering dental x-rays requires the use of safety glasses, gloves and surgical masks.
Salary and Job Outlook
As dentists' work loads increase, the need for dental hygienists and dental assistants will continue to grow. The occupation is expected to have a faster than normal growth rate. The median salary in 2008 for dental hygienists was $66,570 with earnings varying from $44,180 to $91,470 yearly. Earnings will vary based upon experience and geographic location. In 2008, there were 174,100 dental hygienists in the United States.
Education
A minimum of an associate's degree or dental hygienist certification is required to begin working as a dental hygienist. To work in public or school health programs, a bachelor's or master's degree may be required. Dental hygienists are licensed as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) to administer dental hygiene care and treatment by the state in which they work. Most states also require a passing score on the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination.
Some schools specializing in Dental Hygiene Degrees include the University of Phoenix, Walden University, Penn Foster Career School, Saint Leo University and Boston University.
Sources:
How Do I Become a Registered Dental Assistant?
Published by Janet Hunt - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance
Janet Hunt is a freelance writing professional specializing in business and finance. She has published articles for such online publication sites as Demand Studios, Associated Content, and various other onli... View profile
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17 Comments
Post a CommentGood article that might help someone decide on learning the skill.
Well done. don't think I'd like poking around in mouths all day, though.
My daughter-in-law is doing this right now.
Thanks... my brother is interested in this, so I'll share your excellent info with him.
This sounds like a most unattractive job, lol! But a good one!
Great series indeed!
Keep this great series going!
Good info!
Good information.
Excellent and very well written.