The dental hygienist career is one of the jobs that offers excellent salaries with an annual income that averages at about $50, 000. This career is very promising and offers flexible time where you can balance your family life and career.
A dental hygienist provides dental care, teaches clients to follow good oral hygiene, examines the patient's teeth, removes deposits from the teeth, examines the patient's gums and does the recordings of diseases and abnormalities that can be found in teeth and gums. It is their job to help their clients develop and maintain good oral health.
Other dental hygienist jobs vary by state because in some areas, dental hygienists are allowed to perform other tasks like administering local anesthetics, placing and carving filling materials, periodontal dressings, removing sutures and polishing metal restorations. In some areas these tasks are not allowed to be performed by a dental hygienist.
There are a lot of dental hygienist job openings found on different websites and through job searches, but in order to achieve the benefits of this profession, one must know how to be a great dental hygienist. The following are helpful tips and steps to fulfill this dream and become a great dental hygienist.
- Get the proper education. The basic requirement for attaining a dental hygienist degree is a 2 year dental hygienist education. Most of the subjects included in this degree are anatomy, material science, periodontology, clinical studies, oral anatomy and many more. There are dental hygiene programs that require you to complete at least one year of college. Requirements to dental hygiene programs typically vary at different schools. It is important to get a proper education when becoming a dental hygienist.
- Get a license. To be able to practice this profession, you must be licensed by the State where you will be working. Almost all states require candidates to be licensed. It is a written and clinical examination which is administered by the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. There are also States that require examinations pertaining to legal aspects of dental hygiene practice. Having the license provides confidence and trust in you and your patients in the practice of your profession and gives you access to more dental hygienist jobs.
- Get a higher education. Specialization in dental hygiene requires training ranging from 4 to 6 year degrees in dental hygiene. For advanced dental hygiene practitioners, certain outlined levels of training have to be taken. To become a great dental hygienist you have to constantly update your level of learning, constancy, study and having excellent motor and people skills. With these you will not easily get dental hygienist jobs anywhere but will become successful in this chosen profession. Advancement of the career can also provide you with opportunities like teaching, working in a company or in public health. Some would go for master's degree in dental hygiene in order to be successful and known in their chosen profession.
- Expand your tasks. Some hygienists perform different tasks depending on the state. Some hygienists make diagnoses and prepare laboratory and clinical diagnostic tests for dentists. This expansion of tasks lets a hygienist work alongside with dentists during the treatment of patients. Working with dentists and learning from them makes you a great dental hygienist. With these experiences you will easily find dental hygienist jobs and employment opportunities.
- Have a clean working place. The work environment of hygienist should be clean, in order and well lighted. You should adhere to the proper health procedures and safeguards in performing your job. It is important to impress your clients, make them feel comfortable and convenient. As dental hygienist you should also protect yourself from infectious diseases and from neck injuries from long periods of sitting while working.
