Today's Dental Hygienist

Working as a dental hygienist is one of the most rewarding, exciting and flexible careers out there, and the job market has never looked better. From advising patients on oral health to cleaning teeth and administering local anesthetic, there are virtually limitless opportunities to explore in this awesome and ever changing career.

While each state has their own requirements for licensure, there are come common threads and generalities that can be helpful in deciding if this may be a good career choice to look into. Most states require board administered licensing examinations, and the most common educational track to take to prepare for this test is through an Associates degree.

Many schools offer Bachelor’s programs, but both routes are considered as entry points into the field, and are equally beneficial. Four year degree programs offer a broader range of options in peripheral aspects of the field, but the skills and scope of practice are the same either way. In each case, this is one of the most popular degree programs available, and many offer flexible scheduling and competitive tuition rates, making it highly accessible for working adults.

The job outlook for dental hygienists for the next few years is excellent, and this field is expected to grow much faster than others. Additionally, with the new healthcare legislation coming into effect, the effects on the dental industry is expected to be enormous. This is one of the main reasons that this is a very attractive career choice for many busy adults who like working with and caring for people.

Most hygienists work in dental offices and take care of a wide range of responsibilities, depending on the state they work in. Most commonly, they clean and treat teeth, interpret x-rays, offer nutritional and oral care advise, and do a wide range of tasks the dentist requires. Some states allow hygienists to examine the mouth for disease as well as providing after care for patients.

One of the most flexible jobs out there, nearly half of all hygienists work part time, and many work outside of the office in various capacities. Additionally, hygienists enjoy good salaries, ranging form about $30,000 a year to start with no experience to over $90,000 in some cases, depending on degree and experience earned. It is a fast growing and continually evolving field, as well as one that is highly competitive.

Dental hygiene is one of the fastest growing sectors of the workforce, and projected estimates state that this trend will continue in force for the better part of the decade. As a result of the popularity of this exciting and challenging field, there are many colleges and universities that offer either Associate’s or Bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene in addition to advanced graduate programs as well.

The big difference between the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs are that the two year degrees are geared for preparing students to begin a career as a hygienist. This is by far the most popular and accessible route students choose to take, however there are some distinct advantages to earning a Bachelor’s as well.

The main reason students choose the four year degree track is to prepare them to pursue niche areas or do enter into graduate studies to prepare them for a host of professional opportunities outside of the dental office. This can include teaching, researching and administering oral care programs in public health settings.

For graduates just entering the field, both degrees are entry points for careers in the dental industry. Salaries for either degree are about the same, and much of the compensation will be based on experience and capabilities more than the degree itself.

Most programs will have basic courses in chemistry, anatomy and biology in addition to other general education requirements such as composition and social sciences. For degree specific information, it is important to contact each school individually as their programs may differ from one another.

However, many common courses will include introductions into oral hygiene and the basic fundamental concepts and practices. Additional courses will include topics such as community dental health, aerodonetics, ethics and reviewing dental literature. These are just some of the basic courses, and they do not include the clinical hours that most states require in addition to class-work. Each state differs in their requirements and procedures, so check with your local regulatory agency or school for more specific information.

Becoming a dental hygienist is the beginning of a rewarding and exciting career in the oral care field, and the job market looks stable and secure, and compensation and benefits are comparably better than many other degrees today. Many schools offer various scheduling options and course layouts, but most of the content is the same. Choosing the right one will have a lot to do with your schedule, lifestyle and learning preferences, but there are many opportunities out there to explore in this exciting and rewarding field.

Despite a sluggish and uncertain economy, the United States Bureau Of Labor Statistics estimates that the field of dental hygiene will experience above average growth during the next few years. Additionally, a healthy mean salary of about 60k a year makes it not just a stable profession, but a nicely compensated one as well.

With the enormous increase of patients expected as a result of recent healthcare legislation, the field of dental hygiene is expected to continue to evolve into new and exciting areas as more opportunities emerge to make the system more efficient and cost effective. Part of this will mean that hygienists will be able to apply their skills in new and amazing ways.

There are already states that allow hygienists to have a wide scope of practice, including interpreting x-rays, making molds, doing research, applying local anesthesia, checking for oral cancer and disease. This is on top of the more traditional roles of educating patients on proper oral care as well as performing cleanings. These roles vary from state to state, but as the field continues to grow, the role and importance of dental hygienists will continue to grow.

Most hygienists work in dental offices, acting as an extension of the dentist, fulfilling a wide range of responsibilities. However, there are many that work in community health settings, research, education and advocacy. Because the field is so flexible, there are a wide range of employment options to choose from, and even though it can be a competitive field, there are plenty of jobs available.

In terms of flexibility, dental hygienists have very flexible schedules and career paths to choose from, and this is one of the big attractions toward the industry. Because of the good pay hygienists receive, many work part-time and have great control over their schedules and availability. In fact, nearly half of all dental hygienists work part-time instead of full time hours. Additionally, the diversity in the field overall provides a fantastic platform to carve out a niche to explore and develop.

But, the fundamental role of hygienists still rests on patient contact and care. This includes anything from cleaning teeth to applying fluoride treatments and checking for oral cancer. In other cases, it can mean working with patients in explaining and teaching proper oral care techniques.

As the market continues to look positive, there will be an increased demand for licensed and qualified professionals, and course offerings and educational choice are expected to continue to increase as well. For anyone that likes to make a difference and is gifted with caring for people, this can be one of the best career choices to make and offers a world of opportunity, especially now as the field continues to grow.

Dental hygienist schools are plentiful and offer similar programs tailored to prepare students for the dynamic and exciting world of dentistry. From cleaning teeth to consulting and educating patients on proper oral health to interpreting x-rays, the work of a dental hygienist encompasses a vast array of different elements.

Finding the right school depends on the needs of the student, their location and what they are looking for in an education. Some schools offer online degree programs while others are attended on campus in traditional classroom and clinical settings. Some schools offer four year degree programs, while the most accessible and common is the AAS degree in dental hygiene.

Due to the popularity of this field, and its better than average starting salaries and career outlook, many students opt for the two year degree program which introduces them to all the skills they will need to mater to sit for the licensing exam. Also, most programs include coursework in science, biology, chemistry, statistics and psychology.

Some Universities offer four year degree programs as well, but they are not as common, and many students pick this track if they are planning on continuing their studies and earning an advanced degree.

For most situations, starting salaries as well as job responsibilities are the same for someone entering the field with a Bachelor’s or an Associate’s degree. Whether a four year university or a two year college, most students will have similar curriculum and hands on training, since the state doesn’t differentiate.

In either situation, the school will prepare students to sit for the state licensing examination, so much of the decisions involved with choosing the best one involves the needs of the student. Many programs can be found online or in accelerated formats on campus that are designed for busy adults, while there are an abundance of brick and mortar educational opportunities available as well.

Students looking for an exciting and well paying career in a stable and growing field should consider dental hygienist schools. From expedited certification programs to better than average starting salaries, the projected demand for more hygienists is making it one of the most accessible and preferred degree options for busy adult to look at.

Becoming a dental hygienist is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a varied, exciting and hands on profession with a wide range of responsibilities and duties. Depending on location, level of education and the office, a hygienist can earn anywhere from 30k a year to nearly 100k for those with extensive experience and advanced degrees.

Location plays the biggest role in determining salaries, and for the most part, higher salaries will correlate with areas that have high cost of living. Additionally, since each state ultimately sets the standards regarding what hygienists can and cannot do, salaries based on job responsibility and scope of practice vary according to location as well.

However, the mean salary is about $60,000 a year, or about 20-25 dollars an hour, plus benefits. Benefits range from practice to practice, but generally they are considered well above average and are a big attraction for many who are working in the field. Incidentally, about half of all hygienists work part time, and good benefits are especially attractive for part time employees that are considered as part of a well stocked salary package industry wide.

Salaries vary depending on education and scope of practice as well. Most states require an Associates degree or better in order to take the licensing examination, and those who earn a Bachelor’s degree may have more options in terms of customizing a career track. However, both degrees are entry points into the profession and starting salaries often take into account experience more than education.

But, many students prefer to continue their education as they gain experience in the field and develop their own preferences and areas of expertise. There are graduate programs available that will enable students to expand their horizons and work in varied capacities, including dental education. Salaries are higher in situations such as these, but positions can be competitive.

Because the field is expected to grow at a faster than average rate, salaries are projected to remain consistent and stable over the next few years. As more and more people take advantage of the new health-care legislation in the next couple of years, it is expected to only improve career prospects and diversity for those in the field, which will translate to good salaries and benefits as well as career advancement.