What does a dental hygienist do? On a typical day a dental hygienist works closely with the dentist and is responsible for a variety of tasks, A dental hygienist’s daily job description can include:
- Performing dental cleanings
- Taking and developing dental x-rays
- Filing patient records to track care and treatment
- Preparing diagnostic tests as requested by the dentist
- Applying sealants or fluoride
Going to the dentist can be quite a nerve-wracking experience. But, if you’re an excellent dental hygienist, you can alleviate some of those emotional roller-coaster moments with your warm bedside manner and your friendly smile. A dental hygienist must show compassion and have strong interpersonal skills; they work with people on a daily basis. Personal and professional growth will come from the relationships made between the dental staff and patients.
How to Become a Dental Hygienist (Career Path)
There are two different ways to become a dental hygienist. You can choose to go through an associate degree program or get a bachelor’s degree. Make sure any program you choose is accredited. Otherwise, you won’t be eligible for licensing.
- Graduate high school or get your GED.
- Apply and be accepted to an accredited program, whether it’s for an associate or bachelor’s degree.
- Get licensed through the American Dental Association’s Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
- Start your career!
A dental hygienist program will include classes like:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Nutrition
- Radiography
- Periodontology
Dental Hygienist Salary and Job Outlook
A pretty good perk with dental hygiene is that you can choose if you want to work full or part-time. You can decide which suits your lifestyle. As a top-paying trade career, the median full time salary is $76,220 per year. And, dental hygiene has faster than average career growth, at a projected 6 percent growth rate from 2019 to 2029.
Reference: