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Are you obsessed with beautiful teeth?

A woman inspecting her teeth in mirror.

Maybe you're meant to be a dental hygienist.

When I was a teenager, I was borderline obsessive about my smile. I admired the beautiful teeth of others and loved going to the dentist. If this is you and you're trying to decide on a career, you may want to become a dental hygienist.

Why study dental hygiene?

Dental hygienists play an essential role in their patient's oral health by removing plaque and tartar, examining for oral diseases such as gum disease, and offering personalized oral hygiene instruction.

Because there is a direct connection between our mouths and our overall health, as a hygienist, you'll join a medical field capable of educating patients about more than just their oral health. You may even be able to save a life.

Cat saying 'Wait What?'

How is that possible?

According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, "close to 58,500 Americans will be diagnosed with oral oropharyngeal cancer this year." As a trained dental hygienist, you'll be able to find early-stage oral cancer, potentially saving a life.

Other reasons to study dental hygiene:

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  • Love for science

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  • High paying salary

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  • Ability to help others

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  • Flexible schedules

Did you know?

US News & World Report ranked dental hygiene #24 of the "100 Best Jobs of 2024".

What will you learn from a dental hygiene program?

There’s more to dental hygiene than just cleaning teeth.

Most areas require a certification or a college degree in dental hygiene in order to become a hygienist. You can expect to focus a lot of your attention on the sciences.

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General education courses may include:

  • Psychology

  • Communication

  • Nutrition

  • Sociology

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Science courses may include:

  • Biology

  • Microbiology

  • Organic chemistry

  • Physiology

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Dental hygiene courses may include:

  • Patient management

  • Oral health education

  • Community health

  • Charting

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Dental science courses may include:

  • Head & neck anatomy

  • Oral pathology

  • Pharmacology

  • Radiology

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Clinical practice may include:

  • Oral cancer screenings

  • Periodontal assessments

  • Infection control

  • Instrumentation

Did you know?

Most dental hygiene programs take 2-4 years to complete.

Roles of the Dental Hygienist

Your friend asks you why you want to clean teeth, and you explain that you'll do more than that as a dental hygienist. What are other examples of how you will help patients in the dental office?

A

If I detect many cavities, I will explain to my patient how their eating habits affect their teeth and offer healthy alternatives.

B

When I discover cavities in my patients' teeth, I place fillings and refer them to the dentist if they need a crown.

C

I will examine my patient's neck, face, throat, and mouth, checking for abnormal lymph nodes, sores, or discoloration. Sometimes, I will be the first to discover early cancer.

D

While checking for gum disease, I look for areas of bone loss around teeth. If I find a problem area, I can explain the gum disease to my patient and offer suggestions on how to slow down or stop the disease.

Quiz

Choose all that apply:

What career path can you follow?

A dental hygienist working on patient.

If you think you'd enjoy working directly with patients, then you could become a clinician, working as a hygienist in a dental office, hospital, school, or other community health program. In fact, in some locations, you can even own your own dental hygiene business.

A woman in lab coat. She is excited to be in scientific laboratory

For those who find the science behind dentistry fascinating, hygienists can enter the field of education and research. Hygienists have the opportunity to become instructors, administrators, and even researchers at universities.

Did you know?

According to the US News & World Report, "Dental hygienists made a median salary of $81,400 in 2022. The best-paid 25% made $96,870 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $75,100".

How should you prepare for a dental hygiene program?

  • Earn a high school diploma.

  • Consider shadowing a dental hygienist. Ask your local dentist if they'd allow you to observe one of the hygienists in the office for a few hours. This will give you the opportunity to see the routine the hygienist follows with each patient and ask questions as they come to you.

A computer screen showing 'dental hygiene programs near me'.

  • Research accredited dental hygiene programs. Most areas require hygienists to graduate from an accredited program before taking the dental boards for licensure.

  • Determine if you can afford it.Dental programs can be costly, so you'll need a plan to pay for your education. Scholarships and grants are an option to consider.

Quiz

So, you want to study dental hygiene. Now what? Choose all that apply:

How can you succeed in a dental hygiene program?

Many are surprised by the rigors of dental hygiene programs. To succeed, you must remain committed to your education and keep your eye on the prize. A student in graduation cap and gown doing a happy dance.

The keys to success

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Be organized:

You'll want strong organizational skills from the start. Invest in a planner and block out time for classes, studying, and clinicals.

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Be teachable:

Keep an open mind. Much of what you'll learn may seem foreign to you at first. Allow yourself to wrap your brain around new concepts and terminology.

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Make connections:

Connect with your peers. Participating in small study groups and befriending others in your program will prove invaluable. Knowing others are experiencing the same challenges will help give you the strength to continue.

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Use your resources:

A smart student takes advantage of the resources offered by their school. Check-in with your professors during their visiting hours, attend study sessions, and take full advantage of whatever is offered.

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Stay positive:

Stay positive and remind yourself why you chose dental hygiene in the first place. Don't quit because it gets difficult, or you'll never know what it feels like to succeed.

Quiz

Andi is struggling in the dental anatomy class. What can they do to help themself? Choose all that apply:

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License:

This Byte has been authored by

KB

Katrina B

Instructional Designer

AAS, BS, MS

English

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