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Dental Hygienist Career

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Dental Hygienist Career
Dental Hygienists are the people that are there for others to rely on even though the job can be stressful, and sometimes physically demanding. Even with these negative factors if someone is passionate about the job they should continue to study the profession. In order to understand what it takes to become a dental hygienist one has to comprehend the core tasks, employment outlook, education requirements, and the job salary.
Examining teeth and gums visually and with x-rays to find tooth decay and gum disease, reporting problems to the dentist, scraping hard built-up material off of teeth, polishing the patients’ teeth, keeping track of patients’ dental records, and giving advice on preventive dental care are …show more content…
Hygienists present treatment and cost to the patient, they give oral hygiene instructions, order supplies, prepare lab cases, ensure all equipment is in proper working order, and keep all operatories clean and follow the OSHA regulations in regards to infection control (Callahan). Hygienists are often supervised by dentists throughout the day, and sometimes they are required to supervise the dental assistants. The average workday for a hygienist is between seven and eight hours, overtime is fairly rare. Most dental hygienists work about twenty to forty hours per week. “The number of days that a hygienist might work each week varies depending on the place of employment” (Welcome). A part-time hygienist could work as little as …show more content…
Usually to become a dental hygienist it takes an associate's degree or certificate, but a bachelor’s degree can improve your chances of finding work. “After graduating from an accredited program, you must be licensed by your state. This generally involves passing both a clinical exam and a written exam” (Welcome). Johnson County Community College offers a program for future dental hygienists. The program consists of eighty-credit-hours and is fully accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. “JCCC’s state-of-the-art clinical facility is under the supervision of licensed dental hygienists and dentists” (Dental Hygiene). Another school that offers a fully accredited program for hygienists is Wichita State University. Although a little more expensive, the school offers a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene and a hands-on learning experience. “The major focus of dental hygiene care emphasizes assessment of patients' needs; development of a comprehensive treatment plan based on individual or group needs and ultimately delivery and evaluation of this plan” (Webmaster). With this education pathway one should be ready to gain experience from their

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