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Guide to College Majors in Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting


What is Dental Hygiene?

Dental hygiene is the healthy maintenance of the mouth, teeth, and gums by brushing, flossing, and regularly visiting the dentist. A dental hygienist typically works in a dentist's office and assists patients with maintaining proper dental hygiene. A dental assistant usually works in the front of the dentist's office, greeting patients, making appointments, and ensuring appropriate record-keeping.

Dental hygienists examine a patient's teeth and gums and record their findings. They clean, polish, and remove deposits from the teeth. Dental hygienists also are responsible for taking radiographs, or X-rays. Dental hygienists work closely with dentists, gathering information from the patient for the dentist's assessment. Dentists use the data to diagnose problems and determine treatments.

Dental hygienists are responsible for educating patients on dental hygiene techniques. They teach patients how to properly brush and floss and how to prevent gum disease. Dental hygienists see patients of all ethnicities and backgrounds and must be able to communicate well with them.

Because small tools are used to clean and examine teeth, dental hygienists must work well with their hands. In addition to the cleaning and examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums, dental hygienists are often responsible for cleaning a patient's mouth after the dentist puts in a filling. Hygienists commonly polish fillings and scrape cement from the tooth that has been filled.

Becoming a Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists must complete a minimum of two years of school, usually earning an associate's degree or a certification. To receive a dental hygienist's license, graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program is required. All dental hygienists in the United States must be licensed by the state in which they practice. Dental hygienists in Canada must be licensed by their province or territory.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dental hygienists enjoy excellent job prospects. Patient rosters are increasing as more Americans get older and invest in dental care. Dentists require more dental hygienists to take care of routine cleanings and examinations and more dental assistants to handle logistics.

Graduates of dental hygiene programs typically become dental hygienists, but they are not limited to that career path. Dental hygienists sometimes transition to careers in sales, using their experience in the dental field to help them sell dental equipment and supplies.

Dental hygienists can also become health educators. They may teach dental hygiene to students in elementary and secondary schools. Many colleges and universities have added dental hygiene workshops to their orientation and first-year programs. Health education opportunities also exist in community organizations and government positions.

Though dental hygienists typically work in a dentist's office, a degree in dental hygiene can also create opportunities for careers in a variety of work environments. Regardless of the career path chosen, a degree in dental hygiene offers the rewarding opportunity to assist people in maintaining good health and healthy habits.

Career Education in Dental Hygiene & Dental Assisting

Certificates, Diplomas and Degree Programs
Dental hygienists typically complete a two-year program that awards an associate's degree or certification. These programs usually require both general education courses and courses specific to the field of dental hygiene. General education courses important to dental hygiene degrees include college-level algebra, biology, and chemistry. Courses specific to dental hygiene may include dental pharmacology, radiography, and periodontology.

A Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene is typically a four-year program. As with an associate's degree, the bachelor's degree emphasizes general education courses as well as courses specific to dental hygiene. Oral anatomy, hygiene theory, and cleaning techniques are courses common to the bachelor's degrees in dental hygiene.

Students entering a bachelor's degree program are required to have a high school diploma or equivalent, but many dental hygienists with an associate's degree or certification enter the bachelor's degree programs to expand their clinical expertise and help advance their careers. With a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene, a dental hygienist may qualify to become a health educator or work in healthcare management. Many hygienists are increasingly choosing to earn their bachelor's degrees online, in completion programs designed for associate's degree holders who have already completed their clinical requirements.

Undergraduate dental hygiene programs usually require some clinical education in addition to coursework. Students earn hands-on experience with patients while working in a supervised environment. This clinical experience is helpful when taking the licensing examinations required of dental hygienists.

Graduate degrees in the field of dental hygiene are typically two-year programs and are completed after the bachelor's degree. They emphasize research, but also require coursework. Common graduate courses in dental hygiene include healthcare management, lab instruction, and clinical instruction. A graduate degree in the dental hygiene field creates the potential for careers in healthcare management, teaching, or faculty positions in dental hygiene programs and schools.

Dental Assisting
The dental assistant performs fewer clinical duties, and does not require certification as a dental hygienist. Though assistants do often perform basic patient care duties, such as polishing teeth and processing x-rays, their primary tasks involve handling paperwork and office logistics. Most dental assistants can get the training they need with on-campus or online certificate programs. Dental assisting is a solid, steady job with bright prospects, and also a good way to get your foot in the door of the workforce if you would like to work towards a dental hygiene career later on.

What can you do with a College Degree in Dental Hygiene?

Career options for aspiring dental health professionals

Pursue your Dental Hygiene major today.

Strayer University

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Northcentral University - Online

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