Dental Hygienist Essay

Have you ever been at the dentist and heard “Healthy teeth are happy teeth”? Many people refrain from engaging in conversation and smiling because they are unhappy with their teeth. There are a vast number of reasons why people do not seek proper dental treatment. Some people don’t go to the dentist because they fear the visit will be painful or they just have Dentohobia witch is an intense fear of going to the dentist. I feel as if Dental hygiene is the ideal career for me this is my chosen path. The combination of a team oriented environment and helping patients with their oral health and having flexible work hours is what has brought me to this career. A career as a dental hygienist offers a wide range of challenges. In the dental office,

Hygienists must also be licensed in the state in which they practice. Requirements for licensure vary from state to state, but generally include successful completion of an accredited entry-level program, successful completion of the written National Dental Hygiene Board examination, a state or regional clinical examination and a state jurisprudence and ethics examination. Almost all accredited dental hygiene programs minimally offer an associate degree in science or an associate degree in applied science. Applicants to an associate degree granting institution usually complete mandatory pre-requisite coursework prior to beginning the dental hygiene program. Graduates of a four-year college or university are granted a baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene. According to the American Dental Hygienists Association, there are more than 330 dental hygiene programs offered in the U.S. Most hygienists have at least an associate degree, but some get bachelor's degrees in dental hygiene – and even master's degrees to further their careers. To practice, dental hygienists also have to obtain a state license. The requirements vary state-to-state, most require graduation from an accredited program and the completion of a written and practical exam. Many of the courses you take in a dental hygiene program will be applicable for a dental program, and the training and experience could help when sitting for the Dental Acceptance Test to gain admission to dental school. But working as a dental hygienist isn't a shortcut to becoming a dentist. Hygienists who choose to pursue a D.D.S will still have the same length of study plus years of residency, even if they have a professional background in