What does it take to be a Dental Hygienist? As if scraping plaque and tartar off of teeth isn't fun enough, there is more to the job than you think. According to Jada A. Grave on Money.usnews.com, the main idea about this subject is the understood tasks of a general dental hygienist. Dental hygienist focus mainly on the preventive care of dental hygiene rather than the damage already caused. They also educate and inform the patients of the best over-the-counter medicines for their pains, and speak to them about flossing and brushing habits to prevent future damages to the teeth and gums. A dental hygienist's main purposes are completing dental prophylaxis, screening oral cancer and radiographic research, and charting the conditions of decay and disease of the patients. In conclusion, Pam Quinones, a registered dental hygienist with more than 30 years of experience and the past president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association says, “When we see a patient’s health improve, we know we have done our job, and hopefully encouraged a lifetime of good health habits.” The duties of a dental hygienist can be stressful, they begin by preparing the treatment room for the patient by protocols. Then, they prepare the patient for the dental work by seating the patient and discussing any questions or concerns the patient has for visiting that day. The hygienist then proceeds to sterlizing, sharpening, and arranging the instruments depending on what is needed due to the patient's oral health. The hygienist then detects any diseases by using an oral cancer screening, visually and physically examinging the gums, then uses probesto locate periodontal diseases.This job requires a quality understanding of the body due to the diseases carried ... ... middle of paper ... ...ty or public health setting and a license is required. To become a dental hygienist it is required that you must graduate from dental hygienist school, pass a National Board Dental Hygiene examination, pass the State Board Dental Hygiene examination, your school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and pass the state's Junspudence examination. All requirements vary depending on states and may have different rules but all dental hygienist must be licensed by the state that they are working in. (http://www.adha.org/education-careers) The field of work in Dental Hygiene is competetive, difficult, and long but after all of the information i found while researching for this paper, I found it is a very respectful and great career to be interested in and work for. Works Cited http://www.adha.org/education-careers www.adha.org Unixl.com/dir/dental-hygienist/louisiana/
As I started my new journey of becoming a dental hygienist, I came into the program with no background of dental. I came into this program with an open mind and willing to embrace new concepts as well as develop new skills. During my time at the Canadian Academy of Dental Hygiene (CADH), I learned that as a dental hygienist that I am committed to promoting and helping each individual achieve their optimal oral health goals. In support of my client’s goals, I may assume any or all of the roles included in the dental hygiene scope of practice. My goal throughout this program was to help my clients achieve their optimal oral health goals through education, health promotion and providing preventive and clinical therapy.
To become a dental hygienists you simply have to earn a certificate, meaning you can get into the job relatively quickly.
Cortell (2008) lists the following responsibilities that all dental hygienists must maintain in order to practice. First and most important professional obligation is to maintain licenses and appropriate certification to be able to practice legally. The second is to demonstrate comprehension of and follow the American Dental Hygienists’ Association Code of Ethics that ensures ethical patient care. The third professional responsibility is to maintain ADHA membership and support the profession. Fourth responsibility following the changes in health and dental hygiene profession that may affect dental hygiene care. One good example to this was a change in certain health conditions that does not require pre-medications by the American Heart Association for dental procedures. The fifth responsibility is that dental hygienists must participate in activities that maintain continued competence. Being committed to life-long learning to remain competent is the sixth responsibility of the dental
To become a classroom instructor, a master’s degree is preferred. The minimum education needed overall is a bachelor’s in dental hygiene. Some other educational requirements include taking multiple continuing education courses and taking a course in methodology. CPR certification is required. Although it is not an actual requirement, dental hygiene educators should have a passion for dental hygiene and act as a mentor or role model for the aspiring dental hygienists that they are teaching.
There are many similarities between the three websites. The most important part of working in the office is meeting the oral health needs of the patients. The main duty of the hygienist is to do the routinely check-ups, which include removing plaque. They also give them a better understanding of how to improve their oral hygiene. Education is an important part of becoming a dental hygienist. The most important subjects going into the program include: chemistry, math, biology, health, ect.. Hygienist commonly just get their Associates degree, which is then only two to three years of schooling. Depending on the school there could be a year of pre-requisites and the program, or just two years of the program. There is also the option of going to a University, which requires two additional years of school. If a bachelor’s degree is obtained, it is normally used for teaching or researching. In order to become a hygienist, the last step is to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. There
Dental hygienists are at risk of obtaining diseases and illnesses, but also they are at risk of other injuries in their work environment. Most people do not realize how dangerous and risky this career field is. According to Noel Kelsch, “Dental health care professionals (DHCP) are truly at risk, ranking No. 2 out of 974 occupations.” This information comes from the Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network. The Dental Hygienist Profession is a risky one. From contaminated blood to radiation poisoning, Not to mention the physical and mental stress that is put on the body.
I have wanted to be a dental hygienist since I graduated high school one of the many reasons that I decided on this career is because I have always liked going to the dentist and because I feel like the dental field is very interesting. To be a professional dental hygienist you have to complete at least two years of college and get an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. You also have to pass a national board and also pass a state board. A dental hygienist is not considered professional just because they have graduated college there are many other factors taken into consideration. To be a professional dental hygienist you need to be aware of the expanded functions that you are legally able to do in the state that you have your license. For
229). Social responsibilities include the concepts of a person’s right to health care, the profession’s obligation to raise oral health literacy of the community and government's responsibility to promote the health and well being of the public (Beatty, 2017, p.229). Dental hygienists promote and maintain oral wellness and thereby contribute to overall health and quality of life (Darby & Walsh, 2015, p. 1). As dental hygienists, we can be socially responsible by maintaining our competence in clinical skills and being current on evidenced based research in dental hygiene so as to provide the best possible care for our clients.We can also disseminate our knowledge to clients in order for them to improve their oral health through oral hygiene education and nutritional counselling. We can also support groups in advocating for governmental policies with regards to oral health. Volunteering to serve those who cannot afford dental hygiene care is also a means of giving back to society and being socially
Dental schools often offer services like cleanings, x-rays, oral exams, and other treatments to the community at a reduced cost, and dental hygiene students perform these services under the supervision of experienced dentists and hygienists. Students may also receive their clinical training by completing external rotations in dental practices and community health clinics. Most dental hygienists earn an associate’s degree, which takes about two years to complete. Your schooling will include time in the classroom and lab as well as a period of clinical experience. The latter is necessary to give you real-world experience before you embark on your career. All 50 states require dental hygienists to be licensed. In order to start the licensing process, you’ll need to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school. I am not too interested in going straight to college after high school. I would rather go to the military first snd get focused and mature for my future career. The length of becoming a dental hygienist is not long at all but pay more then enough for the amount of time I go for education. The median annual wage for dental hygienists is $72,330. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an
When most people think of dental hygienists, the first and only thing they think about it cleaning and whitening teeth. However, that is mainly what dental hygienists do, but they also learn to do a lot more than that. According the occupational outlook handbook, hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. As explained on American Dental Association, the dental hygienist...
To become a dental hygienist, a person has to receive their education through college, university degree majoring in dental hygiene, dental schools, and technical schools ("What is a Dental Hygienist?", 2018). Minimum education requirement is to have an associate degree in dental hygiene, which takes two to three years to complete ("What is a Dental Hygienist?", 2018). For research, teaching ,clinical practice in public or school health programs, administrative and therapeutic services, dental hygienist must need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in dental hygiene ("Dental Hygienists : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics", 2018). To become a registered dental hygienist, hygienist must be passed the written national board examination and the state clinical examination ("What is a Dental Hygienist?",
I am applying for dental hygiene as I think dental hygienist is as essential as the dentist to prevent patients from tooth decay, gum disease and to maintain the oral health.
According to the book, “Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist”, a dental hygienist is a dental health specialist whose primary concern is the maintenance of oral health and the prevention of oral disease. A career as a dental hygienist provides a wide range of challenges where in the dentist office, the dental hygienist and dentist work together to meet the oral health needs of their patients. There are many things that dental hygienists do that you may not realize when you think you are just going in to get your teeth cleaned.
Dental hygiene is a dynamic and challenging career that offers team work, personal growth, and extraordinary benefits, and it is the perfect career for me. As a health care professional, the dental hygienist is an important member of the dental team providing patient care. Good qualities for a dental hygienist are compassion and enjoying talking to people which are two qualities that fit my personality. I love the thought of knowing I made a positive impact in a person's health. Becoming a dental hygienist professionally requires you to obtain an associate degree in dental hygiene. They affect the average American by educating them about dental care. A dentist helps people with their dental health, which can greatly impact a person’s day-to-day life.
One of the biggest decisions in life is what career path you want to take and do for the rest of your life, what interests you, what you excel at, and other benefits that may attract that profession to you. The career and profession I have chosen to write about is Dentistry. Dentistry provides a very family friendly job, with a clean environment, good pay and hours, and the satisfaction of being able to interact with patients and help them in the way that only you can.