Even though the recent pandemic has caused headaches for many businesses, the demand for dental hygienists hasn’t slowed down one bit. If you are looking for a career that is challenging yet rewarding, dental hygiene may be a great fit for you.
You have several options when you enter this field. If you have grand aspirations, you could eventually start your very own dental practice. Or, you could choose to be a freelancer who provides their services all over the country.
Many dental hygienists opt to work for a dentist and be part of a small but effective team of professionals. Whatever option you choose, dental hygiene gives you the freedom to do what works best for you!
If you’re interested in becoming a dental hygienist, join us as we explore what it takes to make it happen.
Your Responsibilities
As a dental hygienist, you will be responsible for the care of your patients on many levels. Let’s take a moment to look at some of the things you will be doing at your dental practice.
Educating patients on proper oral health and hygiene
Helping the dentist with various tasks
Inspecting patients’ teeth and mouth
Administering anesthesia
Cleaning patients’ teeth
Assessing their care
Preventive dentistry
Conducting X-rays
Removing sutures
Providing assistance to the dentist and helping patients with their dental care can be highly rewarding. If you have a heart for helping others, you may find that dental hygiene is the perfect fit for you!
What To Do
Becoming a dental hygienist doesn’t happen overnight. You’re going to need some qualifications before getting the training you need to become a dental hygienist. Most of the programs you find require you to have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
You should also have taken classes in anatomy, sociology, chemistry, and biology. It also helps to have your certification in CPR before or during your training to become a dental hygienist.
People Skills
As a dental hygienist, you’re going to be interacting with people all day. It is therefore crucial for you to have excellent skills in this area. No patient is alike, so you’ll need to know how to conduct yourself with people from all walks of life.
Undergraduate Degree
You will need to obtain this before becoming a dental hygienist. This will help you prepare for the dental industry, so check with a community college or technical school near you to enroll and get started.
Get Your License
You won’t be able to work as a dental hygienist until you have obtained your licensing. There are many accredited programs available that will help you achieve this. After passing your exam with the American Dental Association, you will be ready to earn your certification.
After becoming a dental hygienist, you will find that you have many options. A great way to get started in the industry is to join Stynt. Stynt offers instant matching with many dental offices in your area based on your skillset. To find work, simply fill out our form or download our app!