Dental Hygienist Career

Dental hygienists carry many responsibilities, but their primary goals are to promote superior oral healthcare through a variety of tasks.  They examine teeth and gums, take x-rays, remove deposits, and apply preventative solutions of fluoride or fissure and pit sealants.  Some states allow hygienists to place fillings, temp fillings, periodontal dressings, administer anesthetics, remove sutures, and prepare lab tests for dentist interpretation.  They must also teach patients how their diet is directly related to oral hygiene and the importance of daily brushing and flossing.

Dental hygiene careers are known for their flexibility.  Professionals may work evening, weekend, full or part-time shifts.  Many dentists employ part-time hygienists for two to three days a week, allowing them to work in multiple offices.  In order to protect themselves from infectious diseases, they are required to wear safety glasses, gloves, and masks.  Those who administer x-rays must follow strict procedures to protect patients and themselves from radiation exposure. 

Licensing is required before a candidate is able to begin practicing as a dental hygienist.  Once formal education is completed, hygienist candidates must pass written and clinical exams in order to obtain state licensing.  Some states also require examination on legal issues related to dentistry.  There are a variety of programs offered on Dental Hygiene; most programs offer Associates degrees but Certificates, Bachelors, and Masters Degrees are options as well.  A minimum of an Associates degree is necessary to practice in private facilities.  Dental hygienists must be able to work closely with others and have great manual dexterity as well as a friendly personality in order to be successful in this field. 

It is projected that dental hygienist positions will increase much faster than average careers through 2014, with some experts projecting it as one of the fastest growing occupations.  This growth is expected due to the increase in population, as well as retiring dentists who were indifferent to utilizing these professionals.  As new generations of dentists enter the field, it is expected that they will hire multiple hygienists to handle several more tasks, enabling dentists to focus the majority of their time on more complex procedures.  For more information on a career as a dental hygienist, please visit the following sites:

• Professional Dental Management
• Dental Hygiene Education
• DH Forum
• DH Net
• International Federation of Dental Hygienist

For a list of available Dental Hygienist positions as well as a database of Dental Hygienists searching for a career, please visit iHireDental.