Dental Hygienist Training: The Fast Track To A Successful, Fulfilling Career

Dental hygienist training is becoming a greater need as more and more individuals decide to enter the field of dentistry. Trends indicate that as oral care and health continues on the incline, the need for dental hygienists will rise in suit. More people are switching to this career path due in part to the safe, clean working environment, large pay check, and low impact stress levels.

In the United States, the are several routes in which an individual can choose to follow to become a dental hygienist. First, the student must be admitted into an ADA (American Dental Association) dental program. After gaining admittance, the student then need to graduate from this program with a certificate or degree (associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s) to be eligible for the dental board examinations.

Throughout the nation, over 200 dental hygienist training schools are ADA accredited. Individuals must graduate high school with a diploma or GED to be eligible for acceptance into one of the dental programs.

For those in the dental program seeking a Certificate of Science or an Associate of Science degree, the minimum length of term for schooling is two years. If looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree in this field of study, the length usually runs four years. Many students that complete the certificate or associate’s program choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree to enhance their skill and knowledge to advance their careers in this industry. Any student that is interested in a degree past the bachelor’s degree will enter into graduate school which normally takes around two years to complete.

A few of the courses of general study that accompany dental hygienist training are chemistry, biology and computer science. A listing of the possible major courses to expect in an oral hygiene program are:

1st Semester:

Oral Biology

Dental Radiology

Head and Neck Anatomy

Oral Health Education

Introduction to Clinic

Second Semester:

Nitrous Oxide and Local Anesthesia

General and Dental Pathology

Geriatrics and Patient Management

Clinical Practice 1

Dentistry and Nutrition

Third Semester:

Periodontics 1

Pharmacology

Dental Materials

Advanced Clinicals

Clinical Practice II

4th Semester:

Periodontics II

Practice and Financial Management

Clinical Practice 3

Community Oral Healthcare

Jurisprudence and Ethics

After attending the ADA accredited school for dental hygienist training, the individual must then complete a written board exam and a clinical board exam in the state they wish to practice in and pass both exams to become licensed to practice for that state. There are five different types of exams that differ depending on the state or region one is seeking licensure. The price to take both of these exams is between $900-$1000 total.

When the student takes the clinical portion of the board examination, they will normally be required to x-ray teeth and read the exposures, check a patient’s teeth and diagnose problems, and also, if properly qualified, administer local anesthesia to a patient.

The written examination is not always necessary, but if it is, then the way it is administered will change from state to state also. A computerized, multiple choice test is what most states use as their written test. In addition, some states will require multiple response questionnaires and the development of a care plan. Some states do not require a written or computerized examination.

The students that complete the dental hygienist training program will obtain all the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the dentistry field. By reading this article, I hope it provides some insight into what to expect if you are interested in pursuing this career choice.

Want to find out more about dental hygienist training then visit Courtney Teeter’s site for more information on related dental assistant training programs.