The Career of a Dental Hygienist
My dream job is to be a dental hygienist and has been the same since I was a little girl. I have an interest in how health can affect one’s body. I would like to educate others how important it is to keep your body, including teeth, healthy and clean. To see people who have not cleaned their teeth in years compared to people who are able to see the dentist every six months, is a drastic difference. Some people may think it does not matter, but lack of dental care actually takes a toll on your health. I want to peruse this career to help other’s think. I will enjoy helping other people by showing them the importance of keeping their teeth cleaned. Contrary to popular belief, a tooth brush does not do all the work, that is also why it is so important to have a dentist to make sure you are getting the cleaning you need to stay healthy. Another reason why I want to pursue this career is I work best in an oriented atmosphere. Making sure people are comfortable with where they are and make sure the patients are taken care of. Creates a very friendly environment. That is why my passion is a dental hygienist.
This career is a process. In order to become a dental hygienist, I will have to earn a two to four-year degree in dental hygiene. The majority of the dental schools require two years to complete the program, but in some cases, depending on the school, it could take up to four years to complete a dental hygiene degree. Next, that I will need to
Dermatologists are specialized physicians that treat diseases of the skin, hair, and nails. They can perform a variety of procedures such as biopsies, acne scar removal (dermabrasion), hair restoration surgery, collagen injections, chemical peels and fat transfers. They can work in hospitals, clinics and private practices and usually require referrals from your primary care physician for public access. A Dental Hygienist may refer directly to Dermatologists when there is a significant finding on the extra-oral exam, especially in cases of cancerous or pre-cancerous abnormalities in the skin; however, it is more common for the Dental Hygienist to refer to the primary care physician, who will then refer to the dermatologist. Dermatologists are
Dental hygienists work in a dentist’s office. Work hours for this career can vary. However, the typical work day for a dental hygienist is 8 hours. “About half of dental hygienists worked part time in 2016. Dentists often hire hygienists to work only a few days a week, so some hygienists work for more than one dentist” (Dental Hygienists). Dental offices are usually located in suburban areas.
A dental team is usually composed of a dentist, dental assistant, and dental hygienist. This effective and efficient team works in unison to meet the needs of patients. Each member plays a vital role; specifically, the dental hygienist plays an integral role in helping patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health. A dental hygienist’s main approach in patient care is disease prevention. They implement this approach by identifying and treating oral diseases.
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.
Being able to have all of the beneficial aspects of schedule flexibility, friendly environment, job stability, and a steady income in one occupation are what make a dental hygienist a perfect job. Although there are many other occupations which fit the exact criteria, a dental hygienist is one who can move around frequently, in suburban or city like
Deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life is never easy; in part because you never know what the future has in store. Furthermore, there are endless possibilities to take into consideration. A desire to help others has always been a passion of mine and I envision myself in a service oriented career path. With a great deal of time, soul searching, research and careful consideration, I have come to realize that pursuing a degree in dental hygiene will help me reach my goals and fulfill my dreams. Dental Hygienists are patient, understanding, detail-oriented and passionate about oral hygiene. They possess leadership skills and enjoy daily interaction with patients. I embody these character traits and look forward to educating
Dental hygiene has had a significant impact on my life since I was a child. While most children would absolutely dread going to have their teeth cleaned, I was the kid always eager and ready to get to the dentist office. Throughout my journey of traveling through life, I have had several experiences that just called to me saying dental hygiene is definitely the career for me. Shadowing my own dental hygienists and having the privilege to be hands on and work with them was amazing. I enjoyed every minute from simply going over X-Rays to getting to know the patients personally.
A career in healthcare has always been an interest of mine. Making a difference is someone?s health was a very important aspect of my career choice. Dental Hygiene has been top of the list since I was a younger child. I was one of those children who loved going to the dentist. I was always amazed by what was going on in the dentist office whether it be the dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant. Becoming a young adult and noticing the appearance of others, the smile was and still is the first thing I notice on another individual. Everyone does not have the beautiful smile that society expects; so being the one to improve that and make a difference I feel is an awesome career choice.
It is evident that it is truly where my head, heart and hands, become one. Being a dental hygienist and working in close proximity with the dentist has served to strengthen my desire to take my education and service to the next level. I want to increase my knowledge about the science behind dentistry and learn everything I need to know to be a great dentist and apply it into practice. Improve constantly and strive to provide the highest quality of oral health care available to patients by delivering meticulous, gentle, thorough, reassuring dentistry and exceeding patient satisfaction. Dentistry without a doubt, is the profession for me. I believe I have the qualities that are essential to making a great dentist along with the academic motivation in order to replace my interest for dentistry with the expertise that will help me provide quality oral care. If my greatest aspirations are to provide pain relief, to develop patient rapport, and utilize creativity in working with my hands, then dentistry is, indeed, my
My love of the dental field started five years ago when I had the opportunity to participate in a Red Cross Dental Assisting program while stationed with my husband overseas. As soon as I started working in the clinic I fell in love. I volunteered at the clinic for seven months before a position became available. Once my husband made the decision not to reenlist, I knew I had to make a career move. I started looking into the world of dental hygiene and was absolutely fascinated.
Dentistry involves a variety of guidelines and oral practices to help people maintain a good oral hygiene. This career is far more than just making your teeth pretty and clean. “Dentists in private practice manage their own offices. They may supervise other workers such as receptionists, bookkeepers, dental assistants, and dental hygienists. They may order equipment and supplies” (Dentists). This quote shows that Dentists have even more responsibilities than you might assume. Being a Dentist consists of practices you probably aren’t very familiar with at this point in your life. These quotes show a couple different practices that are used in this career. “Endodontists perform root-canal therapy, by which they remove the nerves and blood supply from injured or infected teeth” (Dentistry). “Oral and maxillofacial radiologists diagnose diseases in the head and neck through the use of imaging technologies” (Dentistry). “Dentists may fit dental appliances or provide preventive care” (America’s). All of this might sound quite challenging and stressful. To overcome the stress that comes with being a Dentist, you will have to be patient. Determination is also a great key to success. If you are patient, responsible, and determined while working as a Dentist, you will be very successful.
Dr. Rust's Office, these three words echo throughout my head and I can't breathe. I sit in this awful discomforting place. My body shakes in terror and Suddenly I hear a soft comforting voice say my name, "Genna, Dr. Rust is ready to see you now." On the outside, I am smiling and happy, but on the inside, I scream in terror. Although I had been there and experienced that extreme pain many times before, I dreaded yet another visit to the dentist.
In fact, in 2014 1 out of 4 dentists were self employed. Dentists wear masks, gloves, and safety glasses as a form of protection from themselves and others. A general dentist's average annual salary is $152,700 but can differ depending on the speciality of the dentist. For example, orthodontists earn $187, 200 yearly whereas prosthodontists earn $119,740 annually. Dentistry is a health career that comes with both pros and cons. One pro for dentistry is its projected job growth of 18% from 2014-2015. Another pro towards dentistry is its high, 6 figure salary. Although dentistry has several pros, this career also comes with cons. For instance, admission to dental school can be competitive. Another con for dentistry is that a dentist has to be licensed in the state that they work and therefore pass the written and practical National Board Dental Examinations. Another con for dentistry would be the amount of school required to become a dentist. A student has to first attend college, then apply and attend dental school, then possibly attend residency after dental school if the dentist wishes to specialize in a specific area. This adds up to about 5-6 years of school after college. Overall, I would definitely consider this career due to the problem-solving skills required, and the high possibility of being self
Children are often sweet and adorable, but many times they may be eating too many sweets. According to the Channel Four News, it has been shown that the number one disease in children is the reoccurrence of caries, also known as cavities. Could it be too many sweets or could it be the lack of flossing and brushing teeth? For instance, many children go to bed or wake up without brushing their teeth and go throughout the day eating all sorts of food and candy. The result of eating and not brushing could lead to plaque build up and decaying of teeth. This leaves a child extremely unhappy and in excruciating pain. So who is going to fix this pain? Who is going to help prevent decay in
One day I was at work going over my curriculum with my class. In the curriculum, I was required to talk about health and to teach the children how they ought to be brushing their teeth. I found it startling how several of them did not know how to correctly care for their teeth, even though many of them go to the dentist frequently. It was at this moment I began to want to be a dentist that not only helps people