Enrolling in a Dental Hygienist Training Program
In the United States, a person can work as an oral hygienist if he completes dental hygienist training and meets the prerequisite qualifications to practice as one. There are a number of steps involved in the education and training for oral hygienists, and these steps take years to complete. It's only when individuals successfully complete each of these steps they are allowed to call themselves an oral hygienist.
Primarily, one should have a high school degree and should have passed a college entrance test to be able to join a program in oral hygiene. Those who wish to train as an oral hygienist also have a strong background in subjects such as math, chemistry, and science. The entrance requirements in colleges vary so it's a good idea to check with the college for specific prerequisites. In some colleges, applicants for dental hygiene programs are required to have one year of college experience in order to be admitted. Unless these prerequisites are met, one cannot enroll themselves to any dental hygienist training programs.
The minimum degree one should acquire as part of a dental hygienist training program includes either a certificate degree or an associate degree from a technical college or university. The Commission on Dental Accreditation has approved about 300 oral hygiene programs to date. These programs are offered by various colleges and universities across the country. Some of the subjects that are studied as part of the dental hygienist training include: radiography, chemistry, micro-biology, pharmacology, histology, social and behavioral sciences, periodontology, dental anatomy etc.
A state license is required from those who wish to practice their profession in their state. A person needs to pass the test conducted by the American Dental Associate in order to obtain this license. Clinical examinations are usually handled by the concerned states or the local testing agencies. Besides, the students might also have to give a special exam regarding the legal aspects of hygienist training. Oral hygienists have a code of ethics to follow. Such exams ensures that oral hygienists are familiar with this and pass the test before they can legally practice their profession. There are states where students are allowed to train through on-the-job programs they regulate. These programs are part of the dental hygienist training program being offered.
Physical fitness is requirement, since an oral hygienist might need to handle heavy equipment or even stand and bend for hours on end. Oral hygienists are susceptible to shoulder and neck injuries. Thus, they need to take precautions to minimize these injuries. Apart from basic dental hygienist training, people should also acquire the necessary social skills that are required to interact with the patient. Sometimes the hygienist has to deal with patients who are nervous; in such instances their people skills will come in handy. Also, he or she should be of friendly nature and professionally competent to work in co-ordination with the other hygienists and dentists.
A person can be hired in a dentist's office or work independently after they complete their dental hygienist training program. The road to becoming a hygienist is fraught with expenses and challenges that must be overcome. One should make up his or her mind to toil for several years before they specialize and establish themselves in the said field and start to earn rewards. The toiling is definitely worth the rewards you reap, as hygienists are one of the better paid professionals in the medical field.
The Coursework To Expect During Dental Hygienist Training
Dental hygienist training offers all the skills and knowledge needed for individuals to succeed in the career field of dentistry. The hygienist positions in the dental industry are expected to grow exponentially as it follows the ever-increasing rise in demand for better oral care. 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.
There are many different options that one may choose towards becoming 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.
It is important to seek programs that are ADA accredited. In the United States, there are nearly 200 schools or universities that offer dental hygienist training. It is a must that the individual seeking admittance into one of these dental schools have graduated high school or received their GED.
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. It is common for many individuals that have an associate's degree or certification and enter the bachelor's program to further their education and careers. Those individuals wishing to advance beyond a bachelor's degree will enter a graduate programs that typically lasts two years.
Some of the general study classes that are involved in dental hygienist training are biology, chemistry, and computer science. An example of the classes involved in an oral hygienist major that one might expect to see follow:
First Semester:
Dental Biology
Oral Radiology
Neck and Head Anatomy
Dental Health Education
Introduction to Clinic
Second Semester:
Nitrous Oxide and Local Anesthesia
General and Oral Pathology
Patient Management and Geriatrics
Clinical Practice I
Nutrition and Dentistry
Third Semester:
Periodontics I
Pharmacology
Dental Materials
Advanced Clinicals
Clinical Practice II
Fourth Semester:
Periodontics 2
Financial Management and Practice
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. The state or region that one is looking to become licensed in will determine which of the five different versions of the board examinations the student will take. The total cost of taking the clinical and written examinations is around $1000-$1200.
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.
If the written portion of the examination is necessary, then it will vary depending on the location administered also. Most states will require a multiple choice computerized test varying in length. 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.
Those who are able to pass the necessary dental hygienist training will be well on their way to a flexible, fulfilling career. This article should give those seeking new employment into the dental hygiene program a decent outlook of what to expect. I hope this helps.
Courses Related To Dental Hygienist Training
Dental hygienist training is essential for all those who want to pursue their career in the field of oral hygiene. There is a high demand for oral hygienists today. In fact, it's one of the sought after medical-related professions, next only to surgeons and doctors. In the coming years, this profession is more than likely to take dentistry to new heights as the evolving medical trends might crown this as one of the fastest professions to grow and achieve saturation in an amazingly short time.
For individuals who wish to look into dental hygienist training options, there are several types of courses available. These courses are degree courses, associate courses, and non-degree courses. The courses vary from each other in terms of the syllabus, curriculum, duration, and fees. All the courses share one thing in common, though; they all have the goal of ensuring the students are equipped with the knowledge and skills in preventive oral health care.
Students can go for either a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in dental hygienist training. Those who go for a bachelor's degree in oral hygiene receive training that will prepare them for opportunities to teach in dental institutes and colleges, as well as work in the military, state prisons, state health departments, and public health care sector. The course duration for this degree is around 4yrs; however, there are several colleges that will allow you to finish it in just 32 months. The important thing is that before enrolling in a bachelor's degree program, the student must make sure the university or college is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. It's because employers hire oral hygienists who graduate from accredited institutes. Also, those graduates are the only ones allowed to practice as oral hygienists.
Several universities offer bachelor's courses online contributing to the convenience of the students. Upon completion, the degree awarded will be known as Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. This is a full-time program and the course curriculum involves the clinical lab work, general education and other lecture components. In terms of job opportunities, there won't a lack of them for bachelor degree holders in this field. Individuals who have completed their bachelor's degree with adequate dental hygienist training and are interested in studying further can opt for master's degree.
Colleges have special simulation labs in order to help students acquire the necessary skills needed to carry out a hygienist's job competently. These labs have artificial patients, which the students are being trained on to perform special procedures and operations. Students tend to learn much more quickly in these labs since they are actually doing what they are supposed to be learning instead of just being inside a classroom listening to lectures. Students take several months in the lab undergoing this kind of dental hygienist training. At the end, their proficiency is tested. After they pass their exams, they are chosen to work in an on-site dental clinic where they will handle real patients.
Other dental hygienist training include non-degree courses such as certification in dental assisting and radiology. These courses, however, are available only to those students who possess scientific backgrounds. Students who successfully complete all of the master's level courses are awarded a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene. Students either produces a thesis or a graduate research project. It takes at least two years to obtain an associate degree and the coursework also includes some project work. However, people with associate degrees have limited employment opportunities compared to people who graduate with a bachelor's or master's degree in dental hygiene.
Online Dental Hygienist Training
Dental hygienist training programs were introduced online just recently, following the introduction of other online medical degrees. A number of colleges and universities now offer online degrees in hygienist training. By doing this, students can learn remotely through the Internet. This online method has gained popularity with students who had issues with mobility and cannot commute to their college regularly.
Online hygienists programs and courses are available today. Interested students can select the course they wish to enroll in via the college website. Some of the online courses, however, require students to be at the college physically at least two times prior to course completion. Students are required to take their midterm and final exams on campus. All colleges don't have a hygienist program that's 100% online. The majority offer 76% to 99% of the program online. The online program you choose depends on what your needs are.
Students must have an Internet-enabled computer in order to have access to the online dental hygienist training courses. In addition, they need t know how to scan materials, print handouts, and carry out other course-related tasks on their computer. Their computer needs to be connected to the Internet and have the software needed to open and read the course materials.
The online degrees that are offered through dental hygienist training present a number of advantages over the traditional college degrees. An online training program reduces the expenses considerably as it eliminates the transportation charges and other costs involved in the visiting process. It also saves the time and energy one spends in traveling and thus the student will be able to focus more on his studies alone. Teachers and students also tend to interact more online compared to regular classes. Students who are enrolled in online classes have a tendency to feel more responsible; they tend to pay even more attention to what they are taught online. And lastly, it's so much easier to keep in contact with teachers and classmates online. They can quickly and easily share course materials and resources online.
Still, online degrees that provide dental hygienist training do have their disadvantages. Online classes are the perfect option for you if you can remain motivated to study even without being in a class environment. One really needs to have a strong will and determination to finish their coursework online, as it is very easy to get distracted and lose interest when one is learning on their own. Compared to courses held in the traditional classroom, online courses tend to have a high absenteeism and attrition rate. Also, students who take online courses miss out on clinical practice and lab work. It is this lab experience that helps the individual in performing his role well as an oral hygienist in the real world.
Surveys reveal that there is no major difference between the online courses and the on-site courses except for the tactile experience of the student and the lab programs involved. The two types of dental hygienist training are basically the same. It's also likely that their graduates will get to have the same kind of job opportunities after graduating.
As part of any college's dental hygienist training offering, the online degrees must be accredited by CODA or the Commission on Dental Accreditation. This way, oral hygienists who have online degrees will be considered for employment later on.