Career Education

Career as a Dental Hygienist

Do you want satisfying work in a growing field with the possibility of part-time work or flexible hours? Then becoming a dental hygienist might be a good decision for your career goals and needs. Helping a dentist with his or her work, cleaning a patient’s mouth and advising a patient of what he or she should do to have good oral hygiene are all part of the job duties of a dental hygienist. Therefore, this type of work is also suitable for social, outgoing people that also possess an acute attention to detail.

View all the schools that offer a Dental Hygienist Program here: Dental Hygienist Schools

The path to landing a job in this field is relatively simple. A high school diploma or equivalent is generally necessary in order to get into a dental hygiene program, although specific application requirements typically vary. If you want to find work in a private office with a dentist, you’ll need a two year associate’s degree in this field, followed by obtaining a license in the state where you want to work. For those interested in research or teaching, further education may be required. Fortunately there are hundreds of programs available around the country that have accreditation, making qualifications easily obtainable.

The great thing about a career as a dental hygienist is the flexibility it can provide; some half of all hygienists works only part time, and many offices provide weekend or night shifts that can accommodate to your needs and schedule. So, if you’re a busy mom that only wants part time work to add to the family income, this might be a great option for you. Job growth is very favorable, with the U.S. Department of Labor projecting about a 36% increase in positions over the next decade. Also, unlike some other technician programs and degrees, dental hygienists make a very high average salary. The median wage in 2008 was about $66000! If you find yourself in the top 10% of workers in this field, you could even see more than $90,000 a year. If flexible employment options as well as helping people are your priorities, go ahead and look for a dental hygienist program near you. A list of programs by state is available at http://www.healthguideusa.org/dentalhygiene/dental_hygiene_programs.htm.

View all the schools that offer a Dental Hygienist Program here:  Dental Hygienist Schools