Dental Hygienist Essay

Dental Hygienists
I have been wanting to be a dental hygienist for a while now. I have been researching in this career and deciding where I want to go to college. After finding out more details about this career, it has really made me want to pursue this career. I’ve decided that I do not want to leave far from home for college, so I will be staying at home until I finish college. After researching the career of a dental hygienist, I have decided to pursue this career.
The daily tasks of a dental hygienist are concerning. They complete tasks similar to a dentist, because customers make appointments to receive their teeth health needs. For example, they

clean teeth, take X-rays, and apply numbing agents to gums (“Task List” 1). I believe I would be able to handle these tasks very well. Learning and performing these tasks would be easy for me. Cleaning patients teeth would be something I could do and would enjoy doing. The only challenging thing I would have to do is X-rays, but it just takes time and practice.
In order to be a good worker, one has to follow certain work activities. They would have to schedule work and activities for patients. They would need to learn to control machines and process them. They would need to inspect equipment, structures, and materials (“Common Work Activities”1). I think I could easily do these work activities. I could be very good at scheduling, because I would just have to be organized. I would need practice for me to learn how to control machines and work with equipment.
The working conditions in the dental office are simple. This job requires working inside all day. They need to wear protective attire. They have to wear masks, gloves, and glasses. One needs to be in awkward positions to get to certain teeth (“Working Conditions” 1). I think I will be able to adapt to these working conditions. It is simple to work inside all day. I would be able to wear protective gear. It may be a little challenging to reach over some patients to perform what needs to be done to their teeth.
Dental Hygienists have many physical demands.

They are required to bend and twist their bodies around patients. They need to repeat the same movements and do the same things to patients. They need hands to control and feel objects in their patient's mouth (“Physical Demands” 1). I think these demands would fit me perfectly. I would be able to twist my body to get to a certain tooth. I would be able to repeat the same things, because I would get better at things the more I did them. I would just need to learn how to properly hold the dental tools and control them.
The skills and abilities of a dental hygienist are everyday skills. They need to know how to communicate with people and speak clearly. They need to know how to problem solve until they have fixed the patient’s need. They have to be able to work with people and find ways to help (“Skills and Abilities” 1). I believe I will be able to accomplish these abilities, because I have a job it helps me practice these communication skills. I am very good at problem solving, so that could not be a problem with me. I also enjoy working with people and trying to help

them.
To be a dental hygienist, they need to take a couple classes. They need to take biology to study the human body. They need to take sales and marketing to use methods for selling products. They will also need psychology to be good with people (“Knowledge” 1). I think I could get this knowledge easily. I could take these classes in high school. I took biology my freshman year and I was very good at it. The only class that might be challenging for me is sales and marketing, because I am not much of a sales person.
There are many ways to prepare to be a dental hygienist.

One needs their high school diploma to get into college. After they receive their diploma, they have to go to a two-year college to receive their associate’s degree. Finally, they will need to pass the state licensing program (“Preparation” 1). I believe I can accomplish all of these things if I study hard. I will need to work hard to get my high school diploma. I will then move onto college for two years to receive my associate's degree. I will only need to pass the state licensing program and in order to do that, I will need to study a lot.
By taking certain high school classes, it could help them become a dental hygienist. They need to take anatomy to learn more about the human body parts. They need to take keyboarding to learn how to use technology better. Health education is a great class to take, because it teaches a lot about health (“Helpful High School Courses” 1). I could easily take these classes in high school. I can take anatomy next year, even though it is a challenge. I took health education my freshman year and I can handle the things the class

teaches.
Most people that work as a dental hygienist make a good amount of money a year. 25% of dental hygienists make $63,020 every year. The middle amount or average hygienist makes $69,050 every year. The highest amount they make a year is $75,040 every year (“Wages” 1). I think since I will be living in Missouri, this is perfect for me. I will be able to raise a family and live off of my wages. For the amount of time in college, this is plenty of money for me to pay off college and still manage to live off of it.
The major employers for a dental hygienist work in a private dental office. The career growth in this job are increasing rapidly. The places that I would plan on living is around Farmington, Missouri. Growth for this location is also increasing (“Employment and Outlook” 1). My personal opinion about these opportunities is wonderful. This can help me get a job easily and locally. I would be able to live close to work and still be making enough money to support my family.
The people in the same dental office have to share the same interests and values. They need to share the same social interests to get along at work. If they have the same realistic interests, they will be able to share things about each other. It is important to consider relationships and independence important, because one would want to be good friends with their co-workers (“Interests and Values”1). It would be very important to me to share these values with other co-workers. If we share the same interests, then I would be able to have friends at work. It is important to have friends at work so I can also enjoy my job.
After researching the career of a dental hygienist, I have decided to pursue this career. I have chosen this career, because I have talked to a family friend about her job and it sounds like something I would absolutely love to do for my career. From what I have already researched, I realized this is something I can really do. I really like the job itself, but I wanted to do something health field related, and this just seems to be the right one. I will continue to find more information about a dental hygienist and pursue in this field.