Dental Hygienist Essay

Dental hygienists are skilled healthcare workers who typically work in dentists' offices. They must be trained in techniques of dental care and need to gain state licensure. Their job duties center around cleaning patient’s teeth and giving instruction in proper dental hygiene. A Dental Hygienist works under the supervision of dentists. They perform examinations of the teeth and mouth, remove stains and deposits for teeth, expose and develop radiographs, apply fluorides or pit and fissure sealants to the the teeth to prevent cavities, and also provide services to help the patient maintain good dental health. Dental Hygienists mostly focus on keeping the patient's teeth and gums clean. Some responsibilities for this job are providing dental health education about tooth care and removing plaque and calculus by scaling and polishing teeth. Good listening and speaking skills are required.

Dental Hygienists fall under the career cluster of dental careers. Dental Hygienists usually need an Associate’s degree in

Dental Hygiene, typically three years. They are offered through community and technical colleges. Horry Georgetown Technical College, is a technical college to go to receive your license of Dental Hygiene. The tuition if you are staying at home is $9,966 per year. Greenville Technical College also is another school to go to, their tuition for one year is $12,208 including books and fees. Both technical colleges accept anyone who has graduated or have a GED. Coastal Carolina University also offers classes to become a Dental Hygienist, their tuition for one year is $18,374. Most students accepted into CCU have a GPA of 3.5. Many colleges have student plans to help the student with paying their tuition. The job of being a Dental Hygienist requires having your license for Dental Hygiene. The practice of dental hygiene is regulated in all states by a dental or dental hygiene board which issues licenses. ADHA is the largest professional organization representing the interests of dental hygienists on a national, state and local level: American Dental Hygienists Associations. The ADHA works to support dental hygienists throughout their career lifecycle and advance the dental hygiene profession by developing new career paths.
Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 19 percent from 2014 to 2024. The demand for dental services will increase as the population ages, cosmetic dental services become popular, and access to health insurance continues to grow. Dentists often hire hygienists to work only a few days a week, so some hygienists work for more than one dentist. Some dental hygienists receive benefits, such as vacation, sick leave, and contributions to their retirement fund. The average hours a Dental Hygienist works a week are 30-40 hours a week. The average salary for them in Myrtle Beach, SC is $63,171.
Dental Hygienists provide clinical services in settings such as private dental practice, community health settings, nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, schools, faculty practice clinics, and state and federal government facilities.

Typical daily activities for a Dental Hygienist are cleaning teeth, examining patients for oral diseases, and educated patients for maintaining good oral health. Hygienists need to be successful in certain characteristics to be successful at the job. A positive attitude is a good characteristic to have, it could release stress from the patient's visit. Another important characteristic to have is good understanding. Some patients may be nervous about dental work or oral examinations, a good Dental Hygienist would be able to understand and try to ease the patient. Also, a dental hygienist that is passionate about oral health and general health can be a role model to patients and help them focus on preventive maintenance on their

teeth.
In conclusion Dental Hygienist provides preventative oral care under a dentist's supervision. Dental Hygienists work closely with dentists. They require two to three years of technical college, and have to have a license for dental hygiene. Dental Hygienists focus on cleaning patients teeth, and providing information for keeping good dental hygiene. After all the research I did on this field, I really think this is the job I want to pursue.