If you like helping people and you think you would enjoy working as part of a team of dedicated professionals, you might want to consider a career as a dental hygienist. Dental hygienics is a career with a great future. Government economists predict
job growth for dental hygienists to be much faster than the average for all careers through 2020. In fact, it’s one of the fastest-growing occupations.
The Skills You Need to be a Dental Hygienist
Before we talk about how to become a dental hygienist, let’s go over the skills you need to do the job. Do these traits describe you?
- Strong attention to detail
- Impressive critical thinking skills
- Good aptitude for chemistry, math, and biology classes
- Work well on your own and with others
- Comfortable taking on additional duties, including office tasks
- Willing to work on your feet for extended periods of time
How to Become a Dental Hygienist
There are three steps to becoming a dental hygienist:
- Education
- Examinations
- Licensing
Education
The first thing you need to do if you want to become a dental hygienist is earn your AS degree in dental hygienics from one of the following types of institution:
- Community college
- Dental School
- Vocational School
It typically takes about three years to complete you AS degree in dental hygienics as a fulltime student. It’s a rigorous course load as seen in the types of classes you will need to complete:
- Radiology
- Pharmacology
- Pain Management
- Community dental health
- Infection control
- Dental materials
Some dental hygienists go on to earn a BA in dental hygienics. And some people even pursue a Master’s Degree in hygienics. Advanced degrees open up various opportunities for a dental hygienists, such as teaching or working for a government agency.
Examinations and Licensing
After you earn your Associate’s Degree in dental hygienics, you still need to pass two tests: the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a state or regional test. Once you’ve passed both of these tests, you’ll be eligible to apply for your license with your local licensing agency.
Once you receive your license, you’ll be a registered dental hygienist, entitled to place the letters LDH after your name.
Visit Your Dentist in Beverly Hills, Michigan
At Birmingham Family Dentistry in Beverly Hills, MI, our Dental hygienist is an essential part of our team. Give us a call if you’re thinking about dental implants or any other type of cosmetic dentistry. Your new smile is waiting.