Can I get into a Dental Hygienist school without any experience in the dental field?
DAs do just that. They ASSIST the dentist. They are paid much less than hygienists BUT usually get good benefits like vacation and health insurance. You can train ON the job (any job listing for a DA that states they will train the right person) OR you can go to a training school or community college for a certificate in DA (1 year program). A DH is just like a nurse but of the dental field. In the USA it used to be called "dental nurse" when it began. Hard to get into a program (AS or BS program. Doesn't matter which you choose...the 2 year or 4 year degree both get you the credentials to take the state/regional licensing exams). You must apply to a college offering dental hygiene as a major.
Is anyone a dental hygienist?
As a dental hygienist of 15 years I can say I definately wouldn't choose to change my career. The pay is great, but that isn't really the best part of what I do. What I really enjoy the most is being respected medical professional that has the opportunity to make a genuine impact in my patient's lives. You can educate a person so that they can take better care of themself, or save them from a problem that is already present (like oral cancer). You might get to see a family grow (or grow up) if you are in a practice for a long enough time and may become the reason why the come to the office even though they are fearful. You might be part of a team that you look forward to working with. The opportunities to go out and help in the community (like talking with a group of girl scouts or at a school fair) are endless. I graduated 15 years ago and yes, the schooling is intense. I had 1 year of chemistry to take for my program, but also managed to work and have a boyfriend (who became my husband between the 1st and 2nd year). I just graduated this May with my Bachelor's degree, though many hygienists just get their Associate's so they can begin working to pay off their bills. You can furthur your education (from an associate's degree to a bachelor's) and teach at the college level, work as a sales rep or be involved in research. My flexibility with my schedule at work has allowed me to raise a family and go back to school for my bachelor's degree. My employer helps pay for uniforms and continuing education along with retirement and vacation benefits. It is best to be physically fit for this job. I could go on and on, but if you think this may be the career for you it might be a good time to ask your dentist if you could spend some time at the office and see what it is like. I currently have a high school junior shadowing me on Fridays... Hope that helps! JAMRDH - a dental hygienist
What are the pros and cons of being a dental hygienist?
This Site Might Help You. RE: What are the pros and cons of being a dental hygienist? I am a senior in high school and I was thinking about becoming a dental hygienist, but what are the pros and cons? Also what is the difference if you get your associates instead of your bachelors? How is the pay? What is the typical work environment? What do dental hygienists actually...
Is dental hygiene a good career choice?
18th months for dental hygeine? Are you sure you aren't talking about dental assisting? Dental Hygeine is a 2 year degree...but it's similar to Nursing School...it's two years after you've taken a million prereq's such as Human Anatomy and Chemistry Right now any health field career is a good choice and Dental Hygenists are making great $$$$$$. Dental Assistants however...are paid hourly (not a salary) and they pretty much follow the dentist around and make him look good (not a lot of hands on stuff unless they become registered with the state) Hope this helps...
Well i want to become either a dentist or a dental hygienist. Which would be the best career choice?
As for career choice it is like asking "do I want to be a nurse or a doctor". The answer is one career (nurse) takes two years and requires High School grad status to apply. A doctor's degree requires an undergrad degree (Bsc equiv) and 4 years plkus 2 more years for a total of about 10 years. (internship required) There is a similar comparison for dental hygienist which is a two year course after High School. A dentist usually has a 4 year Bsc before entering a dental school which is 5 years (no internship required). What you might do to make a decision is to find out what skills you have. Do you excel at chemistry, Latin, mathematics? If so you could become a dentist. The toughest course would be BIOCHEMISTRY. Have a look at a Biochem. text book and see if you could handle it/. Anantomy (head and neck only) is required and Latin is a prerequisite since much human tissue is named in Latin. What ws NOT mentioned was that most universities have hundreds of applicants. Unless you are in the top few you will not even get accepted. Finally, re career choices, a hygienist earns $25,000 per yr A dentist $150,000 to $200,000 & $400,000 if cosmetic dentist.(caps, porcelein jacket crowns, veneers etc) Hope this helps.
Is a dental assistant a good career?
Before taking college pre-req courses for dental assistant (or dental hygienist), please do peruse some dental textbooks, such as those found at the community college library that offers either program or dental/medical school library. Some patients may have severe dental disease which may be tough for some to handle. The dental assistant student must be adept in the sciences, including biology, anatomy and chemistry. Having good manual dexterity (coordination of hands) and a pretty good short-term memory (as the dentist may give verbal instructions) is crucial, too. For more general career info: http://www.bls.gov/ooh and can type into search. If you're still interested in training (for any field), please *avoid* those private For-profit schools, such as devry, ITT tech, rasmussen, ashworth, full sail, Everest, capella, argosy, Kaplan, brown Mackie, ashford, keiser, U of P, excelsior, Stratford career, anthem, Sanford brown, grand canyon and others. Their course credits usually do ** NOT ** transfer to other schools, even if the for-profit school is regionally accredited as opposed to only nationally accredited (just an fyi that the latter is basically a worthless accreditation). Please instead consider the more affordable (and usually more reputable) local *community college* or even the *county vo-tech school* as long as the program is accredited within the job industry.
Education or Dental Hygiene?
A career as a dental hygienist is a great career choice. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014, ranking among the fastest growing occupations, in response to increasing demand for dental care and the greater utilization of hygienists to perform services previously performed by dentists. The earnings of a dental hygienist can often vary by geographic location, employment setting, and years of experience. They may be paid on an hourly, daily, salary, or commission basis. According to the US Department of Labor, median hourly earnings of dental hygienists were $28.05 in May 2004. The middle 50% earned between $22.72 and $33.82 an hour. The lowest 10% earned less than $18.05, and the highest 10% earned more than $40.70 an hour. A person pursuing a dental hygienist career may also be employed to provide dental hygiene services for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and public health clinics. Depending upon the level of education and experience achieved, dental hygienists can apply their skills and knowledge to other career activities such as teaching hygiene students in dental hygienist schools and dental hygiene education programs. A dental hygienist career offers a wide range of challenges. It is a career that offers flexible scheduling of both a dental hygienist career and a personal life, is a distinctive feature of the job. Full, part-time, evening, and weekend schedules are widely available and because dentists frequently hire hygienists to work 2 or 3 days a week, a dental hygienist career may involve being employed by more than one dental office. If you are looking to be a dental hygienist and not pursue dentistry, which some individuals do, then you should apply as soon as you can if you are really certain that this is a career that is for you. If you are still uncertain, get your degree, making certain to take a lot of science courses (with lab) for preparation to progress beyond a position as a dental hygienist. Of course, with the flexibility which this career offers, you can always do college part time and get your bachelors. Good luck and I wish you well with your endeavor. Kathleen www.dentalclinicmanager.com
Why NURSING profession instead of another healthcare career?
Forget chilli's if you really like working with people. Quit the job and try the Peace Corps after college. It gives you a chance to really make a difference, learn a new language, help the world, and learn more about yourself (and pay off student loans). When you get back you can decide if you want to continue law school or some other post-grad educational path. Both doors are open to you and by giving yourself a few years of self-discovery it will actually look better when you apply to schools. If you cant wait that long till you graduate try volunteering in a path you might be interested in- if you want to do law school what kind of law do you want to pursue? Human rights, environmental, immigration? Try getting involved on a smaller level to see if it sparks something. Good luck.
It is too early in life for you to choose a career. Please keep in mind career is AFTER you have done something, not what you plan to do. What you are anxious about is which profession you should go into. Anxiety will always make you take a wrong decision. Take it easy, go step by step - first choose your basic education (graduation onwards) wisely.You have to chose what basic education you should take to become competent for a profession. For that, you will have to look at yourself, your likes and dislikes, and most of all what you are good / bad at. Only you know that; others know nothing about it - even your parentsIf you are not proficient in Maths, there are a lot of choices which are not meant for you: Engineering, Physics, Economics, Statistics etc. If you hate the sight of injuries and blood, medical studies is not the line to take. If you are not able to relate to business and industry, Commerce is not for you. Conversely, if you like the idea of teaching, just about ANY line is good. Or if you are really persevering in research, a PhD in Engineering, Physics, Biological Sciences etc. is the direction to take. Doing Arts is a good choice if you want to target getting into Civil Services etc.Don’t let anyone try to convince you that success is guaranteed by doing MBA after a graduation in any subject. The only job you will ever get by that is in low-level Sales or Marketing. For deserving anything serious, you will have to get work experience of a few years before doing MBA - you will not understand anything taught in MBA otherwiseYour choice of profession will change many times between now and when it is the time to choose a professionSuccess shouldn’t be the goal of life. Whatever you do, put in your best - you are bound to succeed. Don’t take shortcuts - it never pays!Don’t try to do what you love to do (people taking this route fail most often) - love whatever you doDON’T chase money. If it is ordained for you, it will come. What matters is a balanced life, a balance between professional achievement and personal / family needs. If you chase money, you will realize after a very long time what you have lost in the bargain. And it will be too late then!