Is Dental Hygiene In Demand

462 Words2 Pages
Amazingly, even in today's economy there is one occupation where there are actually more jobs than there are people to fill them. The job pays well, has part-timeopportunities and you don't need a graduate degree (or even a bachelor's degree!) to get it. If you're interested in pursuing a career as a dental hygienist, here are some facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Overview Dental hygienists work alongside dentists to provide preventative dental care that includes cleaning teeth and teaching patients good hygiene. They also take and develop dental x-rays, apply sealants and, in some states, even place and carve fillings. They can't diagnose diseases, but dental hygienists can prepare clinical and diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret. Training and Education To become a licensed dental hygienist, applicants must first graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school and pass a written and clinical test. Most states also require an examination on the legal aspects of the practice. To work in a private dental practice, dental hygienists must have at least an associate's degree in dental hygiene. For research or public health positions, a bachelor's or master's degree is preferred. Half of dental hygiene programs require at least one year of college before admission. Dental hygienists need good manual dexterity, since they will be moving dental instruments in a patient's mouth. Opportunities Dental hygienists held about 148,000 jobs in 2002, and almost all of them were in dentists' offices. A few worked for employments services or in physicians' offices. Some hygienists also enter careers in teaching, research or clinical practice in public or school health programs. Pros and Cons of Becoming a Dental Hygienist Dental hygienists enjoy relatively high pay and comfortable working conditions. Flexible scheduling is
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