If you have ever made a trip to the dentist, the odds are that you have come into contact with a dental
hygienist. In fact most of your time spent in the dentist’s chair will actually mean that it is the hygienist who is
working on you and not the actual dentist, whether you are having a filling put in or just a routine check up. Many people have also
found a career as a dental hygienist to be a satisfying one both professionally and monetarily, with the average hygienist
in Canada making around $30 per hour. Let’s take a look at the finer points of what a dental hygienist is.
Education
In order to make that kind of money in what is essentially a health care industry; a dental hygienist
has to be well qualified. This means they must earn a degree from an accredited dental hygienist school. Most hygienists only
qualify for entry into these schools after fulfilling specific science prerequisites at lower levels of education, so it can
mean four or five years before a hygienist is qualified.
Duties and roles
Once a hygienist has received
the (usually) two year degree from an accredited school, there are several places of possible employment. As mentioned, dentist
offices are the most common places to find hygienists, but they also work for oral surgeons and orthodontists as well. There are also hygienists that are licensed to practice outside of the supervision of dental specialists.
As far as actual workloads, dental hygienists are called upon to perform several duties. These duties
fall under the hygiene process of care, which includes five steps:
Assessment occurs when the hygienist gathers
data about a patient.
Dental hygiene diagnosis is when the data is put into a general idea of the oral health of the patient.
Planning happens when the hygienist formulates a proposal to address any diagnostic problems.
Implementation is when the plan is carried out.
Evaluation is when the plan is monitored and addressed
in terms of effectiveness.
For the most part, the actual duties that dental hygienists are allowed to carry out
are regulated at the local level. Usually they include cleaning, scaling, planning, and radiographing. And of course there
is always a certain amount of patient interaction with your dental hygienist, so most are friendly people!
Dental Assistants are essential to the area of dentistry. They work very hard to make sure all the tools
are disinfected properly,making the patients feel relaxed, and they assist the Dentists and Hygienists with all the different
dental procedures. In addition, they help with lab work and are trained in medical emergency procedures. Combined, these duties
require individuals who are upbeat and ready to help others. assistants must be effective talkers and fast learners.
The demand for assistants continues to grow at a fast rate. Many people are taking more of an interest in their oral hygiene
now than ever before. Since people are living longer, their teeth are requiring more work and care as well as dental procedures.
Dental technology has also made procedures less painful for the patient. As a result more people are ready to go in for dental
work. Another area is the market for cosmetic dentistry. People are going to dental offices all over to get their teeth whitened
and to improve the shape of their teeth and smile.
There are over 300,000 Dental Assistants currently employed
Nationwide. Most of these Dental Assistants are working in dental offices. A small portion work in government agencies, prisons
facilities, and physician offices. Many Dental Assistants are working in more than one dental office due to the demand for
more Assistants. The potential for this occupation is better than most other medical fields. It is said that it will be one
of the top contenders in growth through the year 2012.
There are many career opportunities for these people in the market already. This means almost all Dental Assistants who complete a training program will secure
there employment almost immediately. This job market is Nationwide, so moving for employment is a great possibility for those
who are interested in traveling somewhere else. In some cases, the employer will help you with moving costs.
Many people choose to join the field because of the job market outlook and the
rate of this salary. On the average, Dental Assistants earn $13.92 per hour as a new employee without any job experience.
The highest noted starting rate Nationwide is in New York at $19.87 per hour. think about the minimum wage in most states,
the starting pay for Assistants is at least double. That is a great incentive to enter a career as a Dental Assistant.
Pursuing a career in this field can be a excellent career move. It will provide you with the opportunity to work with
all kinds of people, allow you to explore the dental profession, you will have not trouble gaining employment, and the pay is pretty good. You will also have standard working
hours with paid Holidays. Most dental assistants receive discounted or free dental care for themselves and their families,
this is a big plus. Keeping all this in perspective, the demand for Dental Assistants is a great motivation to take a look
into this career options.
To find out more about Dental Assistant programs in your area, contact you State Dental
Board or your local colleges. You can also find great information on such programs via the internet online. It is very important
that you make sure any program you are thinking about is accredited in your state. Most programs can be completed in 12 to
24 months. Tuition assistance and scholarship programs are usually available. Most Human Services programs will assist with
the cost of programs that can be completed within 2 years and that there is a job market for.So get started if this is the
career for you.
