Interested in the field of dentistry, but don't want to spend the six to eight years of required school to become a dentist? According to statistics, dental hygienists make a good living.
With dental hygienists now earning a salary between $44,900 and $92,860, with a median salary of $67,340, there's clearly opportunities to be found. The U.S. Department of Labor expects to see a rapid job growth rate in the field, with a 36% growth by the year 2018. As the population ages and more people seek the expertise of dental professionals, more opportunities will be available for dental hygienists.
What exactly does a dental hygienist do? A dental hygienist is responsible for cleaning teeth, inspecting patients for periodontal diseases, making molds of patients' teeth, and taking x-rays. Most hygienists work in dental offices, although a few work in a corporate setting. The hygienist generally sees the patient before the dentist, cleaning the teeth and noting any problems to tell the dentist about.
How do you enter this lucrative field? A minimum of an associates degree from a school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, plus a license to practice is required. While this is the minimum required, many dental hygienists hold bachelor's or master's degrees in the field.
An American Dental Association (ADA) dental hygienist license requires both written testing and clinical tests. Written tests involve knowledge of practical dentistry and the legal aspects of working in a practice. In some states, on-the-job training is required before a license will be issued.
While there is little chance of advancement within a practice without further education, dental hygienists with experience may spend time teaching or working part time for low-cost clinics.
Work hours for dental hygienists are very flexible, and over half of all hygienists currently work part time at one or more dental office. Days, nights, and weekends are all available to hygienists, and many hygienists work more than one job.
While job growth is expected to be very high above average, it is expected that areas with dental hygiene programs will experience a high level of competition for dental hygienist positions. Those working outside of areas with a high concentration of trained and licensed hygienists will have an easier time finding an entry-level position.
With an average salary of over $67,000 per year, a career as a dental hygienist is a great opportunity for someone not wishing to go through the extensive education required of a dentist.
Author Resource:-
Eric writes for DentalHygienistJobs.org, a top job search engine that compiles dental hygiene jobs from job boards, professional associations, newspapers and career pages.
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