Becoming a Dental Hygienist: Top 5 Tips!

Most careers have their perks, and a career as a Dental Hygienist is no different. After obtaining an Associate’s Degree and completing the necessary testing, these professionals can begin experiencing the benefits associated with the career. Ultimately, here are the top five reasons for becoming a dental hygienist:

Flexibility

As a Dental Hygienist, one of the greatest benefits is the flexibility that comes with the profession. Typically these professionals are able to create their own schedules, and also can choose to work either part-time or full-time. Even for those working part-time schedules, there exists the opportunity to increase the number of hours worked by gaining additionally employment with a Dentist or dental office. Ultimately, this flexibility makes this career especially convenient for parents or those with other daily or weekly obligations.

Sociability

Not a career well-suited for the introverted, Oral Hygienists get to interact with both patients and other healthcare professionals each day. From these encounters, Dental Hygienists are able to build patient/professional relationships, getting to know the person sitting in their chair.

Not only do these relationships help ensure trust between the patient and Dental Hygienist, but they can also help patients feel relaxed and build upon a patient’s preferred clientele. They also enable Hygienists the opportunity to educate their patients on the importance of dental care and prevention. Additionally, through communication with other members of the staff regularly, Dental Hygienists can develop teamwork skills and even friendships that extend outside of the workplace.

Demand

As the “baby boom” population ages, more and more seniors are developing increased needs for dental care. Additionally, as a link was found between dental care and overall health, more patients seek out preventionary care. Thus, the market for Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH) is on the rise.

One of the fastest growing occupations, this industry is projected to grow 20 percent over the next decade. Thus, there are many opportunities for employment, both in urban, suburban and rural areas. However, rural areas tend to be the highest in demand for these professionals, as sometimes access to dental care is limited.

Career Growth

Once embarking into the field as a Oral Hygienist, experience often leads to increased opportunities. Advanced education, such as multiple certifications, can also project a Dental Hygienist further in their career. As a result of this growth, the professionals can come to manage other Hygienists or Dental Assistants, assume more responsibility, assist with educational opportunities and increase their salary. If a RDH is unsure of how to work toward advancing their career in healthcare, they can typically speak with an office manager or dentist at the practice for ideas or suggestions.

Reward

Another benefit of working as a Dental Hygienist is undoubtedly the great feeling of fulfillment earned from helping patients maintain or improve their overall health. By helping them to life healthier lives, Dental Hygienists are doing a good service and may also be helping patients avoid other health issues like gum disease. This part of the career also goes hand-in-hand with its educational component, as Hygienists are able to pass their learned knowledge of dental hygiene onto patients who can adopt these practices, becoming healthier.

At the end of the day, it’s very satisfying for a Oral Hygienist to see patients leave the office with a smile, knowing that they helped that smile stay healthy for use. Getting to know each patient can also be fun, as patients often have equal amounts of knowledge, information or laughs to pass back to their Hygienists.

Are these the same reasons you were hoping to enter the field of healthcare? Learn more about an exciting career as a Dental Hygienist today!