Dental Hygienists?!
Question: I'm going to school to be a dental hygienist. I've heard that it is alot of work and I am prepared to do it. But what I want to know if you think that all of the hard work was worth it and let me know some of the experiences that you had along to way so I can know what lies ahead. Thank you
Answers:
I'm glad that you've chosen dental hygiene as a profession. And don't let baboon head's comment discourage you. He has shown one of the disadvantages of dental hygiene, and that is possibly working with a dentist you don't like. I knew a hygienist that quit hygiene all together because she hated the dentist she worked for so much. I would never work for a dentist like him, and I hope you wouldn't either. I would hope that any dentist would know more about dentistry than his hygienist. They go to school twice as long. Anyway, hygiene school is rough, but it is worth it in the end. To me anyway, I've known hygienist who quit because of the repetiveness of the job. But to me, every patient is different. I might be scraping calculus off teeth all day, but the education I give is different for each patient. It's all about the patients for me. Making them comfortable, finding out what motivates them, educating them about not only their oral health but also their overall health. So many patients are uneducated on how their oral health can affect their whole body. People think of the mouth as being seperate from the rest of their body, and it's all the same. In hygiene school you can expect to be pushed to your limits when you think you can't take anymore and back again. I think every girl in my class had a nervous breakdown and cried during some point in clinic and said they were ready to quit. I did, but luckily I stayed. Expect lots of hours of studying and tests crammed into too little time. One sememster we had nine classes, which meant tests all the time. Just do the best you can and try not to get stressed out to easily. It'll go by so fast and it'll be over before you know it. Good luck, and I hope you find it as rewarding as I do.
Other Answers:
Dental Hygiene school is going to be the hardest, most stressful thing you have ever done in your life. So many people are programmed to believe that all a hygienist does is clean teeth. They think how hard can that be? Well I am here to tell everyone, that yes we do clean teeth, but it is much much more then that. We have to know why someone gets periodontal disease, the bacteria that causes it. The reasons why the body reacts to these bacteria..we have to know all of the instruments associated with cleaning teeth, the angles, the names, how to tell what instrument goes where. oral anatomy and pathology, tooth numbers, how many roots a tooth has, the pathology of dental plaque and calculus and how to best prevent and remove it.infectious diseases, the symptoms, how it is spread, the oral and physical characteristics of the disease.. oral cancer how to recognize oral lesions that may be precancerous or cancerous.infection control, how to handle needles carefully, how to sterilize instruments and operate a number of sterilization machines, what temperatures and chemicals are used.how to inform and teach patients that they have periodontal disease or gingivitis, a carious lesion, a periodontal or periapical abscess, how to take radiographs, periapical and bitewings, how a x-ray tube head works, what a Roengten, Sievert, and amperage is, the ALARA concept, what organs and body cells are most affected by radiation, settings depending on what area you are x-raying, placement of film in mouth, parallel technique or bisecting angle technique.importance of proper documentation and charting, pharmacology, what medications are used for what, what medications affect dental health, xerostomia, exudate, Bacteroids Forsythus, Prevotella Intermedia, Porphomonus Gingivalis, Univerisal instruments, Graceys, Sonic and Ultrasonic Scalers, Prophy Jet, Periodontal Ligament, Wickman's Striae, Acute Nectroizing Ulcerative Periodontitis, ... You will become very, very comfortable with all of these terms as you go through hygiene school. I never in a million years realized the amount of hard work and information I was required to know to become a hygienist. In the state I live in hygienists are also able to give injections, so we take several semesters learning all of the anatomical landmarks and nerves that we will be numbing. The trigeminal nerve mainly and it's three branches, we have to know all of the dental anesthetics, lidocaine, polocaine, which are amides and which are esters. All of the diseases and conditions that can be dangerous when using dental anesth. Overdoses, why and how anesthetics are metabolized by the body..Is the work and stress worth it? Only you can answer that for yourself, but for me YES. First of all it is an honor to get into hygiene school, you have to have almost perfect grades, the competition is fierce, second I graduated with honors, third I got a very high grade on my national board test, and my practical, I gave hygiene school one hundred and fifty percent So the personal satisfaction for me is phenominal. There is nothing that makes me feel better then helping people understand that their oral health and bodily health go hand in hand and that you can't have a one without the other. Did you know that periodontal disease can contribute to stroke, heart problems, diabetic problems, low birth weight babies and a plethura of other problems. Did you know that any chronic infection in the body is not good? Did you know that any bleeding in the mouth is a sign of infection? Did you know that a cavity is caused by bacteria and acid and that a cavity is considered an infection? So you see that we are far more then just "tooth cleaners" we are a professional health care provider who just happens to also clean teeth. An interesting side note, in my area a hygienist has more anatomies and physiology classes then the RN program in college. It is an honor to be a hygienist, and if you are going to school to be one, then do your best. You will never experience anything like it. You will feel such a sense of accomplishment when you are out and practicing. Yes it is stressful, it will take it's toll on you physcially and emotionally, but when it is all said and done you will be so proud to be part of a profession that not only helps people, but strives for perfection in every aspect. The best of luck to you.
Source(s):
Registered Dental Hygienist
I'm a dentist.
I'm sure you've read that song-and-dance from the hygienist above. Now I'll tell you the truth.
Take the entire education of a dentist, divide it by 4, and water it down, and you've got a hygienist's education. And that is even way too much education for what a hygienist does. In general, after the hygienist performs the cleaning and calls me into the room to do my exam, I ask the hygienist if she saw anything. She will say, "I found decay on tooth #XYZ, etc." Beyond that, I don't care what the hygienist says. She'll talk and I'll nod my head to be polite, but I am not interested in her assessment of the patient's needs. And why would I be? Mine is going to be more accurate.
I work in a large group practice that employs many hygienists, and while they vary widely in intelligence, they are invariably grossly lacking in knowledge in virtually every dental subject. The hygienists I work with are perfectly able to see tooth decay on x-rays (which a chimpanzee could do), but when they try to diagnose the need for work other than fillings, such as crown & bridge, extractions, etc. they are wrong at least a third of the time.which are not good odds when you're in health care. Admittedly, I have become quite annoyed by the hygienists (despite the fact that they are an invaluable part of any dental practice) because many of them seem to think that they know what we know, and get upset when I overrule their treatment recommendations.
In reality, as a hygienist, you are supposed to clean teeth and instruct patients on proper oral hygiene. Legally, you do not have the authority to diagnose anything. You can try, but ultimately the dentist has to put his/her signature on what you write. If I disagree with something my hygienist wrote, it doesn't get my signature until it's changed.
So, that long sermon posted above about the role of the hygienist is a bunch of hot air. The reality is that you clean teeth and little else.
The Dentist who wrote to you must not be very experienced. I feel sorry for who ever works with her or him. I have been a hygienist for 18 years. Hygiene school was very grueling because it is way to much info to pack into two years ! (I went on to get a B.A. in marketing it was way easy after that)You will know about what the assistant knows and a whole lot more because you will be the fast eyes for the Doctor a good Hygienist should be able to clean the teeth, do proposing(not the written report) full mouth inspect for failing restorations and cancer in oh about 40 mins. So that is why they train you like a mad women in school. Keep going though once u get the hang of it it is very rewarding to find an 8mm pocket or a cracked bridge and save patients the pain.How wonderful to do a Root plane case and see it get better. I truly feel grateful when I can see patients leave satisfied and continue in to help them . We often make a decent wage too! In my area hygiene pays 35.00 and up! I get a low 38.00 ,,,oh booo hoooo hha ha $$$$$
Source(s):
experience
I too feel sorry for babbuu. he is not likely to have an office where his employees and patients love him.
Hell yes it is worth it. hygenist are in demand. It's a fantastic career. A dentist can't be a good dentist without a great hygenist. In the city where I went to dental school, hygenist make more money than begining dentist.
Go for it. You will be able to find a great dental team that you can be part of and don't settle for anything less
GLAD to see so many positive responses. When I first saw this qn, there was only 2 responses. And baboo's reply is so negative that I was thinking twice about my future. But seeing there are dentists supporting the dh, it really makes me feel glad. Go on to become a hygienist! Rock on! =)
Answers: