Become a Dental Hygienist and work in the prestigious dental field

The Dental industry is one of the most highly respected and valuable industries in health care. Becoming a Dental Hygienist is a career that allows you to work closely with other people and provide them with a valuable healthcare service that can increase their confidence and ultimately their lives. 

A study conducted as far back as 2018 concluded that 79% of Americans were not happy with the way that they looked. Additionally, studies show that one out of three people wants to improve the appearance of their smile.  

Working in the dental industry is a great industry for any job seeker who is interested in finding a career that allows them to make a good income.  

Working in a dental office means that you will be working in a small office setting with the benefit of being able to work in a variety of locations. 

During appointments, dental hygienists will remove plaque and calculus from the surfaces of the patient's teeth and apply sealants and fluorides to the patient's teeth. 

 Additional tasks that dental hygienists complete are patient screening procedures, reviews of patient health history, and oral health assessments. They also teach oral hygiene strategies like brushing, flossing. 

As a result of the specialized and valuable education, dental hygienists enjoy fulfilling careers that can lead to pursuing a variety of other careers within the dental industry with more advanced training. 

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the dental industry, there are a variety of education options to choose from to meet your desired career goals. Many dental programs at community colleges can take about two years to complete to receive an associate's degree. An associate's degree from a community college meets the requirements to take the required licensing exams to work in a dentist's office.  

State and/or regional exams test each candidates' knowledge of dental hygiene and the related subjects and their clinical dental hygiene skills. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is the only agency approved to accredit dental hygiene education programs. 

Dental hygiene programs taken at universities may require additional years of schooling to obtain a baccalaureate or master's degree. These programs can take up to two more years to complete. Dental Hygienists can also pursue additional training in other areas like education, business administration, basic sciences, marketing, and public health.