Hygiene Jobs in IL, are there any other than Chicago?

Mari in Flossmoor, Illinois said: i've been taking pre-reqs for dental hygiene, and i'm already having a career choosing crisis. I'm starting to think maybe i should just go for dental assisting or pharmacy technician? All i've been hearing about dental hygienists is bad news. Either the jobs are scarce or the hours are few, I really have enough stress in my life right now and the least I was is to get a job where I will have more added to it.

You should choose surgical tech or just go get your Bachelors.

Hi
Try job shadow for a week
and see if this is your passion.
Also you can volunteer at a local
dental clinic( hospitals are more
open to shadow)and talk to local
people in the profession.

I recently decided to pursue
dental school for the same
reason. Its true little
jobs in the field and
extended fuction DA
are taking the jobs.
I also see alot
of doctors are
using their wife
( not the best idea)
they act like they own
the office and want
to be the BOSS.

Welcome to dentistry!

dawn said: Hi! I'm just getting back into the swing of things since my second baby. I've had great luck temping if that's something you'd be interested in. I'm in Woodstock, Il and the full time jobs are sparse. Best bet for me has been temping.

What temp agencies have you been using for registered dental hygienist? I have been looking for a temporary to permanant part time job. I have been looking on line, word of mouth etc.

HI pmathews, Besides temp agencies, bring along business cards , resumes and references to give offices when you are out and about. If an office is interested, ask if they would like a business card or resume w/references. If there are cities/towns you are interested in Google them for Dentists....check out their webpg's if possible...hope this helps. GL PS- do you have DA skills too? Offer to be a DA as needed if this helps to obtain work.

Is anyone looking for Thursdays and one saturday a month? giving up these hours and working full time at another office and would love to help them find a replacement. Office is in Crown Point, IN.

novotny82 in Demotte, Indiana said: Is anyone looking for Thursdays and one saturday a month? giving up these hours and working full time at another office and would love to help them find a replacement. Office is in Crown Point, IN.

I would like more info!!!! where do I send my resume?

The hours are thursday 7:15-1 and saturdays but I dont know the hours as my first saturday will be this week. The office is dr. lambert in crown point. Google search dr. lambert crown point indiana for fax number as this site wont allow me to post

I enjoy being a Prophy Queen. so many hygienists should go on to be dentists. They want to own a practice, do anesthetic, why? let the docs numb their pt before we do scales. they want all the glory and if u want the "glory" GO TO DENTAL SCHOOL. i enjoy just doing prophies and not being a nurse doing blood pressures or a dr. doing anesthetic. Also, no chairside whitenings work beter than crest strips, and the time spent doing it is mind numbing boredom..............

www.chesi.org

I'll be starting the Dental Hygiene program this Fall and was wondering what your thoughts were on working part time. It would be twice a week a dental office for about 6 hrs a day. I'll be taking 10 cr this Fall. Any suggestions?

I think working in a dental office a few days a week is a great idea. You will be able to see some of the things that you are learning in school put into practice in "real life" Good luck in school

Hello. I have been a dental hygienist since 1987 and I am very skilled and qualified. I am very passionate about my job. Due to the economy , my age and the oversaturation of dental hygienists in Lake County , I am finding it impossible to find a job. One dentist even asked me if I was burnt out during my interview. I am looking for someone to hire me. I can not believe the lack of respect that our profession has gotten from dentists. Most would rather just polish the teeth themselves or schedule it in the assistants chair. The disease that I have found in some practices amazes me. I could "sell" tx plans that were never discussed. Planting the seed. If anyone knows of any availabilities please let me know. I want to work. I live northwest of Gurnee...

Hello. I have been a dental hygienist since 1987 and I am very skilled and qualified. I am very passionate about my job. Due to the economy , my age and the oversaturation of dental hygienists in Lake County , I am finding it impossible to find a job. One dentist even asked me if I was burnt out during my interview. I am looking for someone to hire me. I can not believe the lack of respect that our profession has gotten from dentists. Most would rather just polish the teeth themselves or schedule it in the assistants chair. The disease that I have found in some practices amazes me. I could "sell" tx plans that were never discussed. Planting the seed. If anyone knows of any availabilities please let me know. I want to work. I live northwest of Gurnee...

It's so sad to see the over-satuation of RDH's. I love it when we had a choice on who to work for. With all the Hygiene school's in Ill. it's impossible to get a job. I always thought our profession was respected. The few calls I have had for interviewing mad me feel like we have to compromise our belief in quality and skill. 30-40 min for adult prophy's is not acceptable. If you are one of those RDH's who will settle for this, well it's hurting the rest of us with morals and integrity!

The job situation in Illinois is simply awful. I have 30+ years of experience and I refuse to devalue my profession by taking less per hour than I am worth just to get a job. Dentists know the position we are in now and are taking full advantage of the glut of hygienists out there. Those of you willing to take a pittance for a salary or cramming 30 minute prophies into your schedule are hurting the profession we have loved and nurtured all these years. The only ones making money from that are the dentists.
My question is: Where is the ADHA in all this??? There are way too many hygiene programs out there and not enough dentists graduating every year to support our profession unless the ADA is willing to release their stronghold on our profession and allow us to open independent practices.

I have been a hygienist for 3 years now. I live in richmond(Mchenry) il and there are no jobs around here. I waork one day a week in Antioch, however we are getting slow there also. Please if any one knows a dental office hiring around here PLEASE let me know.

Jennifer in Clinton Township, Michigan said: I have ten years experience in Michigan in the affluent suburbs and have been out of work almost two years now.

The problem is ownership. We are owned by the Dentists and cannot open our own shops.

My nail tech makes more money than me since she opened her own shop.

My hair dresser makes more money than me by far. She showed me her tax return, net over 100K after expenses.

Someone needs to call Oprah and have her do a story on the RDH's that are actually prostitutes for pimp dentists.

They own all the 'territory' and there is nothing we can do about it.

Imagine all the people we could treat if we had our own little clinics with a couple of chairs and an autoclave and x-ray machine. The old laws have got to go.

I made a big mistake becoming an RDH.

Well said Jennifer!!! I have been a RDH for almost 20 years, it seems as if it's going backwards!!

We need to become truly, completely, and absolutely autonomous for that to work. I believe the independents are having a hard time with their businesses because the dentists still control the hygiene fee guide. Hygiene fees are kept low (relatively speaking) on purpose. It's hard for an indy to justify higher prices for their services when the patients can go to Dr. XYZ for less and get the rest of their dental work done there as well. Plus, the independents can't do LA, at least, not up here (I believe).
I agree that we are going backwards. We've tried so hard to prove ourselves and the hygiene field by going beyond what was originally the scope of hygiene: scaling, polishing, and fluoridating. The hygiene curriculum has advanced so much over the years. Think of the oral path, embryology, restorative dentistry, nutrition counseling, treatment planning, ethics, and so many other courses that we took. It's incredible what we learned. But, in my 20 years as a DH, I used only the smallest percentage of what I learned. Many dentists don't care what we know and they don't want our input. They just want us to clean mouths as fast as possible. Periodontists will care, but how many of those jobs exist?
Some will disagree with me, but I'm just speaking from my experiences and observations. We're on our way out.

Superfluous RDH in Ottawa, Ontario said: We need to become truly, completely, and absolutely autonomous for that to work. I believe the independents are having a hard time with their businesses because the dentists still control the hygiene fee guide. Hygiene fees are kept low (relatively speaking) on purpose. It's hard for an indy to justify higher prices for their services when the patients can go to Dr. XYZ for less and get the rest of their dental work done there as well. Plus, the independents can't do LA, at least, not up here (I believe).
I agree that we are going backwards. We've tried so hard to prove ourselves and the hygiene field by going beyond what was originally the scope of hygiene: scaling, polishing, and fluoridating. The hygiene curriculum has advanced so much over the years. Think of the oral path, embryology, restorative dentistry, nutrition counseling, treatment planning, ethics, and so many other courses that we took. It's incredible what we learned. But, in my 20 years as a DH, I used only the smallest percentage of what I learned. Many dentists don't care what we know and they don't want our input. They just want us to clean mouths as fast as possible. Periodontists will care, but how many of those jobs exist?
Some will disagree with me, but I'm just speaking from my experiences and observations. We're on our way out.

Hi Superfluous RDH in Ottawa, You are exactly right in everything you say! I have seen a periodontist do a perio pxs maintenace on a patient in 8 mins. I thought, "OMG".

RDH Chicago:
OMG indeed! Good anecdote! And I bet the patient was as pleased as punch to have the dentist work on their teeth as opposed to a DH, you know, "one of those girls", as well as to get out of the chair ASAP.

WHY are people turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the reality of the Dental Hygiene field??? From those just out TRYING to find a day to the experienced older RDH's still in the field, luckily. I am in the middle as far as age, but the information we give as to the state of RDH's an work opp's are TRUE and reality for the majority. Do you, who think your job is safe, setting up a dept. , getting benefits, REALLY feel safe and secure? I'd make sure to keep an eye on your finances, monthly and watch your surroundings: ie-front desk , conversations, leaving early, coming in later for patients. I say this not to scare anyone, but with the oversaturation of RDH's, your job is NOT safe by any means. Anecdote's are REAL and even if you have not exp'd them YET, you will with the state of our field, the numbers continuing to be churned out of ALL schools, etc....not a career anymore. If you have "a Passion for,....or ....all I've every wanted to do"....thought, go sideways in DA to obtain: steady work, hours, increases in your pay, bonuses, dent/med, 401-K....they are the ones who get the benefits....you're on your own as an RDH...and FYI, our pay is going down close to that of DA's...so why not save on the ridiculous cost of training, licensing, etc...and go to school for a fraction of the cost and get the career and steady work and BENEFITS. Passion doesn't pay the bills or give you a nest egg . Think forward...if DH had less of us...we who inform you as to the Reality of the field would speak its praise and welcome you into it, but we are choosing to guide you to a career, not a day or two here and there. GL on your choice of major. Think forward to where you can go with it. DH will never be the same because of the greed of schools and the misinformation by schools, govt. , BLS and online articles....lies and no where near accurate in many states as you can see from the vast number of individuals: young to old...on here saying : what's up with DH? VET

I made inquiries at the local private DH school. It costs 35K for an 18 month course. (That includes everything school-wise. For living expenses, you're on your own.)Students can get a loan of up to 60K at a certain bank without someone co-signing it. What an enormous amount of debt to start your life with, and with the job market as it is, a huge gamble.

Diane in Macomb, Michigan said: Well said Jennifer!!! I have been a RDH for almost 20 years, it seems as if it's going backwards!!

So True!!!

I´m not sure it´s any better in Mass. 4 jobs I´ve seen on craigslist and indeed. I am so sick of the word ¨¨cleaning¨¨ If I knew that I would have been in debt and after 9 years in the profession and a BS Degree to show for it just to be told ¨¨I just want my teeth cleaned¨¨, or all you do is clean teeth,
I might just tell the next person a thing or two. saw an ad today that read, DH license number, and all these details required bilingual, digital, etc. but he didn´t list his Dental license number!! I am really considering going back to school.
I´m just sayin.....
I don´t know what other State is better to try to land something decent.Don´t settle but at the same time don´t be too proud to Negotiate. WE can be firm but persuasive without being indignant to get what we deserve right?
I hope it´s better soon!