What does a Dental Hygienist do?

Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow rapidly, much faster than the average for other occupations. As the population ages, demand for dental services will increase and oral health will continue to link to overall health.

It's not easy to become a dental hygienist. It's not simply a case of completing a certification program that you will pass easily just by showing up. You will need to have a bachelor's degree which is something you will need to work hard to succeed at.

Below are the qualities that will help you become a great dental hygienist:

• Empathy for pain
• Concerns of patients
• Attention to Detail
• Optimism
• Great communication skills
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal skills
• Confidence
• Problem-solving skills

Dental hygienist's daily duties include:

• Removing plaque and polishing a patient's teeth during a routine checkup
• Screening patients and reviewing a patient's oral health history
• Teaching appropriate brushing and flossing techniques

Below are the pros of being a dental hygienist:

• Growing employment
• Great salary
• Flexibility and great work life balance
• Steady pay-check
• People-oriented atmosphere
• Opportunities for a dental hygienist are strong in the market

Below are the cons of being a dental hygienist:

• Not much career variety compared to other jobs
• Work can be repetitive
• Occasionally serving unpleasant patients might be a challenge

Most dental hygienists have the liberty to choose to work 3-4 days per week. Most dental hygienists work in clinical practice where they typically treat one patient each hour during a 7-8 hour day.

Yes, many dental hygienists choose to work part-time. Having this option available to you will depend on the individual hospital or employer.

Generally dental hygienists cannot work from home but due to Covid-19 many people have been prompted to adopt remote working practices where possible. Some dental hygienists who normally work from dental clinics which have now been closed, may explore other alternatives such as online instructor or sales rep for dental products.

There shouldn't be issues with a dental hygienist working from any location. The basic duties and resposibilties are same everywhere irrespective of the city you live in. Any dental hygienist who has graduated from an accredited school of dental hygiene, passed national boards and at least one regional clinical exam should be allowed to practice in any state.

Dental hygienists have flexibility, low stress levels and a very good work life balance in their profession. They also have solid prospects to improve, learn and get promoted so that they can earn a higher salary.