Brushing Up Your Dental Hygiene Career |
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February 22, 2006
By Gabby Hyman
Healthcare Programs Columnist
gabby.hyman@healthcare-programs.com
No wonder so many dental hygienists love their work. They earn a good living, work flexible hours, and enjoy helping others to maintain their health. If you're considering a dental
hygiene career, think of the broad options in the field.
Not all graduates of dental hygiene schools work at the patient's chair. Some become prevention program developers and administrators. Others become consultants, editors, and educators. Hygienists may work in private offices, dental clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, government and public health agencies. Talk about having flexibility in your career!
From Dental Hygiene School to Lifelong Career
Each state in the union has its own set of licensing requirements for graduates of a qualified dental hygiene program. Most states require successful completion the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations written test.
Be sure to evaluate several dental hygiene schools for cost, program length, and strength or curriculum before making your selection. Many schools offer dental hygiene programs of a year or more in length. You can expect to take a range of classes that include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, radiography, and pharmacology.
Healthy Job Outlook for Dental Hygiene Careers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there's an increasing demand for dental hygienists to assume more duties traditionally performed by dentists. Combine that with the ever-increasing demand for qualified and licensed grads from dental hygiene schools, job growth over the next decade is expected to rise much faster for hygienists than the averages of all other occupations.
If you have good manual dexterity, enjoy working with others, and have a keen interest in science and health, choosing a career in dental hygiene is a no-brainer
About the Author
Gabby Hyman has written for print and online media for more than 20 years. He has created online content for eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Avaya, and Nissan UK. He has also been a web consultant to the Governor of California. As an author of fiction, journalism, and poetry, Gabby is a former English professor for the University of Illinois, University of Alaska, and Old Dominion University. He holds an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Alabama.
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