What kind of education do I need to become a dental hygienist?
Required Education for Dental Hygienists
If you are interested in a challenging career, then you should pursue a career in dental assisting. After obtaining your high school diploma, you should enroll in any of the dental assistant schools available and complete a dental hygiene program. Most programs will require you to complete laboratory, clinical, and classroom instruction in lots of different subjects. Some of these subjects include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacology. Other subjects are nutrition, radiography, periodontology, and dental materials. If you are interested in practicing in a private dental office, you will most likely need a minimum of a certificate or associate degree in dental hygiene. However, if you are interested in working in research, teaching, or clinical practice in public or school health programs, you will probably need a bachelor's or master's degree.
Job Outlook for Dental Hygienists
After completing coursework at any of the accredited dental assistant schools and getting the appropriate certification and license to become a dental hygienist, you will probably be able to choose from many job openings in this field. Employment in dental assisting is expected to grow much faster than average over the next several years. There should be a greater demand for dental hygienists due to the population increase and the fact that more people are keeping their natural teeth throughout their lifetime than have in the past.
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