Dental Hygienist-souds of instruments on teeth like nails on chalkboard?

I am seriously considering going to school to be a dental hygienist, but my biggest concern is one that I've never seen discussed so I'm sure it's going to be a stupid question.:) The worst part of getting my own teeth cleaned is when they are scraping plaque. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Was anyone else like this? If so, was it easy to get use to?





Thank you!

Dental Hygienist-souds of instruments on teeth like nails on chalkboard?
yes, it does sound like nails on a chalkboard, but that's the ONLY way tartar (ie. calculus) will detach from teeth. you have to put some finger pressure and hold instruments in the correct way. but doing it for 30 minutes will be tough on your hands/fingers/wrists.





there are alternatives to hand instruments (scalers)...Cavitron, which is a sonic-type cleaner...but that makes a loud, high pitched noise!
Reply:Yes, I feel that. Why don't you put on head phones?
Reply:My teeth aren't particularly sensitive and I'm fine with hot, cold, sweet, sour foods but any sort of metal on my teeth makes me really cringe. Even a fork or a spoon, it's like having an electric shock in my mouth.





I absolutely hate going to dentists - injections, drilling, whatever is fine but as soon as he touches my teeth with a metal instrument - aaah.





Give me fingernails on chalkboards any day.
Reply:As a hygienist, the sound does not bother me. I don't necessarily like the noise or feeling when someone is scraping on my teeth, but it never really annoyed me that much - it wasn't something I thought about when I considered hygiene. The fact that you are even thinking that it might bother you might mean that you won't get over it. There are a lot of patients that don't like that noise. You may want to go to a cleaning visit with a friend or relative and see if the noise bothers you when it's someone else in the chair. Good luck.