How do I become a dental hygienist?

I'm currently attending a city college in san francisco and my main major is nursing.


I won't be completing the nursing program for a while so I'm wanting to do dental hygienist in the meantime.


my school offers a dental assistant program [2 years] .. is this the same as dental hygienist?


also .. what do dental hygienist wages start at?

How do I become a dental hygienist?
If your nursing program is like others, you either have a 2+ year waiting list, or the entrance requirements are exteremly hard and keep adjusting to allow only the die hard and most likely to pass students in. This is nothing new. However, your question about dental assisting peaks my curiosity.





No- by no means are dental asisting and dental hygiene the same. The dental assistant works closely and under the supervision of the dentist. Hygeinists on the other hand work independently and often consult with the dentist when they notice a problem with their patient.





Their education courses are completely different and concentrate in separate areas of dental help. The hygienist work directly with paitients and provide instruction and assistance when it comes to dental health.





As for the pay scale- In my area the average hourly wage for an assistant is between 12-15 per/he. Compare that to a hygienists wage of about 32-36 per/hr- I think you can see the difference. While both careers are in a high demand in the area that I live in- the high respectability comes with the hygienist.





This is not to say that is easy to become a dental hygienist- quite the opposite is true. Out of six local community colleges in a 50 mile radius, only one offers a dental hygienist program (only the top 36 students are accepted and it starts once a year). All of the community college offer a nursing program (starting with a student body of 90 and a spring and in some cases a fall program). This is not meant to become a why choose a career in dental hygiene over nursing discussion; but rather to inform you that while an education in nursing is tough and demanding a career in dental hygiene is just as intense from an education standpoint. Both the dental hygienists program and the nursing programs in my area tell the students up front that the program that they have chosen is a full-time and very demanding choice; with advice to not chose either of these if they cannot commit to a full-time class and clinical schedule.





So, while you can finish school and get a dental assistant certification- you will not make as much as a hygienist or a nurse for that matter.





Hope this helps.





Good Luck- nursing is an excellent choice.
Reply:assistant is not same as hygienist, latter earns more and has more schooling
Reply:It is important to understand the differences between a dental assistant and dental hygienist, because their roles vary and the required education and training are different.





Dental Assistants


Dental Assistants are typically responsible for the following tasks:





Working closely with patients before, during and after procedures


Assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures


Taking and developing x-rays


Preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment


Taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth)


Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies


Performing office management


Most dental assisting programs last between 9 and 11 months, leading to a certificate or diploma.











Dental Hygienists


Dental Hygienists perform a wide range of services, primarily in preventative oral health care. They share some of the same duties as dental assistants, such as creating molds and taking x-rays. In addition, a dental hygienist often performs the following types of tasks:





Collecting information about the patient's oral and medical health history


Removing calculus, stains and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth


Making molds of patients' teeth used for evaluating treatment


Charting patients’ dental conditions for the dentist


Applying fluorides and decay preventatives


Administering local anesthetics


Removing sutures and dressings


Although the earning potential is greater, a dental hygienist education requires a 2- to 4-year associate’s or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Some dental hygienists may also pursue a master’s degree. If you’re interested in a career in dental hygiene, find a program that’s right for you.