Dental hygiene degrees

If you are good with your hands and enjoy dealing with people, a career as a dental hygienist could be an ideal choice. A dental hygiene degree program is your key to a career with excellent employment prospects.

What will I study in a dental hygiene degree program
Dental hygiene degree programs include an interesting blend of classroom, laboratory, and clinical tuition. Hands-on elements of dental hygiene school programs instruct students on the use of a range of rotary and hand instruments, x-ray equipment, and syringes. A dental hygiene degree program lets students practice clinical procedures such as teeth and gum examination, stain and plaque removal, and the application of agents which prevent cavities. Examples of classroom subjects include chemistry, microbiology, pathology, and clinical dental hygiene, to name just a few.

What's the score with dental hygiene degree programs?
Dental hygienists require a state license in order to practice. To become licensed, a dental hygienist must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program and pass both clinical and written examinations. The Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited 265 programs in dental hygiene in 2002. Most dental hygiene schools offer dental hygiene degrees at associate level, although some offer a certificate or a degree at bachelor's or master's level.


I've graduated from dental hygiene school: what's next?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that dental hygienists should be one of the fastest growing occupations through to 2012. An associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene should qualify graduates for work in a private dental office. A higher level degree in dental hygiene is normally required for clinical practice in the public health sector, or to undertake teaching and research in dental hygiene school. In 2002, the middle fifty percent of dental hygienists earned between $21.96 and $32.48 per hour.



Sources:
http://bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm