By: Sara Brooks RDH, BS
Congratulations! You decided you want to become a Dental Hygienist! So now what?
- Find the Best School for You
- Take Prerequisite Classes First
- Invest in Comfortable Scrubs and Shoes
- Ask Friends and Family to be Your Patients
- Find an Office to Work at
1. Find the Best School for You
The first thing you are going to need to do is research to find a school that has an accredited dental hygiene program.
Many community colleges offer dental hygiene. The benefit of a community college is lower tuition and fewer student loans. If you are just wanting to work as a clinical dental hygienist, an associate’s degree is all you need.
There are also several universities that offer dental hygiene, that would offer a bachelor’s degree. While having a bachelor’s degree to work in the clinical setting is not necessary, a bachelor’s degree can open doors to other opportunities outside of the operator.
If you decide to get your associate’s degree, there are degree completion programs to get your bachelor’s down the road. Most are online programs where you can work and finish your degree.
I went to a community college and got my associate’s of applied science in dental hygiene. After several years I decided to get my bachelor’s using an online degree completion program. I was able to continue working as a dental hygienist and take care of my kids at home, all while going back to school.
2. Take Prerequisite Classes First
One thing I highly recommend, whether you decide on an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program is to take the prerequisite classes first. Yes, you can complete an associate’s degree in two years. But quite frankly, the prerequisite classes plus the dental hygiene program class load is overbearing.
Talk with the guidance counselor at the school of interest and see what they recommend. It was my personal choice to break up the prerequisite classes my first year of college, then tackle the dental hygiene program. I know it’s another year of school but I was so glad I didn’t have to cram in that much more.
Believe me, dental hygiene is no walk in the park. The program is tough. But if your heart is in it, then it’s fun to learn. I’m not trying to sound rude or harsh but the few people from my dental hygiene class that tried to take the prerequisites with the hygiene program, were the ones that struggled the most and a few failed out of the program. They were able to make up the classes or join the next year’s class.
Take it from me and just take another year of school and lessen the stress off your plate.
3. Invest in Comfortable Shoes and Scrubs
You’ve picked out a dental hygiene program and have been accepted. I suggest investing in comfortable shoes and scrubs.
You will need to check with the school on what color if any requirements on color or style. You will literally live in these clothes. Finding the right pair is important. Scrubs can feel like your most comfortable pajamas if they fit right.
Keep in mind, you pay for what you get. Shoes are just as important. Although the common misconception is that we sit on our butts all day. You will spend time on your feet too. After a long day of school or work, there is no time for achy feet.
Some more things you will need to invest in are instruments or tools for the dental hygiene program. The school will let you know exactly what you need but be prepared for the expense. Another thing to talk to a guidance counselor about so you can plan ahead. Even if you choose the community college for less tuition, student loans are a great option to help with these expenses.
4. Ask Friends and Family to Be Your Patients
Once you get to see patients in the clinical courses of the dental hygiene program, you will be asked to provide your own patients. Beg, borrow and steal your family and friends to come in as patients.
Got a parent that goes to the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups? Great! If they are regulars that could mean they are a little easier to work on (maybe). They would be a good way to start and ease into an easy cleaning for your first patient. Have a friend that has not been to the dentist or had a cleaning in years? Great! Keep them in mind for a boards patient.
To become a dental hygienist you will have to do a national written board exam and a regional competency exam. The competency exam tests your hands-on skills. You will need to provide your own patient to complete the skills on and they have to qualify by having so much calculus build up on their teeth. Finding a qualified boards patient is a difficult task. That is why having a family or friend that has not had a cleaning in a while is a good person to have on your side.
5. Find an Office To Work At
You’ve become a dental hygienist! Now to find your unicorn office. There are many options as far as the type of office you can work in. There are options such as general dentistry practice, pediatric office, cosmetic dentistry, or even a spa-like environment. There are so many options and ways a dental office can go.
Finding your niche and passion is important to maintain for a long-standing career. I have worked in general dentistry seeing all ages. I currently work at an FQHC or federally qualified health clinic. We take more of an overall medical approach to the patient’s needs. We take blood pressures at every appointment and do depression screening as well.
As clinicians, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. My passion is the elderly. The office and staff know that I have a desire to help the elderly so they try to put those patients in my schedule. I’m good with kids but they honestly wear me out. As stated before, there are also many opportunities outside the dental office. Those include but are not limited to; sales representative, insurance, instructor, speaking, or writing.
The dental world has so many options and opportunities. I absolutely love being a Dental Hygienist. I love being able to help my patients by educating them and achieve overall health. Welcome to the dental family.
Sara Brooks lives in rural Missouri and continues to work as a clinical Dental Hygienist. She graduated from Carl Sandburg College with an Associate’s of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene in 2006. In 2018, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Oral Health Promotion from O’Hehir University. Sara is married and has two young daughters that keep her busy. Sara knew she wanted to be a Dental Hygienist when she was 8 years old. Her passion for the dental field started at such a young age because her mom was a Dental Hygienist and Sara wanted to follow in her footsteps.
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