Dental Assistant To Dental Hygienist

Dental Assistant To Dental Hygienist - What's Required To Get There

In the world of dentistry most people are familiar with some of the main components of a dental office. There is of course the dentist, but you usually see the dental assistant or dental hygienist first. If your trying to move from being a dental assistant to dental hygienist it is important to understand the differences between these two careers as they differ both in education and training. Here are a few things you will need to do.

You will need to take some classes to learn the many things a dental hygienist does. Normally, as a dental assistant you will be handling things like sterilizing and disinfecting dental instruments and various pieces of equipment the dentist uses in repairing teeth or even in figuring out what the damage is. Although a dental hygienist is also charged with setting up the equipment and tools for dentists to help them prepare for the patient, dental hygienists are also required to perform more complicated tasks, such as administering local anesthetics, removing calculus, stains and plaque and more.

In school you will learn all about how all of the tools work, how to mix fillings and even how to put together some of the molds the dentists use. A dental hygienist has the job of explaining to the patient exactly what will happen and what to expect so when the dentist comes in he or she can go right to work. Interpersonal skills are a must in this career choice.

You will need to be certified as a dental assistant after schooling by taking a test however if you change states you don't have to go through the basic dental assisting program again, you just take the test for that particular state. Some states have different regulation so be sure and check to make sure your in full compliance. If you go into a specialist position or enter into an office that handles things not covered in your training you will have to take courses to catch up and become certified in those areas.

The transition from dental assistant to dental hygienist is a hard one. In most states, the dental assistant program doesn't offer accredited course hours that can be transferred towards a dental hygiene back of science degree, which is what you need to become a dental hygienist. As a dental assistant to dental hygienist in training you will go through a dental assisting program based in a college environment. There are many accelerated programs that can be completed in as little as 11 months and include all the things you need to be a successful dental assistant. However, in order to become a dental hygienist you will need an education that requires a 2 to 4 year associate's or bachelor's degree in dental hygiene.

If you are still thinking about what to choose between dental assistant and dental hygienist as a career then you should first consider the differences in the amount of hard work and time you will have to invest and the amount of pay you will get. Certainly dental hygienists have a better payroll than dental assistants but it also comes with spending a lot of your time studying. If you have the time, you should consider getting your dental hygienist degree as it will be more rewarding in the long run.

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