Is anyone here a Dental Hygienist ? If so, can you share some info?

[Stepharoonie!]

Howdy ya'll!

I'm thinking about going to school (finally!), and I think I FINALLY decided on what I want to go to school for...to be a Dental Hygienist. How long does it take to go through school to become one? Do you actually ENJOY your job? I've never actually heard anything negative about it, but I figured I'd ask. Any info is appreciated...thanks!

 

[Cindy B]

I seriously thought about doing this as well.

Our local community college has a program for Hygienest as well.

I looked into information and program requirements. There is a lot of science/biology/chemistry prerequisites. There also is a practicum off site in dental clinics\offices as well.

I talked with a few hygeinists as well. As of a few years ago, they made a decent hourly wage (about $20 hour) as well.

The only cons were the times of dental offices. As you know dental offices are open weekends, nights, and sometimes strange hours. These hygienests did not get full medical benefits, since most of these were part time. A dentist would hire maybe 1-2 hygienists and make them part time..

The one advantage would be free dental care.

It was a good supplemental job for a mother, but it was challenging to find a full benefits 40 hour week.

I decided that to complete my schooling wasn't worth it for a part time job without benefits.

 

[janette]

One of my cousins is a dental hygenist and loves it. I think it takes about 2 yrs and the hourly wage is pretty decent. It seems like she is able to almost pick her jobs, almost does more interviewing than the dentist. There are some dentists that do some things she doesn't approve of and she doesn't want to work for them. She can pick her hours, she has 2 young children and works around their schedules.

I couldn't do it, working in or around someones mouth is completely out of my realm of comfort but if you can do it it does pay well and seems to be pretty flexible.

Benefits might be a problem since many dentists have small practices.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I would think a draw back would be people slober on you all the time.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Well, you'd be wearing gloves and have that spiffy little hose that sucks spit up

 

[discoduck]

DW has been one for 12 years its a 2 year non stop course at a comunity college ( at least for her} I was with her through the whole time . Not pleasent lots of crying but she graduated top of her class and started at 20 an hour and is up to arond 50 k a year for about 30 hours a week . But there is a high level of stress involed. I"m sure some offices are better then others but Just remember that dentist"s have the higheset rate of suicide of any other career (very germ phobic} Its a good job as far as $$$$$ but the stress level of working with less then sane or profesional doctors can be rough and tends to bring you down to. If people only knew what some of these guys are up to as far as treatment plans.
Maybe its different in other parts of the country but in IMOP I doubt it . I"m sure I"ll get flamed for this and I am not trying to scare you but just let you know what is involved