What education is required to be a dental hygienist

Dental hygienists play an important role in maintaining overall oral health. As such, they must have a solid educational foundation. To become a dental hygienist, one needs to complete a two-year associate's degree program or seek out a four-year bachelor's degree in the related field.

The curriculum for this type of program typically includes a combination of classroom instruction and clinical experiences. On the classroom side, topics such as anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and nutrition, radiographic procedures, and dental hygiene theory are often covered. Students also get the opportunity to take courses in general education such as math, science, language arts and humanities. Clinical coursework often requires students to perform hands-on work under supervision in order to practice dental hygiene skills like scaling, root planing, periodontal charting and x-ray reviews.

There are also other certifications that dental hygienists can pursue to qualify for more advanced opportunities within the profession including specialty certifications from the National Board of Dental Hygiene Examiners or certifications from the American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA).

In addition to formal education requirements for becoming a dental hygienist, many employers will prefer applicants with some experience in the field. Working as a chairside assistant in an existing dental office is what many hygienist choose to do while they are completing their educational programs. Other work experience opportunities may include working as an administrative assistant or interning at a local community health center or school setting can be beneficial additions when applying for positions.

See more about sscnbkn.id – berbagi info cpns dari sscasn.bkn.go.id 2023/2024