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To
be a successful Dental Hygienist you should:
- Work well with others.
- Have good manual dexterity.
- Have good listening skills.
- Have good eye/hand coordination and precision.
- Have visual acuity noting details in color/shape.
- Have the ability to calm nervous patients.
- Have good aptitude for science coursework.
- Have good health, personal neatness, cleanliness.
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| What
type of education and/or training do I need?
Dental hygienists receive their education through academic
programs at community colleges, technical colleges, dental
schools, or universities. The majority of community college
programs take two years to complete, with graduates receiving
A diploma, certificate, or associate degree.
An associate degree is sufficient for practice in a private
dental office. A bachelor's or master's degree is usually
required for research, teaching, or clinical practice
in public or school health programs. |
| Do
I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is required in the State of Connecticut. Prerequisite:
Connecticut requires graduation from an accredited dental
hygiene school and passing the National Board Examinations
and Regional Clinical Performance Examination. |
| Where
can I get more information? American Dental
Hygienists' Association
444 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 3400
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-8900 www.adha.org
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(800) 621-8099
www.ada.org |
| What
is the salary for this career? $47,840-$64,480
(Source: 2003 Connecticut Hospital Association
Compensation Survey) |
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What
will my job be like?
- Dental hygienists use a variety of personal and clinical
skills to motivate and instruct patients on ways to
prevent oral disease and to maintain oral health.
- Hygienists perform oral health assessment and oral
health instruction. They examine head, neck, and oral
regions for disease, take and process x-rays, perform
other diagnostic tests, remove deposits from teeth,
and apply sealants and fluoride to prevent decay.
- Dental hygienists may work in periodontal or pediatric
dentistry.
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| Where
could I work? Hygienists are usually employed
in dental offices and clinics. Flexible scheduling is
a distinctive feature of this job. Full-time, part-time,
evening, and weekend work is widely available. Dentists
frequently hire hygienists to work two or three days a
week, so hygienists may hold jobs in more than one dental
office.
Depending upon the level of education and experience
achieved, dental hygienists can also apply their skills
and knowledge to other career activities such as teaching
hygiene students in dental schools and dental hygiene
education programs.
- Other workplace settings:
- Community Health Agencies
- Correctional Facilities
- Hospitals and Nursing Homes
- Military
- Public Health Departments
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| What
is the future of this career? Employment of
dental hygienists is expected to grow much faster than
the average through 2008. |
Where
can I get the education and/or training?
- Tunxis Community College, Farmington
- University of Bridgeport - Fones School of Dental
Hygiene, Bridgeport
- University of New Haven, New Haven
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