What it’s about:

As a major in dental hygiene, you obtain the knowledge and clinical skills needed to prevent and treat oral diseases in order to protect teeth and gems- and to preserve patients’ general health. Courses in basic and dental sciences, as well as clinical training in patient care, prepare you to become a licensed dental hygienist.

What the study of this major is like:

Registered dental hygienists are licensed health care professionals. To become licensed, you must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program and pass state and national exams.

The primary responsibility of dental hygienists is to assist patients in maintaining oral and dental health. Majors, in dental hygiene are therefore required to master a wide range of skills related to health and patient education. Although training differs among states, you are usually taught to perform patient assessments (including medical histories; blood pressure testing; head, neck, and mouth examinations; and oral cancer screenings); remove deposits from the teeth (oral prophylaxis); use agents such as fluoride to help prevent decay; work with dental X ray; and advise patients on maintaining healthy lifestyles.

You first take anatomy, physiology, and pathology to explore the functions of the human body, the process of disease, and the biological and physiological basis of health. Courses in dental hygiene sciences provide the foundation for dental hygiene care and clinical practice. Learning takes place in the classroom, in laboratories, and in clinical experiences. In your first year, you develop skills by practicing on models and then, under professional supervision, by treating patients. Your course work emphasizes providing dental hygiene services to diverse groups of patients in clinical settings. Because much of a dental hygienist’s time is spent interacting one-on-one with patients, you take courses in psychology, speech, sociology, and patient management to develop strong communications and interpersonal skills.

Dental hygiene programs are full-time courses of study. Course material must be covered in a certain sequence, because new courses build on past work. Throughout your clinical experience, you will continue to apply what you’ve learned in your courses. Outside experiences may include visits to patients in public health clinics, hospitals, child care centers, nursing homes, and correctional facilities. You may also participate in health fairs, health education presentations, and elementary school activities. Some programs send you to work in dental offices in the community to gain real-world experience.

Dental hygiene programs may be located in community colleges or four-year institutions. Some programs are affiliated with dental schools. In the two-year associate degree program, the curriculum should be accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA). The associate degree is the minimum required for entry-level certification. Bachelor’s or master’s degree programs prepare you to work in industry, education, or research. If you have dental assisting experience or are a graduate of an ADA- accredited dental-assisting program, some colleges give you transfer credit for your experience, so that you do not have to repeat material you have already covered.

Career options and trends:

Dental hygiene practitioner*; clinical instructor; clinical instructor; clinical researcher.

In order to becomea registered dental hygienist and sobtain a state license, you must pass a national written examination, and a state or regional clinical examination.

This field is ranked among the fastest growing occupations. Most dental hygienists work in private dental offices, but many work in clinics, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, universities, managed health care organizations, and correctional institutions. As health care expands to include dental professionals as part of an interdisciplinary team of health care providers, practice settings available to dental hygienists will also expand.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors