My Career Goal of Becoming a Dental Hygienist
Torion Johnson
Mrs. Ornes
07November2011
My Career Goal of Becoming a Dental Hygienist
Ever wonder why your dentist doesn’t actually clean your teeth? It’s cause that’s the job of the dental hygienist. They are specialist at keeping your teeth and gums healthy and clean. My goal of becoming a dental hygienist will soon come to pass. All I need is dedication, motivation, ambition, and understanding. This latter element becomes very important when discussing this career field. The most basic elements that one must understand when considering becoming a dental hygienist are threefold; first, I must possess the education requirements that are necessary for admittance to this field. Second, I will discuss the nature of the work, specifically focusing upon what it is that dental hygienists actually do and I will then discuss the average schedule I would work in this position. Finally, and saving the best for last, I will detail the salaries and job outlook a dental hygienist can look forward to while discussing future job opportunities I could expect while working in this field.
The educational requirements for this career are at least an associate’s degree or certificate. Which most dental offices recommend either of the two, although some dental hygiene programs recommend at least 1 year of college for admittance into the dental hygienist program. There’s also an option of getting your bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s degree in dental hygiene. With the bachelor’s or master’s degree you could be a teacher at a dental hygiene program, also can be a researcher in the field of hygiene. Work in clinical practice in public school health programs. Course studies involved with this career is subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Nutrition, Radiography, Histology (study of tissue structure), Peridontology (study of gum diseases), Pathology, Dental Materials, Clinical dental hygiene, and Social and Behavioral sciences. Whatever
Mrs. Ornes
07November2011
My Career Goal of Becoming a Dental Hygienist
Ever wonder why your dentist doesn’t actually clean your teeth? It’s cause that’s the job of the dental hygienist. They are specialist at keeping your teeth and gums healthy and clean. My goal of becoming a dental hygienist will soon come to pass. All I need is dedication, motivation, ambition, and understanding. This latter element becomes very important when discussing this career field. The most basic elements that one must understand when considering becoming a dental hygienist are threefold; first, I must possess the education requirements that are necessary for admittance to this field. Second, I will discuss the nature of the work, specifically focusing upon what it is that dental hygienists actually do and I will then discuss the average schedule I would work in this position. Finally, and saving the best for last, I will detail the salaries and job outlook a dental hygienist can look forward to while discussing future job opportunities I could expect while working in this field.
The educational requirements for this career are at least an associate’s degree or certificate. Which most dental offices recommend either of the two, although some dental hygiene programs recommend at least 1 year of college for admittance into the dental hygienist program. There’s also an option of getting your bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s degree in dental hygiene. With the bachelor’s or master’s degree you could be a teacher at a dental hygiene program, also can be a researcher in the field of hygiene. Work in clinical practice in public school health programs. Course studies involved with this career is subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Nutrition, Radiography, Histology (study of tissue structure), Peridontology (study of gum diseases), Pathology, Dental Materials, Clinical dental hygiene, and Social and Behavioral sciences. Whatever
Cited: sources from Missouri Connections explained salaries and job outlooks for dental hygienist. The median salary for a dental hygienist was $66,570 back in May 2008. If you work in larger cities the pay is more than those in the smaller rural areas. With that being said the lower 10% of hygienist earned less than $44,180. However, the hygienist in the higher 10% earned more than $91,470. Earnings differentiate according to experience and employment settings. Some hygienists are paid salary, hourly, daily, or on a commission basis. The benefits are 401 K, vacation, and sick days. The demand for dental hygienist is more than average. It’s anticipated to grow 36% through 2018. Employment totals in 2008 were at 174,100 jobs. The projected amount of jobs by 2018 is estimated to be at 237,000. That’s an amazing 62,900 jobs opening for that 10 year range. The career of being a dental hygienist is what I’m recently trying to pursuit. So far I’m almost finished with my first semester of college after taking a 6 year break after graduating high school. I’m proud to say I am passing all of my classes. I plan on taking another semester here at Longview Community College then I’m going to apply for my admissions in the dental hygienist program over at Johnson Community College under the associate’s degree. Hopefully with the information I presented in this essay for those of you who plan on pursuing this career motivates you to stay at it.