Education, Training and Employment for Dental Hygienist
The Surgeon General has emphasized that oral health is an integral aspect of health (Mertz, Lindler & Dower, 2011). Oral care is typically provided within the dental office by trained professionals, namely the dentist, the dental hygienist, and the dental assistant. Each has his/her field of specialization and plays an important role in providing patients with good oral care. Understanding the dental hygienist role, the education and training, needed for professional work, and the employment prospects contributes to an informed decision in choosing a career in this field.
The Dental Hygienist Role
The dental hygienist role and responsibilities are regulated at the state level and thus differ in scope and level of supervision from state to state (ADHA, 2016). However, there are several responsibilities that are common, and these include:
1. Screening the patient for signs of oral malignancy and periodontal disease, reviewing the health history, assessing patients’ oral health, inspecting the head and neck, taking the pulse and blood pressure, and dental charting; findings are reported to the dentist (ADA, 2016)
2. Removing tartar, plaque, and stains from the surface of teeth with the use of ultrasonic, power or hand equipment (BLS, 2015)
3. Applying sealants and fluoride to protect teeth; the latter is applied in a tray or directly on the teeth; requires knowledge skills in using pumice and etch (ADA, 2016)
4. Taking and developing dental x-rays using x-ray machines or taking pictures of the teeth and jaws using intraoral cameras (BLS, 2015)
5. Documenting patient care and treatment plans using computer software, such as Dentrix or Eaglesoft, or a paper chart (BLS, 2015)
6. Educating patients on oral hygiene measures, such as proper toothbrushing and flossing; education also includes building patient awareness of the link between oral health and diet and giving advice on selecting toothbrushes and other devices for oral care (ADA, 2016)
Education and Training
In order for a person to become a dental hygienist, they must have, at the minimum, an associate’s degree in dental hygiene from any program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (BLS, 2015). These programs are offered by technical schools, community colleges, and universities. While universities may also offer a bachelor’s degree, it is less common. A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree is needed for work in research, teaching, and school or public health settings (BLS, 2015).
Employment
Work Environment
Dental hygienists working in a dentist office typically work in clean, adequately lighted, and pleasantly decorated offices. Safety is achieved by following health protocols. Dental hygienists are required to wear surgical masks, safety glasses, and gloves to protect themselves and their patients from communicable illnesses (StudentScholarships.org, 2016). They also wear appropriate protective equipment and practice correct radiological procedures when using the x-ray machine. Moreover, they also adhere to safety and use protocols when administering oxygen and anesthetic gas such as nitrous oxide to the patient (StudentScholarships.org, 2016).
While many dental hygienists find that working in a dental office can be motivating and fulfilling, some may also find it challenging. A study showed that a strong motivating factor was having a positive relationship with colleagues, managers, and patients and witnessing the results of their work (Engtrom & Candell, 2010). Taking on responsibility and being able to make their own decisions were also motivating factors. In addition, newly-built, modern, and pleasant clinics and varying tasks and responsibilities motivated dental hygienists as did having a cooperative relationship with colleagues (Engtrom & Candell, 2010). However, a major challenge was the time limitations imposed for each appointment which meant that there was time pressure when delivering oral health care to a patient (Engtrom & Candell, 2010). The lack of team work was also trying and generated stress among dental hygienists (Engtrom & Candell, 2010).
Work Settings
The dental office is the most common setting where dental hygienists work. A flexible schedule is a distinguishing feature of working in the office setting. Dental hygienists may also work within hospitals. For instance, VA hospitals commonly have dental offices inside. The set-up and clinical and patient education services are the same as in a private clinic in that dental hygienists also provide brushing, tongue scraping, flossing, lip care of infection prevention, and referrals (Rodriguez-Bencosme, 2012). However, dental hygienists may also be asked to provide these services at the bedside because the patients’ condition precludes going to the clinic themselves (Rodriguez-Bencosme, 2012).
Examples of patients served by hospital-based dental clinics are those in critical care and the emergency department (Juhl & Stedman, 2016). There are also dental hygienists who work with immunocompromised patients such as those about to or have already undergone organ transplantation or who have hemophilia (Juhl & Stedman, 2016). In the hospital setting, dental hygienists further assist in preparing patients due for cardiothoracic surgery or those with head or neck cancer about to undergo radiation therapy or chemotherapy (Juhl & Stedman, 2016). In the operating room, the anesthesiologist administers general anesthesia, and the dental hygienist’s task is to perform full mouth reconstruction, rehabilitation or restoration with procedures such as root planning and mouth scaling (Juhl & Stedman, 2016).
It is possible for hospital patients to have never sought dental hygienist care before as their dental caries have not been recognized by nurses and other professionals (Rodriguez-Bencosme, 2012). Oral assessment is a nursing responsibility but nurses may be uncomfortable with it because of lack of training (Juhl & Stedman, 2016). An important function of the dental hygienist is to perform oral assessments and treatments and/or teach nurses and other members of the care team to correctly and confidently perform these tasks (Juhl & Stedman, 2016).
Nursing homes may call in a dental hygienist for older adult residents (ADHA, 2016). In addition, schools and universities often hire dental hygienists as do prison facilities, public health programs, and community clinics for the underserved (ADHA, 2016). Dental hygienists can also work in dental service organizations which provide business solutions to individual practices (Lebeau, 2016). Alternatively, a dental hygienist may also establish his/her own practice. Moreover, dental hygienists may work as educators, researchers, administrators, entrepreneurs, and corporate employees (ADHA, 2016).
Job Outlook and Salary
In 2014 dental hygienists held approximately 200,500 jobs (BLS, 2015). The dental hygienist career is expected to increase to 237,900 by 2024 representing a 19% growth which is faster than all occupations in terms of average (BLS, 2015). For instance, the average expected growth for all occupations within the same 10-year period is 7% while that of health technologists and technicians is 16% (BLS, 2015). Population changes, research, and health care reforms account for the projected growth.
The growth in dental hygienist employment is and will continue to be brought about by the growing research interest in oral health which is likely to promote the use of hygienist services (BLS, 2015). As earlier mentioned, people are living longer and the population is aging which means that more individuals still have their teeth. The demand for teeth maintenance and treatments and even for cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening is therefore very likely to increase (BLS, 2015). In general, these services are provided by a dental hygienist. With reforms in federal health insurance expanding the coverage to dental and oral health care, the financial barrier to accessing dentist and dental hygienist services has been reduced (BLS, 2015).
In terms of salary, dental hygienists had a median annual salary of $72,330 in 2015 (BLS, 2015). The highest 10% received $98,440 or more while the lowest 10% received $50,140 or less. Benefits may include sick leave, vacation, and pension contributions but would depend on the employer and may only apply to those working full time (BLS, 2015).
References
American Dental Association (ADA) (2016). Dental hygienist. Retrieved from http://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/careers-in-dentistry/dental-team- careers/dental-hygienist
American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). Career paths. Retrieved from http://www.adha.org/professional-roles
American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) (2016). Standards for clinical dental hygiene practice. Retrieved from http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/2016-Revised- Standards-for-Clinical-Dental-Hygiene-Practice.pdf
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (2015). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental hygienists. Retrieved from bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm
Engtrom, M., & Candell, A. (2010). Dental hygienists' work environment: Motivating, facilitating, but also trying. International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 8(3), 204-212. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2009.00420.x.
Juhl, J.A., & Stedman, L. (2016). Advocacy for the provision of dental hygiene services within the hospital setting: Development of a dental hygiene student rotation. Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice, 16(Supp 1), 129-135. doi:10.1016/j.jebdp.2016.01.023
Lebeau, J. R. (2016). Dental hygiene beyond the traditional practice model. Retrieved from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dental+hygiene+beyond+the+traditional+practice+mo del%3A+is+a+DSO-a0453721726
Rodriguez-Bencosme, J. (2012). Dental hygiene in a hospital setting. Retrieved from http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/hygiene/article/dental-hygiene-hospital-setting
StudentScholarships.org (2016). Dental hygienists: What they do. Retrieved from https://www.studentscholarships.org/salary/637/dentalhygienists.php
