Dental Hygiene

The Profession
Dental hygiene today is an exciting field with many opportunities for employment and professional growth.  It is a career that is socially significant, professionally challenging, and personally rewarding.

The dental hygienist is a licensed healthcare professional who provides educational, clinical, and therapeutic services in order to promote optimal oral health. They are skilled in preventing diseases such as dental caries (cavities), periodontal (gum) disease and oral cancer through education and treatment. The dental hygienist is a clinician, an educator, a researcher, a change agent and consumer advocate, and a manager. A dental hygienist is a partner in the dental healthcare team, and works in variety of settings, from private dental offices and clinics; to federal, state, and local health departments; to school districts and departments of education. With advanced education, dental hygienists play an important role in teaching and research, as well as in the administration of education and public health programs.

Self-Assessment
Dental hygienists should have good interpersonal communication skills and must have good manual dexterity. To become a dental hygienist, you must complete a minimum of one year of pre-professional coursework in anatomy, biology, chemistry, composition, nutrition, psychology, sociology, speech, statistics, and other liberal arts education courses. This is followed by three years of professional coursework in the basic sciences, including biochemistry, microbiology, histology, pathology, and physiology.

The professional program also includes courses in dental and head neck anatomy; preclinical and clinical dental hygiene; communication skills; patient assessment; cariology and periodontology; oral radiology; pathology; biomaterials; public health; pharmacology; local anesthesia and pain control; research methods; orthodontics and pediatric dentistry; geriatrics; and advanced clinical rotations. A wide range of theoretical and clinical experiences in treating traditional and special-needs patients is provided. You also will participate in a number of community-based clinical and education programs with diverse patient populations.

Exploring Options
Employment of dental hygienists in Minnesota and nationally is expected to grow faster than average through the year 2008 due to the increasing demand for dental care and the active role of hygienists in preventative dental care activities such as cleaning. Overall, there are excellent demand, placement rates, and competitive pay for qualified hygienists. More than half of all dental hygienists worked part-time (less than 35 hours a week) and many work in multiple settings. The majority of dental hygienists work in private dental offices. Some work in public health agencies, schools, and hospitals. Population growth and greater retention of natural teeth will stimulate demand for dental hygienists.

For licensure/registration in Minnesota, dental hygienists must graduate from a dental hygiene school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation, pass the National Board Examination for dental hygienists, pass the clinical examination administered by the Central Regional Dental Testing Service within five years of application for licensure, pass the Minnesota Jurisprudence examination covering the statutes and rules of the Board within five years of application for licensure/registration, and submitted an application fee for licensure/registration.  Click here for salary information.