The difficulty of dental hygiene school is subjective and can be influenced by several factors, such as the program's curriculum and teaching. See more. Anything worth doing, such as earning a degree in dental hygiene, comes with challenges. First, dental hygiene programs are often selective when it comes to accepting students. Second, the training is rigorous and challenging, as students take classes and fulfill clinical training to work in this highly specialized health care job.
Is it difficult to get into dental hygiene school? Yes, it's very competitive. Many programs accept only 12 to 24 students from a pool of more than 200 applicants. Simply meeting the minimum requirements isn't enough; you have to stand out. While dental hygiene school is intense, professional life often offers predictable schedules during working hours, leaving evenings and weekends free. Gaining work experience as a licensed dental hygienist can also help you finance your degree, as many employers will pay for their employees to continue their studies.
Dental hygiene schools typically offer associate degrees in dental hygiene that take two to three years to complete, and offer students extensive training and experience in the laboratory, clinic, and classroom to prepare them to become dental hygienists. Dental school is an educational marathon, since a bachelor's degree plus four years of dental studies is required to earn a DDS or a DMD. Enroll in an accredited associate in dental hygiene (2 to 3 years) or bachelor's degree (4 years) program. In fact, you can complete your training as a dental assistant and in a 2-year dental hygienist program in less time than a 4-year degree.
The American Association of Dental Hygienists recognizes both associate and bachelor's degrees in dental hygiene as an appropriate education for entry-level dental hygienist positions. Over time, you'll move on to working with real patients and often providing free or low-cost dental care to the community.
On the other hand, since most dental assistants have little or no clinical training, they primarily perform administrative tasks, such as booking appointments, managing correspondence, and setting up dental rooms to ensure that the dentist and dental hygienists have everything they need before treating the patient.
Dental assistants who work in a dental office will already have professional connections with dentists and dental hygienists. If you're thinking about becoming a dental hygienist, it's worth getting ready to start working as a dental assistant first.Most dental hygienists who pursue a bachelor's degree do so after earning an associate's degree and working. in the field. However, in most cases, dental assistants have a certification or diploma in dental care or have taken some accredited courses in dental care. This intense evaluation can be overwhelming, but it is designed to train highly competent professionals who can confidently perform the full range of dental hygiene services.
