It all boils down to knowing that dental hygiene has a limit. Which is fine, if you ever wanted to be a dentist in the future, many others. I have a degree in dental hygiene. But this doesn't mean that I can apply directly to dental school. There are prerequisites for dental school, which are usually not satisfied with a degree in dental hygiene.
Very few dental students have graduated from dental hygiene school.1 In addition, dental school is very competitive and completing the prerequisites does not guarantee acceptance. Dental schools only accept about 53.5% of applicants. 2 Even after being admitted to dental school, graduating and becoming a dentist is not guaranteed. Dental hygiene school can be difficult, but students aren't alone.
From their peers to the teachers, staff and support services at their college or university, students are surrounded by people and resources that can help them overcome any challenge they encounter during their education and training. An important difference is the education required to perform each role. Becoming a dental hygienist requires more extensive training, and many states allow dental assistants to seek training on the job or through a diploma program that often requires only one year to complete. On the contrary, dental hygienists must obtain, at a minimum, an associate's degree, and many of them complete a bachelor's or master's degree throughout their careers, obtaining advanced training that allows them to take on additional responsibilities and be more autonomous in the workplace.
I know some dental hygienists who have returned to school and become dentists, which is a great achievement, and I am very happy and proud of them. Dental assistants will also prepare and sterilize instruments and equipment before procedures and then provide the patient with oral care instructions. If you have the chance, take a tour of the school or sign up for college and high school predatory clubs. Through the Fortis dental care training program or the associated dental hygienist degree program, students can gain the fundamental knowledge and skills they need to begin pursuing a career as professionals.
of oral health. The truth is, barring exceptional circumstances, you'll spend most of your trip to the dentist's office talking to a dental hygienist. Like personal care, getting enough and adequate sleep can improve or reduce a student's ability to succeed in a dental hygiene program. In some offices, dental assistants handle administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and making reminder calls.
However, if dental school requires a bachelor's degree to apply and you don't want to specialize in biology or chemistry or anything like that, you might consider pursuing a degree in dental hygiene as another option. Hygiene requires many science classes, while dentistry generally requires a full four-year degree as part of the application process. For example, dental assistants are more likely to handle the preparatory or administrative part of a dental office, while dental hygienists are qualified to provide more complex procedures. You can apply to dental hygiene school without a college degree, as hygiene programs offer an associate's or bachelor's degree. If you're flexible, hardworking, friendly, and arrive on time, then finding a dental hygiene job may be a fairly simple process.
Hypothetically, this could make you a more competitive candidate for dental school, but it's definitely not a requirement. Even if dentists don't own an office and act as associates, they may have to spend some on-call time. As a dental hygienist, I highly recommend following or observing in different dental offices to try to choose one or the other.
