The education requirements to become a dental hygienist are not easy, and if you choose this course of training, be prepared to work at a number of science, clinical, theory, and practice courses. While the exact requirements for any one program can vary, the following courses are all possibilities.
A Typical First Year
A typical first semester of study might include, Preclinical Theory and Practice of Dental Hygiene, Preclinical Dental Hygiene, any number of anatomy classes (head, neck, dental), preventative care and dental hygiene, as well as a more specialized class such as Oral Histology and Embryology .
A typical second semester of study will likely include another general theory and practice class as well as the start of specific electives such as nutrition, periodontics, radiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology and anesthetics.
Advancing in the Program
As you continue on, expect that you will take some variety of the following courses dental materials and functions, pain management, general and oral pathology, community dentistry, ethics and jurisprudence, board review, and licensure. These are as specific or general as the program requires. For example, there may be more than one course required on community dentistry in addition to higher levels of course such as radiology or advanced periodontics.
Electives
Coursework in a dental hygienist degree program will likely also include special electives such as molecular microbiology, oral diseases, biostatistics, sedation and pain control, geriatric dentistry, or craniofacial anatomy.
General Education Requirements
In addition to the above dental hygienist specialist electives, expect also to be required to take some more general education classes that pertain to working with people and obtaining an associate’s degree in general. These may include communication, speech, English composition, sociology, psychology, and any other humanities or science requirements that a particular program has.
It is clear that the above education expectations for dental hygienics are high and demanding. Most programs expect you to complete your studies on a full time basis. It is very rare to find a dental hygiene program that allows students to go part-time because there are clinical training and practice hours that must be done, and there really is continuity to a dental hygiene program that should be maintained.
To graduate from a dental hygiene program, most programs require at least a “C” average. However, you really ought to try for a higher average than that as the competition can be very rigorous. An average of “B” or higher is much more realistic to remain competitive in the field as well as looking to obtain a good job in the beginning of your career when you have little experience and only your program transcripts.
The expectations of a dental hygiene program are by all means attainable, but you must be committed to your work and the field as well. It is also important to remember that the work you will do now will be paid back in the long run with a very rewarding and successful career in dental hygiene.
