Absolutely, you can! Many dental hygiene students have a strong interest in the field without having any prior experience. One main reason for this is that many people enter dental hygiene school from high school, and therefore practical work experience is far less likely or even possible. Very few dental hygiene schools will require that it is necessary for you to have prior dental experience or training. A few might, but you will easily find an accredited program that does not require this if you need to.
What do you need then?
Without any previous dental experience or training, other aspects of your application and admission requirements do become more important.
Transcripts
If you have no dental experience, make certain that you have taken science classes and performed well in them. Biology, chemistry, health, nutrition, even psychology classes are all great ways to demonstrate an interest in science and medicine.
Admissions Essay
This is your personal statement to gain admissions to a dental hygiene program, and it is here that you want to state your interest, enthusiasm, and commitment to the field. Proofread you work to eliminate any sloppy careless errors that will reflect poorly on your work, and write sincerely and honestly. It is always a good idea to have another person review your essay before submitting it.
Community Involvement
Dental hygiene programs do want to see that you are involved, at some level, in community work. A dental hygienist works directly with the community and a large part of the job can be education and prevention. This is a wonderful place to demonstrate communication, patient care, and community outreach if you lack actual experience.
Letters
Never ask someone for a letter of recommendation or reference if you are not positive that it will be glowing. Why take that kind of chance? Have your letters written by those who know you very well and can speak to your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Interview
Without any dental training or experience, the interview process can be very important because an admissions committee is going to want to know why you think you are a good candidate without any proven track record. Be prepared to discuss this and answer these kinds of questions with confidence, information, and familiarity with dental hygiene itself.
Last thoughts
In truth, acquiring some dental training or experience is actually a great way to set you apart from other candidates. You can do this in a number of ways.
- Classes: Take a course at a community college
- Volunteer: Volunteer at a dentist’s office – in any capacity – it is the exposure to the profession that will count
- Observation: Find a practice that will allow you to observe dental practices
Your strength as a candidate for dental hygienist school does not depend on previous experience in most cases. However, be certain that you know what you are talking about and have some awareness with the field. This kind of interest and motivation can go a long way in the admissions process.
