Difference Between Dental Hygienist Training and Dentist Training

For those who are interested in pursuing a dental career the first thing they need to consider is that the two leading jobs in the field are very similar in nature yet also separated by a lot of education and clinical duties. Training and education to become a full blown dentist is much longer than dental hygienist training. The difference mostly lies in the scope of their responsibilities and the years of education that they require. Here is a quick dive into the differences.

First of all the dentist will be the one responsible for patient treatment. This means all of the surgical procedures, check-ups and major operations will be handled by the dentist himself. Most of the time the dentist won’t be seen doing any office work such as filing documents, keeping records and managing all of the schedules and contacts within the office; that job goes to the dental assistant. When there are minor patient care treatments like cleaning, checking for cavities and stains, check-ups around the gum and for signs of cancer, these responsibilities fall under the hands of a dental hygienist.

The dental hygienist is also responsible for perfecting and tuning up the fillings that the doctor had done for the patient, is responsible for preparing clinical equipment that will be used, is responsible for helping the patient wash his mouth during procedures and is the person that gives basic lectures about oral care and hygiene after a dental procedure. In many ways they function like minor dentists and they help the dentist with his or her responsibilities.

In order for one to become a dentist one has to undertake a four year bachelor course and then four years doctoral courses. When all of those are completed the student still needs to finish one year of on the job training which is referred to as a residency program since they will work as a resident worker in a dental clinic or hospital.

During that time they will handle real cases with actual patients but they will be constantly supervised. After that program has been completed they can qualify for the certification and licensure examination.

Dental hygienist training, in all essence of the word, is much simpler. The training can usually take up to just two years worth of education or approximately twenty-four months of dental hygienist training. The student will learn the basics of anatomy, the functions and common cases concerning oral health, oral management and oral care, physiology and dental procedures.

Besides basic classroom discussions you will receive clinical training to learn hands-on how to handle patients in a dental clinic. Some training facilities actually allow their students to work with real patients while most usually use a dummy with all of the oral parts included for proper demonstration. As mentioned the usual case involves finishing a two-year associate’s degree and the only requirement needed is a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Another thing to take note of is that the certification program usually requires a person to have a clean record so misdemeanors and recent criminal cases must be out of the question for at least five years.

When the two years of education have been achieved and the clinical training is sufficient the student now qualifies to take the state certification exam. The examination usually consists of a written half and then a practical clinical test where several situations shall be conducted on a mock clinic setting. The details of each certification requirement may differ from state to state but the overall standards include the associate’s degree and a confirmation of clinical training hours. Once the certification process has been completed one can already work in the clinic as a dental hygienist.

Of course you can still go further. Taking an extra two to four years of education and training on top of the associate’s degree to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree can give you a job as a teacher or clinical trainer on dental hygienist training. Most of the time however you will be required to have at least two years of actual field work experience before you qualify to become a trainer in a school or training facility. These positions are mostly for those who have already gotten the most out of their time in the field and want to experience something new with the education and training that they have received.

Online Training

Sometimes however a person doesn’t have all the time in the world to go to a campus to take up classes. Usually this conflict in schedule is brought upon by other responsibilities like a regular day-job or having to handle children at home. People this busy usually dismiss the notion of going to school but now with modern technology they can still receive the amount of education required with online training courses. They can receive all of the lectures and paperwork online.

They still need to report to a campus over the course of training in order to complete their clinical training. Without the practical training they will not even qualify for the certification exam and if they did they have a very high chance of failing because of the lack of experience of handling the situation beyond what they learned on paper or in front of a computer. Still the option for online training is available for those who cannot completely commit to studying in a physical campus due to scheduling or other conflicts.

Being a dental hygienist is a very fulfilling job. You get to help other people and you have the confidence to be proud that you are working in a very professional field. Most dental hygienists earn an annual income of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) and this can go a bit higher when one finishes a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree to become a dental hygienist instructor for those in a school taking dental hygienist training.

All in all dental hygienist training is a bit difficult and it does require a lot of attention and dedication but the rewards one can reap are definitely worth the effort on a long term basis.