Am I too old?

[mid life mama]

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After you all read my question, I would appreciate an honest answer and please don't hold back.

I have always wanted to be a hygienist, but a bout of ill health that lasted several years when I was younger, plus assorted other obligations, has left me, at the age of 49, finally in a position to go to school and get my A.S. degree in dental hygiene.

But, am I too old now to be hired after I graduate? Even though it would be nice to live in a world where everyone wore rose colored glasses, we all know that there is age, weight, race, gender, etc. discrimination. The community college I would go to only accepts twelve students a year. Acceptance is by a point system dependant on grades-all A's so far for the pre-req's-if you already work in a health field-I'm a medical assistant-and so on and so on. If I get accepted for spring of '08, I'll be turning 50 the month after that, plus the two years to finish the course...well, I'm really in a quandry as to whether to bother at this stage of my life. Plus, if I don't get accepted the first time I apply, well, wow. I could wind up repaying a student loan out of my social security money.

So what do you think? Should I go for it? Would any of you new young dentists hire an (upper) middle aged hygienist?

 

[OceanBlue]

edit: didn't read everything

 

[OceanBlue]

...........

 

[Ex_EE]

If you would read a little more, you would see that she is asking about hygiene and not dental school. Personally yes I would hire an older hygienist.

 

[OceanBlue]

If you would read a little more, you would see that she is asking about hygiene and not dental school. Personally yes I would hire an older hygienist.

ouch...my bad! I would! sorry😛

 

[pre-dentalguy]

After you all read my question, I would appreciate an honest answer and please don't hold back.

I have always wanted to be a hygienist, but a bout of ill health that lasted several years when I was younger, plus assorted other obligations, has left me, at the age of 49, finally in a position to go to school and get my A.S. degree in dental hygiene.

But, am I too old now to be hired after I graduate? Even though it would be nice to live in a world where everyone wore rose colored glasses, we all know that there is age, weight, race, gender, etc. discrimination. The community college I would go to only accepts twelve students a year. Acceptance is by a point system dependant on grades-all A's so far for the pre-req's-if you already work in a health field-I'm a medical assistant-and so on and so on. If I get accepted for spring of '08, I'll be turning 50 the month after that, plus the two years to finish the course...well, I'm really in a quandry as to whether to bother at this stage of my life. Plus, if I don't get accepted the first time I apply, well, wow. I could wind up repaying a student loan out of my social security money.

So what do you think? Should I go for it? Would any of you new young dentists hire an (upper) middle aged hygienist?

Mid Life Mama,

Your age is more of a factor to you than it is to the school. Do not let those things worry you. A school is more apt to select you because they look at the actuality of you having more to lose than an applicant in his 20s. Go for it and do not look back.

Marion

 

[pre-dentalguy]

After you all read my question, I would appreciate an honest answer and please don't hold back.

I have always wanted to be a hygienist, but a bout of ill health that lasted several years when I was younger, plus assorted other obligations, has left me, at the age of 49, finally in a position to go to school and get my A.S. degree in dental hygiene.

But, am I too old now to be hired after I graduate? Even though it would be nice to live in a world where everyone wore rose colored glasses, we all know that there is age, weight, race, gender, etc. discrimination. The community college I would go to only accepts twelve students a year. Acceptance is by a point system dependant on grades-all A's so far for the pre-req's-if you already work in a health field-I'm a medical assistant-and so on and so on. If I get accepted for spring of '08, I'll be turning 50 the month after that, plus the two years to finish the course...well, I'm really in a quandry as to whether to bother at this stage of my life. Plus, if I don't get accepted the first time I apply, well, wow. I could wind up repaying a student loan out of my social security money.

So what do you think? Should I go for it? Would any of you new young dentists hire an (upper) middle aged hygienist?

When I finish dental school I will definitely be looking for a more diverse staff of all ages and races. And yes, I would hire you!

Marion

 

[infernobutterfl]

After you all read my question, I would appreciate an honest answer and please don't hold back.

I have always wanted to be a hygienist, but a bout of ill health that lasted several years when I was younger, plus assorted other obligations, has left me, at the age of 49, finally in a position to go to school and get my A.S. degree in dental hygiene.

But, am I too old now to be hired after I graduate? Even though it would be nice to live in a world where everyone wore rose colored glasses, we all know that there is age, weight, race, gender, etc. discrimination. The community college I would go to only accepts twelve students a year. Acceptance is by a point system dependant on grades-all A's so far for the pre-req's-if you already work in a health field-I'm a medical assistant-and so on and so on. If I get accepted for spring of '08, I'll be turning 50 the month after that, plus the two years to finish the course...well, I'm really in a quandry as to whether to bother at this stage of my life. Plus, if I don't get accepted the first time I apply, well, wow. I could wind up repaying a student loan out of my social security money.

So what do you think? Should I go for it? Would any of you new young dentists hire an (upper) middle aged hygienist?

Actually, when I make it into dental school and get out, I would definitely hire you. There are advantages (by generalization) to being older.
Here are my opinions:
Compared to younger employee, older ones tend to stay where they are and are more consistant. I know this is definitely true for myself and the older co-workers i work with. I tend to call in random sick days (to study for the DAT... wink wink), and although I am a little faster than they are, I am less consistant in my work and work efforts...
So, for older employee.. as long as you can do the work, I think you actually would be favored by employers... I think older ppl are more relaible....

Again... the above is simply my opinions and contains many generalizations.. but they are what i have observed and expereinced so far...😀

 

[Jaba]

Actually, when I make it into dental school and get out, I would definitely hire you. There are advantages (by generalization) to being older.
Here are my opinions:
Compared to younger employee, older ones tend to stay where they are and are more consistant. I know this is definitely true for myself and the older co-workers i work with. I tend to call in random sick days (to study for the DAT... wink wink), and although I am a little faster than they are, I am less consistant in my work and work efforts...
So, for older employee.. as long as you can do the work, I think you actually would be favored by employers... I think older ppl are more relaible....

Again... the above is simply my opinions and contains many generalizations.. but they are what i have observed and expereinced so far...😀

I agree.....as long as one is physically fit for the job and qualified, there is no reason that you wouldn't get hired. I would hire you, but i'd have to get into D-school first

 

[wizziefiend]

Actually, when I make it into dental school and get out, I would definitely hire you. There are advantages (by generalization) to being older.
Here are my opinions:
Compared to younger employee, older ones tend to stay where they are and are more consistant. I know this is definitely true for myself and the older co-workers i work with. I tend to call in random sick days (to study for the DAT... wink wink), and although I am a little faster than they are, I am less consistant in my work and work efforts...
So, for older employee.. as long as you can do the work, I think you actually would be favored by employers... I think older ppl are more relaible....

Again... the above is simply my opinions and contains many generalizations.. but they are what i have observed and expereinced so far...😀

I agree with this. My boss says the same thing. There is healthy mix at the office between young and old. The old ones are paid more but are consistent, never miss work, and are VERY reliable. The young ones are cheap labor and dispensable because their training is limited.

I think your life experiences and maturity will serve you well in both applying, finishing hschool and then getting hired.

 

[lgwdnbdgr]

So what do you think? Should I go for it? Would any of you new young dentists hire an (upper) middle aged hygienist?

I assume a young 20-somthing assistant or hygienist taking her first job is going to stick around about 2-5 years, then move on. I'd also figure a 50 year old is going to work at least until she's 65. Eh, probably a few years longer now that the SS age is going up. I would also assume a 50 year would put a higher premium on stability than 20-something.

If your skills and personality are equal, I'd probably take the 50 year old.
1) You'll probably stick around my office longer.
2) My patients will probably assume you are more skilled and experienced.
3) You'll have a broader range of life experiences and, thus, more likely to handle stressful situations. (If a patient comes in with some bizarre personality quirk, the more varied your background, the more likely you are to have encountered that before)

Of course, I'm a non-trad myself, so maybe I'm just trying to convince myself that it is better to be older. 🙂 Anyway, we're heading towards a shortage of pretty much every type of health care provider. Even if most dentists don't want someone who started at 50 (which I don't believe will be the case), there may not be much of a choice.

 

[skyisblue]

Yes. If you are qualified, of course I would when I'm a dentist.

 

[beannaithe]

If your dream is to be a hygenist, go for it. Absolutely go for it. I'm really glad that you decided to go for your dream. We have 3 people in my dental school class in their late 40s who have always wanted to be a dentist.

So go for it and don't look back. For me, when I get out of dental school I have to say that I would hire a hygenist who was good at what she did and nice to the patients. Age would never be something to deter me from hiring someone.

So to answer your question, most dentists will hire you regardless of age. They will probbaly think that you are more apt to thinking that you have a good head on your shoulders because of going back to school.

If it's something that you want it, go for it. Good luck! 🙂

 

[SugarNaCl]

I don't think you are too old considering I knew a 45 yr old (now 47) that just started dental school 2 years ago. Hyg. is only a 2 yr program right? So you would be 52 when you got out? You should do it. The only problem that I can see from the VERY little I know about the dentists I have observed and heard from is that hygienists that were trained prior to the late 80s were never taught to clean under the gum line. I think applications should be looked at carefully, and generally, I hope they are. Realistically though if a dentist that has been in practice for awhile figures out your age without carefully seeing that you have just attended school for hygiene, he/she may be likely to think you were from the don't touch below the gum line time. Other than this and the fact that many people find it easier to "mold" younger people who are less set in their ways... I don't see a reason. Personally if I had a practice, I don't think I would discriminate.

 

[xtractime]

i have had my teeth cleaned by older hygenists (40+ years old) and had no bad experiences with them. and the above statements regarding advantages of older workers i agree with. good luck in your decision!

 

[seansk]

After you all read my question, I would appreciate an honest answer and please don't hold back.

I have always wanted to be a hygienist, but a bout of ill health that lasted several years when I was younger, plus assorted other obligations, has left me, at the age of 49, finally in a position to go to school and get my A.S. degree in dental hygiene.

But, am I too old now to be hired after I graduate? Even though it would be nice to live in a world where everyone wore rose colored glasses, we all know that there is age, weight, race, gender, etc. discrimination. The community college I would go to only accepts twelve students a year. Acceptance is by a point system dependant on grades-all A's so far for the pre-req's-if you already work in a health field-I'm a medical assistant-and so on and so on. If I get accepted for spring of '08, I'll be turning 50 the month after that, plus the two years to finish the course...well, I'm really in a quandry as to whether to bother at this stage of my life. Plus, if I don't get accepted the first time I apply, well, wow. I could wind up repaying a student loan out of my social security money.

So what do you think? Should I go for it? Would any of you new young dentists hire an (upper) middle aged hygienist?

Don't just listen to us! go to a dental office, get the opinion of several different dentists! observe a dental hygenist if already havn't done it! go to a dental school and really find out what its about if you havn't done so already!

perhaps find someone that might have been in a similar situation and get their opinion. because personally that opinion would be worth much more than any of us can tell you here, including me!

Really do your homework! you really don't want to make a decision such as this based on a thread from an online forum! as we keep getting older mistakes can be more costly. and just like you said you might end up paying for it w/ your social security money g-d forbit!!!

good luck! I know you will do what's right! you seem like a smart person!

 

[beezies]

Do it, there's so many people over 40 starting dental school, changing their careers from other things. I would definitely hire you, for all of the reasons stated above. The only thing that I can say is that in this field, employers are more likely to disriminate based on health than age. If you can't sit in a chair for 8 hours a day, if you have back problems or neck problems, then maybe you would have a reason to hesitate. If you're too large to reach over a patient, then maybe you have a problem (maybe not though, there are some very overweight people at our school). It's more about you being well enough to do the work, at whatever age.

 

[Denticized]

Listen your age should not be a concern because you cannot change "racist" or "agist" people. Black people still gets jobs ...

However, your age IS a determinant for how many years of working you have left in you. Of course, it would also depend on your health as well. So you will get a job and you will make almost the same as a hired dentist (450 a day) but given you'll be 52 by then you will have about 15-20 years of working. But man you are too young to say no to school. Trust me and go to school please!.