Dental Hygiene before reapplying?

[svwtyf]

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Hey guys,
I applied this round and didnt get in. After vacillating between doing a master's in public health, masters in bio, post-bacc science classes, and applying to foreign d-schools, I recently began researching dental hygiene as a career before reapplication to d-school.

I worked as an assistant for several years and interacted w/ the hygienist in our office. I saw her lifestyle and wanted it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has great things to say regarding the need and income for hygienists in the future. Best of all, I will transfer out of some coursework so I might have my certificate in less than 2 years.

My boyfriend and parents think I should forget about d-schools for now and focus just on working towards a real career. (My BA was in psych and is not doing things for me.) I would not like researching or working in health administration, so I dont think getting a masters in bio/p-health would be a great idea. And I cannot work with just post-bacc science classes, so I think this would be the best thing.

As a hygienist, I would still get to work in the profession, make some money, and be treated as a professional in a field where I'm guaranteed a job. I enjoy working with people and educating them about oral health. The best part is that I can have a career even if I dont get admitted the 2nd time around. I wouldn't mind being just a hygienist...I just want to be near dentistry, the only thing I've ever been passionate about.

So what do you all think? Sorry for the long rant, but this has been a really hard time for me, and I'm finally getting out of the depression caused by not getting in this year. Helpful answers appreciated!!

 

[DIRTIE]

Hey guys,
I applied this round and didnt get in. After vacillating between doing a master's in public health, masters in bio, post-bacc science classes, and applying to foreign d-schools, I recently began researching dental hygiene as a career before reapplication to d-school.

I worked as an assistant for several years and interacted w/ the hygienist in our office. I saw her lifestyle and wanted it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has great things to say regarding the need and income for hygienists in the future. Best of all, I will transfer out of some coursework so I might have my certificate in less than 2 years.

My boyfriend and parents think I should forget about d-schools for now and focus just on working towards a real career. (My BA was in psych and is not doing things for me.) I would not like researching or working in health administration, so I dont think getting a masters in bio/p-health would be a great idea. And I cannot work with just post-bacc science classes, so I think this would be the best thing.

As a hygienist, I would still get to work in the profession, make some money, and be treated as a professional in a field where I'm guaranteed a job. I enjoy working with people and educating them about oral health. The best part is that I can have a career even if I dont get admitted the 2nd time around. I wouldn't mind being just a hygienist...I just want to be near dentistry, the only thing I've ever been passionate about.

So what do you all think? Sorry for the long rant, but this has been a really hard time for me, and I'm finally getting out of the depression caused by not getting in this year. Helpful answers appreciated!!

It seems to me that hygiene programs are usually pretty competitive to get into, so you might need to check that out. Most hygiene schools in the west at least have very high GPA averages and a lot of applicants.
Good Luck

 

[drhobie7]

Go for it. You'll make great $ and have a low stress career.

 

[RDHwife]

I'm a hygienist and have to admit that it is one of the greatest careers for women. However, it may be just as difficult to get in. I know that In Arizona you must have a 4.0 and assisting experience and even then they may put you on a waiting list until 2012. Its ridiculous, but true. ANyhow, why don't you just apply to both and see what happens. If you already have the prerequs for each then you might as well see what you get into first.

You'll make good money as a hygienist, but much more as a dentist. Hygiene is a lot less stress though. I chose hygiene because I don't want to own my own practice. I would like to be a mom someday and I figured by the time I spent all of that time and insane money on dental school, I may not even want to work long enough to pay back my loans. Just something to consider.

 

[SuperTrooper]

My boyfriend and parents think I should forget about d-schools for now and focus just on working towards a real career. (My BA was in psych and is not doing things for me.)

A "real" career? Do you mean a "real career" for a girl? Also, how's your BA in psych gonna do things for you in a career as a dentist?

As a hygienist, I would still get to work in the profession, make some money, and be treated as a professional in a field where I'm guaranteed a job.

I'm going to be a dentist, and quite frankly, I don't have that much respect for hygienists.

Also, what foreign dental schools were you looking into? I've never heard of that as a back-up plan for those not getting into US dental schools.

Sorry for the long rant, but this has been a really hard time for me, and I'm finally getting out of the depression caused by not getting in this year.

Sounds to me like you're giving up too early, and settling for less.

Sorry if I'm coming across sorta mean here, but I'm being honest. You should apply again to dental school. Then, if you don't get in again, re-evaluate.

 

[fetororis]

Super,
If I knew where you were I would kick your a** right now. I am glad that you do not have much respect for hygienists. So when you are a bitter dentist and you wonder why your staff does not respect you, you can reflect back on this moment.

I am a hygienist, and I am going to be a dentist just like you. Not everyone wants the responsibility and the added stress. To each his own. There are some really great hygienists out there, just like there are some crappy ones. There are some really great dentists out there, and there are some really crappy ones. You can find good and bad in every profession.

Why do you not respect hygienist? How much real experience do you have in a dental office? How many dental hygienists do you personally know?

svwtyf,
Hygiene is a great option, but not as easy as you might think. It is a minimum of two years to go through a program. What was said about AZ is true in regards to the schools in PHX, but the schools outside of PHX are different. It all depends on where you are located. If you want to be around dentistry it will be a great choice. Also, you still can apply to dental school down the road if you still want to pursue that. As far as what Super Trooper said, you would not be settling for less. That would only come if you never applied to dental school again and decided to work at Walmart as a cashier.

 

[SuperTrooper]

Super,
If I knew where you were I would kick your a** right now.

Whoa there!! 😱

Well, first, yes, I sorta deserved that.

I wasn't saying that hygiene isn't a great career. It certainly is. I predict hygienists are gonna make a ton of money and be in huge demand in the future when all these old baby-boomer dentists start retiring. But reading this girl's first post, doesn't it seem like she wants to be a dentist? I really think it's kindof weird to pursue hygiene certification if your intent is to become a dentist. I mean, if she stops pursuing dentistry, then gets the hygiene degree I think that would be okay.

And, yes, I actually do have tons of experience with hygienists. Trust me, if you become a general dentist and have a big hygiene staff you'll realize why i don't have a lot of respect for them. Being a peer of your hygiene colleagues is a lot different from being their boss/employer. As a dentist, hygienists will steal from you, and talk about you behind your back. They'll fight amongst themselves (which YOU will sometimes have to sort out) and some of them will be downright rude to some of your patients (making YOU look bad). If you show up for work on Monday with a new car, you'll have half of them asking you for a $1 an hour raise by friday. When you get nice christmas gifts from specialists (you recommend to) they'll try and claim dibs on them (even though that gift 100% belongs to the dentist). It's hell. A group of hygienists is like a pack of hyienas. They see all this dentist cash, and think they deserve it as much as the dentist who went to dental school and paid $250k tuition to do so.

 

[dds2010]

I'm going to be a dentist, and quite frankly, I don't have that much respect for hygienists.

It is a shame for a person such as yourself, who is going into the field of dentistry, to be making such statements. You are apparently uneducated as to what the role of a dental hygienist is in the dental profession. Before presenting yourself as an ignorant ass, please do research and do more observations in a dental office (they make such requirement to get into dental schools for fools like yourself who have minute understanding about this field).

😀

 

[SuperTrooper]

Before presenting yourself as an ignorant ass...
😀

Whoa there!!! 😱 again!!

I didn't say i don't respect what they do, I said i don't respect them. Unfortunately, most hygienists just don't know their place in the dental office. They think the office revolves around them or something.

Anyhow, i'm gonna stop posting here before my account gets put on hold again.

 

[drhobie7]

A group of hygienists is like a pack of hyienas.

Aaaaahhhh hahahahahahhahahaha

 

[MissMuffet]

Super, I think your negative experience with hygienists was due to the situation.

A "large staff" of hygienists suggests a dental-mill setting. Dental mills tend to have the lowest standards in hiring. And, at the risk of offending my fellow femmes 😉 , any time you get a "pack" of women, you'll have troubles you wouldn't have with a single one.

In a high-quality private office, there is a mutual respect and friendship between the hygienist (or two) and dentist. Good hygienists won't stick around if there isn't. She doesn't have to. 😉

 

[isurus22]

Hey guys,

My boyfriend and parents think I should forget about d-schools for now and focus just on working towards a real career. (My BA was in psych and is not doing things for me.) I would not like researching or working in health administration, so I dont think getting a masters in bio/p-health would be a great idea. And I cannot work with just post-bacc science classes, so I think this would be the best thing.
So what do you all think? Sorry for the long rant, but this has been a really hard time for me, and I'm finally getting out of the depression caused by not getting in this year. Helpful answers appreciated!!

My sister became a hygenist. Did it for two years, took classes, got great recommendations from Dentists, then went to Dental school. A little bit different situation because she didn't know she wanted to be a Dentist until she was a hygenist. Everyone told her she couldn't do dental school with only an associates' degree...my sister has been a Dentist since 02.

 

[golfmontpoker]

Hey guys,
I applied this round and didnt get in. After vacillating between doing a master's in public health, masters in bio, post-bacc science classes, and applying to foreign d-schools, I recently began researching dental hygiene as a career before reapplication to d-school.

I worked as an assistant for several years and interacted w/ the hygienist in our office. I saw her lifestyle and wanted it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has great things to say regarding the need and income for hygienists in the future. Best of all, I will transfer out of some coursework so I might have my certificate in less than 2 years.

My boyfriend and parents think I should forget about d-schools for now and focus just on working towards a real career. (My BA was in psych and is not doing things for me.) I would not like researching or working in health administration, so I dont think getting a masters in bio/p-health would be a great idea. And I cannot work with just post-bacc science classes, so I think this would be the best thing.

As a hygienist, I would still get to work in the profession, make some money, and be treated as a professional in a field where I'm guaranteed a job. I enjoy working with people and educating them about oral health. The best part is that I can have a career even if I dont get admitted the 2nd time around. I wouldn't mind being just a hygienist...I just want to be near dentistry, the only thing I've ever been passionate about.

So what do you all think? Sorry for the long rant, but this has been a really hard time for me, and I'm finally getting out of the depression caused by not getting in this year. Helpful answers appreciated!!

If dentistry is what you truely love, then definately stay in the field, either being a dentist, assistant, or a hygienist... But if you really want to be a dentist... Go for the masters in public health, it is a great stepping stone for getting into professional programs. People who get their MPH before going to med/dental/optometry/podiatry/DO allmost all the time get accepted as long as their GPA is really good. Having a MPH is a great career opener as well, you dont necessarily have to go into administration, you can do epidimeology or environmental health... These are not boring jobs. I personally think getting a your MPH will be much more beneficial then getting your hygienist liscense and then going into dental school... Just my 2 cents

 

[dentalstudent1]

Hey guys,
I applied this round and didnt get in. After vacillating between doing a master's in public health, masters in bio, post-bacc science classes, and applying to foreign d-schools, I recently began researching dental hygiene as a career before reapplication to d-school.

I worked as an assistant for several years and interacted w/ the hygienist in our office. I saw her lifestyle and wanted it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has great things to say regarding the need and income for hygienists in the future. Best of all, I will transfer out of some coursework so I might have my certificate in less than 2 years.

My boyfriend and parents think I should forget about d-schools for now and focus just on working towards a real career. (My BA was in psych and is not doing things for me.) I would not like researching or working in health administration, so I dont think getting a masters in bio/p-health would be a great idea. And I cannot work with just post-bacc science classes, so I think this would be the best thing.

As a hygienist, I would still get to work in the profession, make some money, and be treated as a professional in a field where I'm guaranteed a job. I enjoy working with people and educating them about oral health. The best part is that I can have a career even if I dont get admitted the 2nd time around. I wouldn't mind being just a hygienist...I just want to be near dentistry, the only thing I've ever been passionate about.

So what do you all think? Sorry for the long rant, but this has been a really hard time for me, and I'm finally getting out of the depression caused by not getting in this year. Helpful answers appreciated!!

I think its a waste of time. also, these are very competitive programs to get into. you may not get into it either.

 

[dentalstudent1]

Whoa there!!! 😱 again!!

I didn't say i don't respect what they do, I said i don't respect them. Unfortunately, most hygienists just don't know their place in the dental office. They think the office revolves around them or something.

Anyhow, i'm gonna stop posting here before my account gets put on hold again.

I despise hygenists. I will work them to the bones in my office~

What they dont understand is that they need us. We dont need them.

Heck, I can do cleanings myself. They cant do dentistry or cleanings without MY supervision.

I agree!

 

[MissMuffet]

Ahh, students, with all the arrogance of ignorance. 😉

 

[RDHwife]

Quote: I'm going to be a dentist, and quite frankly, I don't have that much respect for hygienists.

Hey- You are never going to be a successful dentist until you learn to respect your hygienist. They are the lifeline of your practice and they are who bring you in all of your patients to get their work. When patients come in to get their teeth cleaned is when you diagnose all of your work. As a hygienist myself, I produce $1500-2300 a day, which after my salary is pure take home for the dentist. YOu should probably learn to respect your hygienists or you will never make any money.

 

[SuperTrooper]

... they are who bring you in all of your patients to get their work.

I'm sorry, I never thought about it that way. Nobody would ever come see the dentist unless they were getting their teeth cleaned. In fact, when you think of it this way, it's really surprising that dental hygienists make so little money in comparison to dentists. If anything, hygienists should make a hell of a lot more money than dentists since they're the ones who bring in the business.

 

[luvabully]

Whoa there!! 😱

Well, first, yes, I sorta deserved that.


And, yes, I actually do have tons of experience with hygienists. Trust me, if you become a general dentist and have a big hygiene staff you'll realize why i don't have a lot of respect for them. Being a peer of your hygiene colleagues is a lot different from being their boss/employer. As a dentist, hygienists will steal from you, and talk about you behind your back. They'll fight amongst themselves (which YOU will sometimes have to sort out) and some of them will be downright rude to some of your patients (making YOU look bad). If you show up for work on Monday with a new car, you'll have half of them asking you for a $1 an hour raise by friday. When you get nice christmas gifts from specialists (you recommend to) they'll try and claim dibs on them (even though that gift 100% belongs to the dentist). It's hell. A group of hygienists is like a pack of hyienas. They see all this dentist cash, and think they deserve it as much as the dentist who went to dental school and paid $250k tuition to do so.

Sounds like your lack of respect just comes right back to you. Try having some and see where you get. I've worked for some ***holes and some respectable dentists and you can bet you won't get any respect if you're the former. It also sounds like you don't handle being an employer very well - of any kind. The situations you describe will be encountered as a "boss" of any company. This too stems from employess feeling disrespected and unappreciated. Of course, you're welcome to work without them. Since the hygienists are such a trial to you, get rid of them. They don't produce any of that "dentist cash", right?

 

[SuperTrooper]

This too stems from employess feeling disrespected and unappreciated.

I think it would be hard for the hygienists I know to feel the level of appreciation they think they deserve (which is unrealistic). Seems hygienists the world over have the same attitude:

They are the lifeline of your practice and they are who bring you in all of your patients to get their work.

Also, you said:

Since the hygienists are such a trial to you, get rid of them. They don't produce any of that "dentist cash", right?

Sure, you hygienists can go out on your own. You're not gonna produce the $1500-2300 a day RDHwife is talking about though, cause you simply can't charge that much without a dentist in the office. General dentists need hygienists, but not nearly a tenth as much as hygienists need dentists. Hygienists are way overpaid IMHO considering what they do involves minimal training and minimal skill. (This is why it's so damn competetive to get into hygiene programs right now. )

And about the hygienist situation I was talking about. This was observed by me while I was shadowing a general dentist (an extremely close family friend) for an extended period of time. This dentist is the nicest guy and biggest push-over I've ever met.

 

[fetororis]

There are some really exceptional hygienists out there, and there are some prima donna crappy ones. Just like there are good dentists and bad dentists. There are good lawyers, and crappy lawyers. It goes with any profession.

Super, it appears that your close friend who you observed with hired the bad kind. The great thing about being the boss is the ability to hire people that you want to surround yourself with. If that person does not do as you please, then you get rid of them and find someone that can help the goals of the practice. You said it yourself that your friend is a pushover. Well, that goes to show you that he does not command the office like it should be. He probably allows the hygienists to get away with their doings, and then complains about it behind their backs. There are many spineless dentists that have no confrontational skills, thus they let their hygienists walk all over them. They allow the hygienists to sit in the break room reading the paper, they allow them to not do sterile, and they allow them to complain about any little detail. Maybe when you are a boss, you will find some good hygienists. They are out there.

As far as minimal education and skills, I have to disagree with you completely. There is more to it than meets the eye. Just like drilling a tooth is easy, but doing it properly takes some skill. Anyone can put a drill to a tooth, however if they want anything left to work with that takes some skills. Cleaning teeth the right way is not just someone running a rubber cup over the patient's teeth. There is skill in adapting the instruments to the teeth. Have you ever done this?

Hygienists are great educators, at least the good ones are. They spend an hour with the patient, where as the dentist varies depending on the procedure. If the dentist spent a high amount of time with the patient trying to educate them, they would be cutting back their profit time. Yes, hygienist need dentists and dentists do not need hygienists. That is a fact. However, the ability to produce money without having to do anything makes it pretty important. Say a hygienist produces $100/hr (which is very easy to do), and the salary of the hygienist is roughly 1/3. $33 would go to the hygienist which would seem like a lot. Another 1/3 will go towards overhead, and the final 1/3 goes to the dentist (in private practice). That is $34 in an hour for doing nothing. Now, if the hygienist is a good clinician and good with patients, they can inform the patient of dental needs. So when the dentist comes in the patient hears the same thing and is now more informed of the treatment. A dentist spends maybe 5 minutes with a patient in the hygiene chair. When the dentist walks away, the patient often asks the hygienist their opinion. Are you more inclined to accept treatment recommendations from a friend or a stranger? Of course you will listen to a friend. That hour is spent building a friendship. If you have a disgruntled hygienist, poor clinician, or one that is not good socially with the patients, then are they going to make friends with the patient? This is where you run into patients not accepting treatment. The hygienist can sell dentistry very easily. Yes, they can not diagnose, but a well trained hygienist can point out a dark sticky spot or a fracture line. They can also talk about whitening or other treatment options.

The hygienist is your ally, not your enemy. As are all the staff members. Being the boss, you are in control of whom you surround yourself with. You can surround yourself with crappy people and then complain about them behind their backs. Or you can surround yourself by great people, prosper, and enjoy going to work. The option is yours. But if you guys continue to have bad attitudes towards your future staff, it only reflects on what kind of ignorant a** you are going to be or already are. Maybe you have a chip on your shoulder and think you are better than other people. That you are far superior to anyone you deem as being below you. Nobody is above anything. You can be the boss that is a rude jerk, or you can be the guy that will help take out the trash. I know how I want my office to run, and I am sure I will have a lot less headaches and worries.

 

[dds2010]

There are some really exceptional hygienists out there, and there are some prima donna crappy ones. Just like there are good dentists and bad dentists. There are good lawyers, and crappy lawyers. It goes with any profession.

Super, it appears that your close friend who you observed with hired the bad kind. The great thing about being the boss is the ability to hire people that you want to surround yourself with. If that person does not do as you please, then you get rid of them and find someone that can help the goals of the practice. You said it yourself that your friend is a pushover. Well, that goes to show you that he does not command the office like it should be. He probably allows the hygienists to get away with their doings, and then complains about it behind their backs. There are many spineless dentists that have no confrontational skills, thus they let their hygienists walk all over them. They allow the hygienists to sit in the break room reading the paper, they allow them to not do sterile, and they allow them to complain about any little detail. Maybe when you are a boss, you will find some good hygienists. They are out there.

As far as minimal education and skills, I have to disagree with you completely. There is more to it than meets the eye. Just like drilling a tooth is easy, but doing it properly takes some skill. Anyone can put a drill to a tooth, however if they want anything left to work with that takes some skills. Cleaning teeth the right way is not just someone running a rubber cup over the patient's teeth. There is skill in adapting the instruments to the teeth. Have you ever done this?

Hygienists are great educators, at least the good ones are. They spend an hour with the patient, where as the dentist varies depending on the procedure. If the dentist spent a high amount of time with the patient trying to educate them, they would be cutting back their profit time. Yes, hygienist need dentists and dentists do not need hygienists. That is a fact. However, the ability to produce money without having to do anything makes it pretty important. Say a hygienist produces $100/hr (which is very easy to do), and the salary of the hygienist is roughly 1/3. $33 would go to the hygienist which would seem like a lot. Another 1/3 will go towards overhead, and the final 1/3 goes to the dentist (in private practice). That is $34 in an hour for doing nothing. Now, if the hygienist is a good clinician and good with patients, they can inform the patient of dental needs. So when the dentist comes in the patient hears the same thing and is now more informed of the treatment. A dentist spends maybe 5 minutes with a patient in the hygiene chair. When the dentist walks away, the patient often asks the hygienist their opinion. Are you more inclined to accept treatment recommendations from a friend or a stranger? Of course you will listen to a friend. That hour is spent building a friendship. If you have a disgruntled hygienist, poor clinician, or one that is not good socially with the patients, then are they going to make friends with the patient? This is where you run into patients not accepting treatment. The hygienist can sell dentistry very easily. Yes, they can not diagnose, but a well trained hygienist can point out a dark sticky spot or a fracture line. They can also talk about whitening or other treatment options.

The hygienist is your ally, not your enemy. As are all the staff members. Being the boss, you are in control of whom you surround yourself with. You can surround yourself with crappy people and then complain about them behind their backs. Or you can surround yourself by great people, prosper, and enjoy going to work. The option is yours. But if you guys continue to have bad attitudes towards your future staff, it only reflects on what kind of ignorant a** you are going to be or already are. Maybe you have a chip on your shoulder and think you are better than other people. That you are far superior to anyone you deem as being below you. Nobody is above anything. You can be the boss that is a rude jerk, or you can be the guy that will help take out the trash. I know how I want my office to run, and I am sure I will have a lot less headaches and worries.

AMEN! Can I get a hallelujah?

 

[dds2010]

AMEN! Can I get a hallelujah?

HALLELUJAH!

 

[lifeisgood]

This thread is lame.
It's like a cat fight between dentists and hygenists. Hygenists are important and so are dentists...they are interconnected and there should be mutual respect between them. Of course dentists can do their own cleanings but who the hell would want to when you can make money having someone else do the work.
On another note, finding honest, hard-working employees is difficult in any profession.

 

[lifeisgood]

There are some really exceptional hygienists out there......

Fetororis you brought up some excellent points!

 

[RDHwife]

fetororis is the type of dentist I would like to work for

 

[colt]

Super,
If I knew where you were I would kick your a** right now.

Best part of this thread; I couldn't read anymore after this

 

[SuperTrooper]

Best part of this thread; I couldn't read anymore after this

The spotted hyena (hygienist) lives (works) in pack of 12 to 100 animals (2 to 5). Females are larger than males, and the most dominant female heads the pack. Hierarchy in the pack is maintained though body postures (& bit*hiness/bad attitude). Especially during the mating season (paycheck time), there may be outright aggression leading to the death of the weaker animal. The spotted hyena's teamwork in hunting and sharing food (ripping off their boss) enables it to adapt to varied habitats and prey (dentists of all sorts) .

 

[MissMuffet]

LMAO

You are soooo bad!!!

Shameful! Outrageous!
Simply rotten, I tell ya!

Can't help but love ya. 😉 And I'm confident that, if you don't hire just anyone, thinking they're all alike, you will find a hygienist with a great sense of humor and the two of you will get along wonderfully and have a practice that's a joy to be a part of. 🙂

 

[armorshell]

Don't know what's going on at the practices you guys are working/shadowing at, but I can't think of a hygienist I know who isn't cool/funny/pleasent

 

[Marquito67]

Hi Everyone!

Sorry to burst in on this thread, but I'm in desperate need for information about the possiblity of a career change to Dental Hygiensit. I'm a thirty-eight year old guy doing research for myself on this. At my age, with a B.B.A. degree in Industrial Psych. under my belt and years of working in the Personnel field, how realistic is it to start studying for RDH? I live in one of the boroughs of New York City and frankly, have never noticed any male hygienist's in the dental practices I've been a patient of over the years. Frankly, they have been small practices and my impression is that the dentist did all the work. Ive done some initial research and know that RDH is currently a hot career field and will be through the next decade at least. But, is it feasible for someone at my age? Also can a two year hygienist degree be enough to get started? I work as a Civil Servant in the Personnel Dept. of a City Agency now and make approximately $26.oo/hr for a thirty five hour work week. Will I achieve similar earnings entry level as an RDH? : 😕

 

[dds2010]

Hi Everyone!

Sorry to burst in on this thread, but I'm in desperate need for information about the possiblity of a career change to Dental Hygiensit. I'm a thirty-eight year old guy doing research for myself on this. At my age, with a B.B.A. degree in Industrial Psych. under my belt and years of working in the Personnel field, how realistic is it to start studying for RDH? I live in one of the boroughs of New York City and frankly, have never noticed any male hygienist's in the dental practices I've been a patient of over the years. Frankly, they have been small practices and my impression is that the dentist did all the work. Ive done some initial research and know that RDH is currently a hot career field and will be through the next decade at least. But, is it feasible for someone at my age? Also can a two year hygienist degree be enough to get started? I work as a Civil Servant in the Personnel Dept. of a City Agency now and make approximately $26.oo/hr for a thirty five hour work week. Will I achieve similar earnings entry level as an RDH? : 😕

Here's motivation for you: I work as a dental hygienist in Southern Cali and i'm making $50/hour. I love my job! It pays well and the hours are very flexible. Hygienists in this part of the country are very well respected and are highly regarded in dental practices. Hygienists are specialists in the dental field. We specialize in providing preventive dental care (oral hygiene instructions, prophylaxis, scaling and root planings, etc.) We spend two years practicing the skills required to be hygienists. Although dentists are also trained to do cleanings, they are not as skilled, as this is a minor part of their training. Dentists with successful practices have a great understanding of how important hygienists are. For example, if a dentist charges $100 for a cleaning, and the hygienist gets $50, the dentist just earned $50 without doing anything. Although this field is dominated by females, I personally know of several male hygienist that find this field to be rewarding. After completing the prereqs., all hygiene programs are 2 years, for either B.S. or A.A..

 

[SuperTrooper]

Here's motivation for you: I work as a dental hygienist in Southern Cali and i'm making $50/hour. I love my job! It pays well and the hours are very flexible. Hygienists in this part of the country are very well respected and are highly regarded in dental practices. Hygienists are specialists in the dental field. We specialize in providing preventive dental care (oral hygiene instructions, prophylaxis, scaling and root planings, etc.) We spend two years practicing the skills required to be hygienists. Although dentists are also trained to do cleanings, they are not as skilled, as this is a minor part of their training. Dentists with successful practices have a great understanding of how important hygienists are. For example, if a dentist charges $100 for a cleaning, and the hygienist gets $50, the dentist just earned $50 without doing anything. Although this field is dominated by females, I personally know of several male hygienist that find this field to be rewarding. After completing the prereqs., all hygiene programs are 2 years, for either B.S. or A.A..

hey dds2010. I'm assuming by your screen name that you're gonna be heading to dental school, or at least applied this past cycle. What made you want to make the switch to dentistry from hygiene?

And to the guy considering hygiene: I don't think it's too late to become a hygienist. I have never seen a male dental assistant or hygienist before in my life though. But that shouldn't stop you. Good luck.

 

[nnjh]

There are some really exceptional hygienists out there, and there are some prima donna crappy ones. Just like there are good dentists and bad dentists. There are good lawyers, and crappy lawyers. It goes with any profession.

Super, it appears that your close friend who you observed with hired the bad kind. The great thing about being the boss is the ability to hire people that you want to surround yourself with. If that person does not do as you please, then you get rid of them and find someone that can help the goals of the practice. You said it yourself that your friend is a pushover. Well, that goes to show you that he does not command the office like it should be. He probably allows the hygienists to get away with their doings, and then complains about it behind their backs. There are many spineless dentists that have no confrontational skills, thus they let their hygienists walk all over them. They allow the hygienists to sit in the break room reading the paper, they allow them to not do sterile, and they allow them to complain about any little detail. Maybe when you are a boss, you will find some good hygienists. They are out there.

As far as minimal education and skills, I have to disagree with you completely. There is more to it than meets the eye. Just like drilling a tooth is easy, but doing it properly takes some skill. Anyone can put a drill to a tooth, however if they want anything left to work with that takes some skills. Cleaning teeth the right way is not just someone running a rubber cup over the patient's teeth. There is skill in adapting the instruments to the teeth. Have you ever done this?

Hygienists are great educators, at least the good ones are. They spend an hour with the patient, where as the dentist varies depending on the procedure. If the dentist spent a high amount of time with the patient trying to educate them, they would be cutting back their profit time. Yes, hygienist need dentists and dentists do not need hygienists. That is a fact. However, the ability to produce money without having to do anything makes it pretty important. Say a hygienist produces $100/hr (which is very easy to do), and the salary of the hygienist is roughly 1/3. $33 would go to the hygienist which would seem like a lot. Another 1/3 will go towards overhead, and the final 1/3 goes to the dentist (in private practice). That is $34 in an hour for doing nothing. Now, if the hygienist is a good clinician and good with patients, they can inform the patient of dental needs. So when the dentist comes in the patient hears the same thing and is now more informed of the treatment. A dentist spends maybe 5 minutes with a patient in the hygiene chair. When the dentist walks away, the patient often asks the hygienist their opinion. Are you more inclined to accept treatment recommendations from a friend or a stranger? Of course you will listen to a friend. That hour is spent building a friendship. If you have a disgruntled hygienist, poor clinician, or one that is not good socially with the patients, then are they going to make friends with the patient? This is where you run into patients not accepting treatment. The hygienist can sell dentistry very easily. Yes, they can not diagnose, but a well trained hygienist can point out a dark sticky spot or a fracture line. They can also talk about whitening or other treatment options.

The hygienist is your ally, not your enemy. As are all the staff members. Being the boss, you are in control of whom you surround yourself with. You can surround yourself with crappy people and then complain about them behind their backs. Or you can surround yourself by great people, prosper, and enjoy going to work. The option is yours. But if you guys continue to have bad attitudes towards your future staff, it only reflects on what kind of ignorant a** you are going to be or already are. Maybe you have a chip on your shoulder and think you are better than other people. That you are far superior to anyone you deem as being below you. Nobody is above anything. You can be the boss that is a rude jerk, or you can be the guy that will help take out the trash. I know how I want my office to run, and I am sure I will have a lot less headaches and worries.

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