Dental Hygiene or Dental School?

[KeepingUpWithK]

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Hi! So I'm currently a junior now in college but since I've changed my major to biology (to become a dentist) my sophomore year I still have more courses to take. Now my school is offering a dental hygiene program and I feel like if I join I'll have a better chance at:
• graduating early enough which would lead to gaining experience and saving money for dental school
However I would feel pretty awful considering that I spent time in college trying to earn a Bachelor's degree and end up earning an Associate's :/.

BUT considering that I'm not financially stabled and come from a not so wealthy background I feel like it could really help out

Any advice??? *please no rude comments*

 

[Advance]

Hi! So I'm currently a junior now in college but since I've changed my major to biology (to become a dentist) my sophomore year I still have more courses to take. Now my school is offering a dental hygiene program and I feel like if I join I'll have a better chance at:
• graduating early enough which would lead to gaining experience and saving money for dental school
However I would feel pretty awful considering that I spent time in college trying to earn a Bachelor's degree and end up earning an Associate's :/.

BUT considering that I'm not financially stabled and come from a not so wealthy background I feel like it could really help out

Any advice??? *please no rude comments*

If I were in your shoes I would just stick with biology and apply to dental school straight out of undergrad assuming your stats are good.

 

[RuffDay]

I don't think you can get into dental school with an associate. It is really rare for students to get in without a bachelor's.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[mroerdh22]

Hygienist here, unless they're offering a BSDH, stick with your Bio degree. It'll save you time. If your intention is just to apply to dental school soon after graduating and not really gain a good amount of hygiene experience first, I'd say it's a waste of time. Hygiene school is not dental school but it can be costly (instruments, boards, etc.) and is no cake walk. Maybe attend an assisting course and gain a job in the field that you can do while you are still in school to add experience to your app. That's my two cents though.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Complete the Bachelor's, I really don't see there being any significant advantages to becoming a hygienist and working for a year, plus you'd run into the issue of not having a Bachelor's at the time of application which makes the odds of admission a lot lower.

 

[tooth knockn]

Dental Hygiene


2years plus you could complete a DH bachelors online or at your school

 

[KeepingUpWithK]

I don't think you can get into dental school with an associate. It is really rare for students to get in without a bachelor's.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile[/QUOT
So gaining experience as a dental hygienist would help? That's crazy

 

[KeepingUpWithK]

Hygienist here, unless they're offering a BSDH, stick with your Bio degree. It'll save you time. If your intention is just to apply to dental school soon after graduating and not really gain a good amount of hygiene experience first, I'd say it's a waste of time. Hygiene school is not dental school but it can be costly (instruments, boards, etc.) and is no cake walk. Maybe attend an assisting course and gain a job in the field that you can do while you are still in school to add experience to your app. That's my two cents though.

Thanks I'll look into that 🙂