dental hygiene--Please help.

[Brighten]

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Well, I am currently a biochem major and I am seriously thinking about changing my career path to dental hygenie. Initially I chosed biochem because I was doing pre-pharm at the same time but now I am having seconds thoughts about it. What worries me is that if I didn't get accepted into pharm school I would be stuck with a biochem degree(which is pretty much unless - in terms of salary).

I was wondering if what you guys think about this career. The pay and flexible working hours is what is attracting me to this program- not to mention the fact that it is only a 2 year program(after I finish my pre-req - which would probably only take a year- but i would have to wait a whole year because the school I want to go into only accepts ppl during the fall semester).

I really do not know what to do. Im 19 right now. I think my parents would flip out if i told them that I didnt want pursue a bachelors degree anymore. I am a dude by the way - would it be wierd to enter this program since the majority are chicks? How I see it is that, i can come out of the dental hygenie program about the same time i would have graduated with the bs degree and still make more money. In California DH average around 45K (starting salary).

 

[rdhdds1]

Well, I am currently a biochem major and I am seriously thinking about changing my career path to dental hygenie. Initially I chosed biochem because I was doing pre-pharm at the same time but now I am having seconds thoughts about it. What worries me is that if I didn't get accepted into pharm school I would be stuck with a biochem degree(which is pretty much unless - in terms of salary).

I was wondering if what you guys think about this career. The pay and flexible working hours is what is attracting me to this program- not to mention the fact that it is only a 2 year program(after I finish my pre-req - which would probably only take a year- but i would have to wait a whole year because the school I want to go into only accepts ppl during the fall semester).

I really do not know what to do. Im 19 right now. I think my parents would flip out if i told them that I didnt want pursue a bachelors degree anymore. I am a dude by the way - would it be wierd to enter this program since the majority are chicks? How I see it is that, i can come out of the dental hygenie program about the same time i would have graduated with the bs degree and still make more money. In California DH average around 45K (starting salary).

First, just because you did not get into pharm school you want to squash your hopes/dreams of going and automatically look to do something else? Why is that? Because you did not get in?

Secondly, let me say that if you want to pursue dental hygiene then that is one thing but if you want to truly pursue dentistry and/or dental hygiene then let that be your passion and not a secondary back-up plan.

Finally, what is it that you want to do? What is truly your passion? IF you do want to pursue dental hygiene (which is a great career choice) then why worry about your parents? If this is truly what you want earn your AAS and pursue your BSDH. You will still wind up with a bachelors it will just take you a little longer.

Advice: Don't give up on your hopes and dreams. They are yours and no one can take them away. Don't use dentistry in any form as a copout to you not getting into pharm school. It's like if I don't get into dental school then I am applying to med/pharm/OAT and HOPEFULLY I will get in somewhere. No! I will re-apply as I have already done. This has to be truly what you want. Not your parents.

The pay scale in Cali is a little low my friend. In AZ hygienists are making 65-75K and I know Cali is at least 10-15K more than that if not more.

Good luck to ya bra.

 

[Pat Kelly]

There are male hygienist students (like me), so it's not that much of a big deal. The ratio is like 10 to 1 though, so it works in your favor. There are also bachelor's in dental science, which is the degree you get for four years of dental hygiene training - if you are looking into getting a bachelors. The pay is pretty good - around 35 to 45 dollars an hour. It is also a pretty flexible position in that you can do part time or full time. I think it's worth looking into if you don't like what you are doing right now. Have you taken any upper level biochemistry courses yet though? That's usually how you know whether biochemistry is good for you or not.

 

[doc toothache]

The biggest decision of our lives is deciding what we want to do when we grow up.

 

[dwill]

If you are a biochem major just keep going and apply to dental school. Being a dentist is way better than hygenist but on the other hand it does take longer to become a dentist. If you work hard and do well then there really isn't any career path to be afraid of, just do whatever you think will make you happy in the long run.

 

[Brighten]

Thanks for the reply guys. I was actually pursuing pharm because my parents wanted me to do it not because it was what I wanted to do. I came out of high school with no real plan in mind and so I just decided to listen to what my parents said and I have been doing so for the past 2 years. I actually like chemistry but I really hate doing labs.

I know this sounds really general but I really like helping people and I always enjoyed interacting with people and working as team - which is another reason I think that i want to pursue this career. I have been doing alot of research lately and I just thought that DH sounded like an appealing career. I heard that DH develop like problems with their hands later in their career- does this mean that you cant be a DH for the majority of your working life?

The thing with the parents is that I live with them and they very high expectation of myself. Since they never went to a 4-year institution - they have been pressuring me to get my bs degree. There is just this wierd unwritten rule that you got to one-up your parents to make them happy. I know I should try to find a career that interests me and that would bring me joy but this is just the situation I am under right now.

Also- to all the people who recommended on going for the BSHD - I would definately do it but where I live (California) there is only 3 schools that currently offer this option-- University of Pacific, USC, and Loma Linda. The crappy part is that all of these schools are private institutions. I am not sure how accurate this is but I heard DHs with the AS degree make about the same as people holding the BSDH degree- so would it be worth the time and investment to go for the BSDH.

 

[Pat Kelly]

They do make the same amount of money, but if you wish to pursue higher education later on, a bachelor's is really your best choice. It's true that some people will get hand problems as they work in the field for 10+ years, but I think with moderate exercise and precaution it can be avoided.

 

[doc toothache]

I was wondering if what you guys think about this career. The pay and flexible working hours is what is attracting me to this program- not to mention the fact that it is only a 2 year program(after I finish my pre-req - which would probably only take a year- but i would have to wait a whole year because the school I want to go into only accepts ppl during the fall semester).
I really do not know what to do. Im 19 right now. I think my parents would flip out if i told them that I didnt want pursue a bachelors degree anymore. I am a dude by the way - would it be wierd to enter this program since the majority are chicks? How I see it is that, i can come out of the dental hygenie program about the same time i would have graduated with the bs degree and still make more money. In California DH average around 45K (starting salary).

There are not very many professions that have more flexibility in scheduling than pharmacy. You should pursue a career in a field of your choice, assuming you have researched them well, but it is hard to imagine that your parents do not have your best interest at heart. Incidentally, in CA a pharmacist should earn ~ 80-100K.

 

[Brighten]

My uncle is a pharmacist living Solano county, CA - making around $120,000 a year. I know the pay/hours is also really good for pharmacists but I don't really know if I can handle taking any more calc classes. Pre-calc was hard enough- I don't even know if i can handle calc this semester.

I know alot of DHs say that they always liked "working with their hands" and that is one reason they decided to enter DH as a career. I know this is a stupid question - but what does that literally mean?