Switching from dentistry to dental hygiene - what R your thoughts?

[Horsemen]

Hey colleagues. I'm wondering what is some of your guys opinion of switching over to dental hygiene?

I have been in a DMD program for quite some time. I may be the few dental students who see things this way. But I think it's stressful for me to make partial dentures, excavating old nasty dental caries with my slow speed handpiece, making a crown prep on a second, or worse, third molar. The list goes on and on.

I don't mind the perio and scaling root planning aspect of dentistry.

Of course, there are pro's and con's of being either a dentist or a dental hygienist.

If I'm not mistaken, dental hygiene programs are usually two years at most, right?

The good side of being a hygienist is that you simply clock in and clock out for work.

The downside is you will work for somebody else ( a dentist) and you cannot make your own work hours. Of course, the "pay" is less than a dentist. But to me, happiness is more important than money.

If you guys have any info on dental hygiene aspects, shoot me a PM or let me know. 👍

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[Medwell]

I have been in a DMD program for quite some time.

Just finish it.

 

[Saddleshoes]

Hey colleagues. I'm wondering what is some of your guys opinion of switching over to dental hygiene?

I have been in a DMD program for quite some time. I may be the few dental students who see things this way. But I think it's stressful for me to make partial dentures, excavating old nasty dental caries with my slow speed handpiece, making a crown prep on a second, or worse, third molar. The list goes on and on.

I don't mind the perio and scaling root planning aspect of dentistry.

Of course, there are pro's and con's of being either a dentist or a dental hygienist.

If I'm not mistaken, dental hygiene programs are usually two years at most, right?

The good side of being a hygienist is that you simply clock in and clock out for work.

The downside is you will work for somebody else ( a dentist) and you cannot make your own work hours. Of course, the "pay" is less than a dentist. But to me, happiness is more important than money.

If you guys have any info on dental hygiene aspects, shoot me a PM or let me know. 👍

This is a "systems check" right?!
You can not be for real, asking a question like that.

 

[gryffindor]

This is a "systems check" right?!
You can not be for real, asking a question like that.

In case it wasn't and the OP is really clueless, we should let Horsemen know that if you finish your DMD, you can work as a hygienist. You don't have to go back to hygiene school. Your DMD along with a dental license in your state lets you do everything a hygienist does and much much more (obviously). Underemployed dentists in NYC and LA work as hygienists all the time.

 

[Daurang]

If you hadn't started dental school yet or only in the first year, then go for it. Otherwise just finish dental school and you can always work a a hygienist afterward.

 

[William Olympus]

I agree with the others. Dental school is pretty miserable experience, but once you finish you can refer anything you don't want to do. My fiancee wanted to quit throughout our 3rd and 4th years, but she's much happier now that we got it done.

 

[DMD 4 Me]

Dont quit. You can always do hygiene only. You can even go into Perio if you like that area.

 

[DrReo]

x2.

Sounds like your calling is Periodise!

 

[aphistis]

You're not describing a desire to be a hygienist, you're describing a desire to be a periodontist. Go for it.

 

[molarbear]

I agree with the above. Go for PERIO. If you have the grades, etc.

 

[SeattleRDH]

Remember: Hygienists cannot diagnose. Stay in dental school!

 

[xhamburgersamx]

I agree with the above. Go for PERIO. If you have the grades, etc.

LOL!

I can guarantee you that a periodontist does very minimal to zero cleanings.

 

[jay47]

LOL!

I can guarantee you that a periodontist does very minimal to zero cleanings.

But he won't be doing any of those nasty crowns!

Gum gardeners is what we call em.....

 

[DrReo]

But he won't be doing any of those nasty crowns!

Gum gardeners is what we call em.....

Or the superior soft tissue management docs!

 

[xhamburgersamx]

Or the superior soft tissue management docs!

or the i don't care about anything else besides letting you know you have periodontitis and you require extractions, bone grafts, implant and bridges for a total cost of $21,000

 

[SeattleRDH]

or the i don't care about anything else besides letting you know you have periodontitis and you require extractions, bone grafts, implant and bridges for a total cost of $21,000

We usually don't send patients to the periodontist until they need these things...

To the OP:

SRPs 8 hours a day is not fun. It is extremely hard on your body. Perhaps you might be interested in becoming a pedodontist, children tend not to need dentures and they don't even have 2nd molars until the age of twelve.

I agree with your reasons for why dental hygiene is appealing (2 year program, not being a business owner) but trust me, if you are smart enough to be a dentist you will not be happy as a hygienist. I made the choice six years ago to go to dental hygiene school instead of dental school and now I'm back pursuing dental school with a much larger student loan debt.

Restorative is hard (there is a reason why dentists get paid so well)! But it is much more interesting than prophies hour after hour after hour......

 

[Horsemen]

^^ Hey Seattle RDH.

Why do you say that SRP takes a toll on your body?

I don't mind doing the same ol thing all day long.

Of course, not all dentist work 8 hours a day. But oh well, it's something I'm going to consider.

BTW Seattle RDH, what kind of courses did you dental hygienist have to take during your two year program? Let me know, thanks!

 

[DMD 4 Me]

OP what year of dental school are you starting this Fall?

 

[SeattleRDH]

^^ Hey Seattle RDH.

Why do you say that SRP takes a toll on your body?

I don't mind doing the same ol thing all day long.

Of course, not all dentist work 8 hours a day. But oh well, it's something I'm going to consider.

BTW Seattle RDH, what kind of courses did you dental hygienist have to take during your two year program? Let me know, thanks!

SRP involves a lot of repetitive motion which can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Also, scaling heavy calculus all day takes a toll on the hand in the stronger grip it takes to engage. Prophies are much easier in that the calculus tends to be younger and scales off with ease. Ultrasonics help but do not replace the need to handscale.

I worked at a corporate practice that separated continuing care days and perio days so we were scheduled 3-4 SRPs with the rest of the schedule filled in with perio maintenance on those perio days. Occasionally the front desk would schedule 5 SRPs in someone's schedule and we would switch around our schedules so that hygienist didn't have to see more than 4. I don't know of any hygienists who do SRPs for 8 hours a day.

If you want a better idea of work injuries look into the cost of disability insurance for dental hygienists vs. dentists.

As far as coursework:

head & neck anatomy
histology & embryology
periodontology
tooth morphology
restorative materials
anesthetic
oral pathology
pharmacology
radiology
community health
ethics
clinical hygiene
clinical restorative
(I practice in a state where hygienists are licensed in restorative)

prereqs:
general chemistry
organic chemistry
microbiology
cell biology
anatomy & physiology
psychology
sociology
interpersonal communications
writing
statistics
2 years experience as a dental assistant or a previous bachelor's degree

Generally the courses are similar to those you take in dental school except they are the "easier" version. It's like the difference between the full chemistry series vs. chemistry for non-majors. If you want a good idea of what you'll need to know look into a national board review book on www.ADHA.org.

But seriously, stay in dental school!!!! You can always refer out those tough cases to specialists.

 

[DrRoxy]

The downside is you will work for somebody else ( a dentist) and you cannot make your own work hours. Of course, the "pay" is less than a dentist. But to me, happiness is more important than money.[/QUOTE]

Go ahead mate if happiness is more important than money cos even the wisest man on earth, King Solomon says "what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?" U decide what is best for you

 

[aphistis]

Go ahead mate if happiness is more important than money cos even the wisest man on earth, King Solomon says "what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?" U decide what is best for you

Actually, this is only half right. The wisest man on earth DID say that--Jesus, not Solomon. See Matthew 16:26, or Mark 8:36.

 

[DrRoxy]

Actually, this is only half right. The wisest man on earth DID say that--Jesus, not Solomon. See Matthew 16:26, or Mark 8:36.

Thanks for the input mate....I totally agree with you. I'm just trying to refer to someone who lived their life in this earth like us. Well Jesus also was born and raised in this earth before He was taken up to Heaven after His resurrection. So yup, totally agree.

 

[blonderdhmph]

I agree with SeattleRDH...... stay in dental school!

 

[getlouped]

A periodontist definitely could do all their own S/RP if they wanted to. And if you're not scared of blood/surgery as well, then definitely go for perio....

but honestly this thread is just mostly disappointing to me if you were seriously considering being a hygienist and not a dentist.

 

[hoper]

I'm transfering now🙂