What age is too old for Dental Hygiene school?

[Cupcakexox]

I'm 31 and I'm currently taking online classes for Dental Assisting. I would like to go to Dental Hygiene school but I feel that working as a Dental Assistant first would be a good idea. I'll be 32 when I start my pre-classes for Dental Hygiene and it'll take me at least two years to do so. And then another two years to complete the classes for Dental Hygiene but I feel I might be too old. It could take me longer to finish I'm just worried that by the time I finish I'll be too old to work in the field. Also is it hard getting accepted into a Dental Hygiene program?

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[roadtodmd1]

No age is too old. You can do it

 

[Cupcakexox]

No age is too old. You can do it

There is a such thing as being too old.

 

[osker246]

Age is just a number. Don't worry about how old you will be when you are done. If it's something you truly want to do, then do it. You will be older than most your classmates, but it does not mean they will be better than you. If it makes you feel better I'll be 35 when I finish dental school and my buddy will be 39.

 

[pinwheeels]

If dental hygiene is what you want to do, then just go do it! Yes, you will probably be an outlier in the class's age group, but I expect to as well when I graduate dental school. I will be 39 when I graduate. I'm sure there will be a couple others like you too.

 

[FanOfCostco]

I don't agree with some of these response. I think 80 years old is too old. But 31 is totally fine for hygiene or dental or whatever your heart desires.

 

[GoDental101]

Remember you are asking a bunch of 18-22 year olds. We are invincible. At this stage in our life we have little to no experience with how old age can affect a career as a dentist or hygienist. You know you and your circumstances best. Good luck!

 

[Marie_30]

Remember you are asking a bunch of 18-22 year olds. We are invincible. At this stage in our life we have little to no experience with how old age can affect a career as a dentist or hygienist. You know you and your circumstances best. Good luck!

I’m sure not everyone here is 18-22 and 32 isn’t that old. I would be 36 or 37 when I finish.

 

[Marie_30]

Remember you are asking a bunch of 18-22 year olds. We are invincible. At this stage in our life we have little to no experience with how old age can affect a career as a dentist or hygienist. You know you and your circumstances best. Good luck!

My mom was 50 when she was in nursing school.

 

[GoDental101]

I’m sure not everyone here is 18-22 and 32 isn’t that old. I would be 36 or 37 when I finish.

I wasn’t saying she is too old. I was trying to say she knows herself and her personal circumstances better than anyone on here. 37 might be really young for someone with great health. Or it could be really old for someone with really bad back problems.

 

[GoDental101]

My mom was 50 when she was in nursing school.

My hygienist is in her late 20s but was telling me how she is looking to switch careers to be a PA because she has such bad back pain while working only a few days a week as a hygienist. Though I do know other older hygienists doing great with 20 years plus into their careers. It really just comes down to the individual with these sorts of questions.

 

[TanMan]

I'm 31 and I'm currently taking online classes for Dental Assisting. I would like to go to Dental Hygiene school but I feel that working as a Dental Assistant first would be a good idea. I'll be 32 when I start my pre-classes for Dental Hygiene and it'll take me at least two years to do so. And then another two years to complete the classes for Dental Hygiene but I feel I might be too old. It could take me longer to finish I'm just worried that by the time I finish I'll be too old to work in the field. Also is it hard getting accepted into a Dental Hygiene program?

When you have debilitating back or hand pain... then you're too old or too sick (or you teach).

 

[Faefly]

Why don't you be a dentist?

 

[FanOfCostco]

Why don't you be a dentist?

Crippling debt.

 

[Crown95]

Only you can define what "too old" means to you. While I might think age 50 is too old to switch to X career, another might think age 40. It really depends on what you think is worth it with your own circumstances.

 

[321931]

I had one 50 year old in my dental class. Most people have back pains/hand problems by that age, and starting with 300-500k debt in the hole with health problems isn't the smartest idea.

Lotta people change careers/start new careers around their mid 30's- so I think thats fine for the most part.

 

[2TH MVR]

I'm 31 and I'm currently taking online classes for Dental Assisting. I would like to go to Dental Hygiene school but I feel that working as a Dental Assistant first would be a good idea. I'll be 32 when I start my pre-classes for Dental Hygiene and it'll take me at least two years to do so. And then another two years to complete the classes for Dental Hygiene but I feel I might be too old. It could take me longer to finish I'm just worried that by the time I finish I'll be too old to work in the field. Also is it hard getting accepted into a Dental Hygiene program?

So .. doing the math means you'll be a hygeinist around 36 at the earliest. Last time I checked ... 30's is still YOUNG. If this is your goal ... then by all means .... pursue it. No one can tell you what is right for your circumstances. If you are already in a decent career .... then your goal could be questionable. If you're looking to improve on whatever career you currently have .... then hygeine might be your ticket forward.

I would skip working as a DA or limit your DA experience to 6 months. Go straight into DH. Save a year or two.

The positives. The hygeinists I know work very hard. Especially in the Corp setting. They see alot of patients. Most of the DH are very amicable and friendly. Most DHs have a stronger peer to peer relationship with the dentists as compared to the DAs. More status as a DH. Also there will ALWAYS be dirty teeth to clean. I personally have always enjoyed meeting DHs to discuss timing on orthodontic referrals.

As for the negatives. Well ... the back issues and carpal tunnel issues are real. I personally could not stand to see all the crap, food, tarter, calculus, blood, etc. etc. on dirty teeth, but then I am a cream puff orthodontist. 😉

 

[bisnus]

I'm 31 and I'm currently taking online classes for Dental Assisting. I would like to go to Dental Hygiene school but I feel that working as a Dental Assistant first would be a good idea. I'll be 32 when I start my pre-classes for Dental Hygiene and it'll take me at least two years to do so. And then another two years to complete the classes for Dental Hygiene but I feel I might be too old. It could take me longer to finish I'm just worried that by the time I finish I'll be too old to work in the field. Also is it hard getting accepted into a Dental Hygiene program?

First, my knowledge regarding DH is not super accurate. But one of my friends told me that there are associate degree DH schools that do not require prerequisite courses. I heard community colleges that offer DH programs usually have it. So, I guess depending on your goal, whether you really want a BS degree or you just want to be licensed and work as a DH ASAP, you may be able to save some time. I might be wrong but do a little more research on other schools to see what they require. And I don’t think age is a problem if you are sure that you will be happy as a DH so take a closer look at lifestyle of current DH.

 

[deathcat4cutie]

Hello! I’m a hygienist. Although I’m young, I don’t believe 31 is too old to go through the schooling and get licensed. My DH class had a couple of “older” women, one was late 20s and the other was over 30. It’s completely doable. Just make sure the job market in your area is good! 🙂 I’d say, go for it!

 

[deathcat4cutie]

Also, I’ll add that patients will probably assume, based on your age, that you’ve been in the field your entire adult life. They won’t know you only recently got licensed. Many hygienists I’ve worked with are in their 40s and 50s. In my situation, I look a lot younger than I really am, so I have patients ask me how long I’ve been a hygienist ALL the time. Patients tend to automatically trust that the “older” hygienists know what they are doing, in my experience.