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Dental Hygienist Program
By allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 18th, 2010
What are my degree options as a dental hygienist?
Although training for this profession has historically been pursued at the certificate level, today’s students of dental hygiene are now more frequently pursuing associate’s degrees. Certification is still in many instances acceptable, but an associate’s degree is increasingly becoming the norm. Some graduates of associate’s programs go on to pursue bachelor’s degrees, and the more academically predisposed of those may even pursue post-graduate study through master’s programs.What can I expect from associate’s degree programs in dental hygiene?
Associate’s degree programs offered by dental hygienist schools are most frequently pursued by recent high school graduates since they meet the requirements of most state licensing bodies. These programs provide a very comprehensive education within
a reasonable time frame and at a reasonable cost. These entry-level dental hygienist programs can typically be completed in as few as two years and satisfy the requirements for employment set by both state licensing boards and national certifying agencies. Associate’s degrees will require about 2,700 clock hours of didactic and lab-based instruction. Graduates can expect to leave these programs with skills necessary for the clinical practice of dental hygiene.
What’s involved in dental hygienist baccalaureate degree programs?
Among the basic entry-level educational options available to aspiring dental hygienists are baccalaureate programs. Baccalaureate programs are still considered entry-level, but provide a more well-rounded scholastic experience for the student. These dental hygienist programs will involve more clinical work than would typically be the case in associate’s programs, so it can be argued that they better prepare graduates for the applied technical aspects of the career.Additionally through a greater number of clock hours, often in excess of 3000, these baccalaureate programs will spend more time focusing on the soft skills that are so important to the job. These include prevention counseling and oral health advocacy and education. Also expect to spend considerably more time on both organic and inorganic chemistry as well as on an introduction to such administrative and managerial roles as patient management.
These programs expand on the potential roles and professional opportunities of dental hygienists considerably, allowing them the option to pursue roles outside of the clinical setting. These other dental hygiene career paths may include education, administration and management, or even public health and research study.
What will master’s programs in dental hygiene involve?
A master’s degree in dental hygiene, or Master of Science in Dental Hygiene (MSDH), as it is more formally called, represents the scholastic echelon for this career. Individuals who are considering roles outside of the clinic or dentist’s office will pursue graduate-level dental hygienist programs aimed at earning a master’s degree. These programs are also available to practicing clinical dental hygienists who wish to take their careers out of the clinic and embrace education, administration, and research. Master’s level programs in dental hygiene focus primarily on the various applied research methods and groom students for leadership roles in universities and public dental health organizations. These advanced programs will explore educational methods and theory, statistics, as well as epidemiology in the context of dental hygiene.©2012 Alliedhealthworld.com All rights reserved.