You have a lot of time to think when you’re sitting in the dentist’s chair! While you’re sitting in that chair with your mouth open, you might be wondering what it takes to become a dental hygienist.

If you’re interested in a career in the dental field, but don’t want to spend the next 5 or so years training to become a dentist, the field of dental hygiene might be for you! Dental hygienists are basically the folks who assist the dentists. They do everything from examining the patient’s teeth and helping with diagnosis to supporting any dental procedures. Did you know that dental hygienists are the forerunners in preventative dental care? They help to prevent future tooth decay by providing the patients with the latest information about dental care.

Since dental hygienists use x-rays and other instruments to remove deposits on teeth, they need to be highly trained. Dental hygienists typically graduate from a dental hygienist school or program. These programs center around a science based curriculum including anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, nutrition, radiography, histology, and periodontology. Confused! Don’t be. Histology is simply the study of tissue structure, while periodontology is the study of gum disease. Of course, dental hygienists need to take courses to learn the uses of dental tools and clinical dental hygiene.

Besides the requisite education, good communication skills are essential for a good dental hygienist. Talking with patients to explain a procedure, a diagnosis, or proper steps for tooth care is a daily part of the job. Depending on the office, dental hygienists may be working right alongside the dentist so they will need a good rapport with the dentist to provide the best care possible to the patient. Since they are working inside a patient’s mouth, they also need to be very good with their hands!

If you have a passion for keeping people healthy, talking to patients, and working with your hands, you might want to consider a career in dental hygienics!