Bachelor Degree in Dental Hygiene
What will I learn while earning a bachelor degree in dental hygiene?
Earning a bachelor degree in dental hygiene will take longer than the standard 2-year associates degree, however, you will be afforded a number of extended privileges with it. According to the American Dental Hygienists Association, students must be educated in several key competencies before being considered eligible for a profession in this field including ethics, disease prevention and effective care, community wellness and patient care. Along with these, you will take courses in biology, teeth structure and health, tools and equipment and medicine administration.
You will also need to sit for a licensing exam in the state you plan to work in and keep in mind that some states require that you participate in an on-the-job program, as opposed to having a classroom-only experience. The American Dental Hygienists Association has issued a recommendation that everyone who wants to enter into this field hold a bachelor degree in dental hygiene, at the very least.
What types of careers can it help prepare me for?
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has noted the dental hygiene field as being one of the fastest growing in the U.S. and is popular because of flexible scheduling and good pay. If you have a bachelor degree in dental hygiene, you will not have to work solely in this particular capacity. With a higher education degree, especially a 4-year degree as opposed to a 2-year degree, you extend your options outside of the traditional job roles. With a bachelor degree in dental hygiene, you will be eligible to be involved in teaching, clinical studies, research or for working in public health, such as in clinics or schools.
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