Article by Sarah Matthews
Most of us think that a quick brush once or twice a day, along with an occasional work-out with the old dental floss, will keep our teeth in tip-top condition. Good dentists, and dental hygienists, know better. If you want to keep your teeth for as long as possible, you need to keep them clean. And visit a hygienist regularly.
Good hygienists are not a dime a dozen, they are a rare breed who really care about teeth. Many people (mistakenly) assume they are just people who didn’t want to shell out all the time, energy and cash to finish dental school. Actually, becoming a dental hygienist requires finishing an accredited dental hygiene program of at least two years’ duration and pass several state and national exams. Some finish a four-year Bachelor’s of Science program in Dental Hygiene, which includes courses in oral anatomy and hygiene theory.
Teaching good dental hygiene is an art in itself, and doing it properly is not something to be sneezed at (especially not when your hygienist is looking in your mouth). Look for one who has RDH, or Registered dental Hygienist, after their name, as a stamp of quality and training. That means her or she (usually she) is a licensed oral health professional, and has the skills and background required to work on your smile.
Duties of a Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists do a lot more than teach little kids how to brush. While dentists diagnosis and treat problems of the teeth, it’s up to the hygienist to ensure they stay in good repair. After all, why pay thousands of dollars on dental work, only to let your pearly whites turn yellow and rot into little stumps? To make sure we keep our teeth in sparkling condition, hygienists can: Examine both teeth and gums. Also take x-rays and make an assessment of the gums (periodontal)Keep record of any diseases, abnormalities etc. The diagnosis of any condition normally must be done by the dentistClean teeth, removing both hard and soft deposits of plaque, calculus (tartar) etcApply agents that will help to act as a sealant and/or prevent cavities and decayAdminister local anesthesia (in some states dental hygienists are also qualified to apply other types of anesthetics)Teach the basics of good oral hygiene and how to prevent tooth decay and gum disease – oral health promotion as well as protection strategies. This can also include the introduction and maintenance of quit smoking programs, as well as the importance of good nutrition for strong teeth and gums
Remember that every individual state has its own licensing agreements concerning what a dental hygienist can do. He or she will work in tandem with the dentist, but the exact responsibilities are, at least partly, dependent on state regulation.
Tools Used
Dental hygienists, obviously, rely on a variety of tools to get the job done properly. Because most of the tools are small, hygienists must be adept at working with their hands. As technology advances so do the types of tools used, here are the basics: Hand and rotary instruments. Used to clean teethUltrasonic devices. Also used to clean, polish and remove stainsTeeth models. To show patients how to clean better, perform root canal therapy or apply certain cleaning agents and sealantsAnesthetic devices such as syringes etc. To apply local anesthesia
Dental Hygienist Overview
If the thought of sticking your hands into someone’ else’s decaying mouth makes you want to gag, think again. Government findings from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics say that dental hygiene is a growing profession, and is expected to grow a whopping 30 percent until 2016. In part, that’s because as older dentists who didn’t employ hygienists retire, younger dentists who do are taking their place.
The growth is also because dentists want to concentrate on other, perhaps more lucrative, procedures, allowing their hygienists to do more and more. Because of these procedures, however, more and more people are keeping their natural teeth longer, instead of relying on dentures. That also is contributing to the demand for proper dental maintenance and protection, making dental hygiene one of the fastest-growing professions.
Don’t confuse a dental hygienist with a dental assistant, however, as only the former is licensed to carry out the specific clinical tasks mentioned above. Dental assistants concentrate more on preparing instruments for use, performing lab duties (in some cases) and doing some basic-hands-on work, as instructed by the dentist. They can only work under close supervision, and get paid less than hygienists on the whole.
So next time you visit a dentist – or a hygienist – take the time to appreciate the varied training that each specialty involves. In particular, pay attention to what the hygienist tells you, and start brushing properly and flossing regularly and following the hygienist’s instructions to the letter. You only have one set of natural teeth – try to keep them for as long as you can.
Watch the video related to dental hygienist
LOCAL ANAESTHESIA FOR REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENISTS Dr. Teri Norfolk & Ruth Lunn, RDH University of British Columbia – Continuing Dental Education (2010)
Find your local community college. Tuition is much cheaper than a state college and they offer good financial aid, which you will most likely qualify for. Most offer completely online courses. If you have a computer or can get access to one (the library!), you can easily participate in online courses.
If you care for your grandmother, you might be interested in becoming a LNA/CNA (licensed/certified nursing assistant). Most nursing homes offer free courses (usually between 8-12 weeks in length) if you agree to work for them for a certain time period (usually 6-12 months) after you complete your training. These classes are not usually advertised, so you would have to get the phone book out and call places if you are interested. Once you have experience, you could also get a job in a hospital or as a home health aide.
I've seen on other message boards how some do struggle while trying to get regular customers in their database though not sure if it depends on region too. Having a passion for something is really key in being successful as well as having the physical (and mental) stamina which MT can be quite physically taxing with the client sometimes asking for an hour-long massage. It's great that you have a lot of confidence in your abilities. If interested in attending school, please forgo those private $$ career schools and instead opt for the county vo-tech school or community college (perhaps non-credit course) as long as it's accredited within the industry.
General career info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search 'massage therapists' or such.
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Sorry that you feel lost right now. Now it's up to you to take that first step, but I hope I can give you some suggestions. I know you said that you hate classrooms, but an education is a good way to make it in society. What I'd suggest doing first is maybe going to a community college to take some gen ed courses, just to see what you would like to do in addition to art as a side job. Community college is cheaper than a university, and it's really a good way to get hands on experience with many different subjects. It's a good way to get some career ideas. As far as the art goes, you're right it doesn't make a whole lot of money, but maybe you could paint on the side and see if there are clinics or hotels or restaurants that would be interested in purchasing your work. As far as the license goes, study up on the driving handbook and give the driving test a shot. Don't worry about failing either, because you can retake it as many times as you have to. A license is a good investment
I know its hard to take those first steps, but when you do, you're gonna feel great and pretty soon things will begin to fall into place. Don't feel bad about your life though, the fact that you're feeling this way is actually the first step to changing things believe it or not. You'll do fine 
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