Dental Assistant and Hygienist Degrees and Programs

Dentistry is primarily about taking care of teeth and ensuring that they are healthy and last a lifetime. As part of this field, several professions have sprung up to address client needs including dental assistants and dental hygienists.

A dental hygienist advises patients of developing and maintaining good oral health at all times. He cleans teeth of deposits, documents abnormalities, and develops x-rays. Additionally, fluorides and sealants are applied to teeth preparing them for thorough examination by dentists. Dental assistants, on the other hand, sterilize and prepare dental equipment. They prepare patients for procedures along side chair-side duties during patient care. Other duties may include maintaining office records, billing and appointments tasks.

Programs for dental assistants include certifications and diplomas of 1 year duration. There are also Associate degree programs of 2 year tenure available. License requirements apply depending on the state. Similar requirements apply for a dental hygienist viz., certifications or Associate degree. Durations vary accordingly. Sometimes, a Bachelor’s degree may be required especially for public run facilities. Field work and experience are essential for both professions. Basic course work for dental hygienists includes oral anatomy, radiology, dental materials and principles of nutrition. For dental assistants, course work revolves around classroom, laboratory and preclinical instruction in dental assisting skills and related theory.

Career outlook is strong for dental assistants and hygienists in line with the positive growth projected by Bureau of Labor Statistics for the dentistry profession. Salaries for dental hygienists average to $43.07 an hour with additional perks. The earnings for dental assistants on the other hand average $15.17 per hour going up to a maximum of $21.60 per hour.

Premier educational institutions offering programs include Argosy and Kaplan Universities followed by Everest and Sanford Brown Colleges. Rasmussen College completed the list with equally “best in class” programs as the others in the group.