How To Become A Dental Hygienist Without A Degree

If you have no degree in dental hygiene, still you can become a dental hygienist!

Yes, you can. Keep reading to know how to become a dental hygienist without a degree?

You might be surprised to know that you can become a dental hygienist without a degree by enrolling in one of the state’s accredited programs. Nothing to be surprised about here. You can also pick up the skills through hands-on training. 

There are various online courses available to help you finish your dental hygiene learning. This profession has a lot of benefits as well. 

So follow this article if you wish to become a dental hygienist without a degree.

How To Become A Dental Hygienist Without A Degree: The Secret Tips

Society has taught us that in order to be a successful person in life, we must attend university or have an institutional degree. Employers will not recruit you unless you have a legal degree. Hence, you will be trapped with a low salary for the rest of your life.

But this is not the case. Luckily for people who did not attend university or could not afford it, Some options are available for them. 

But before knowing the alternative options, you have to know what dental hygienists actually do. They are as follows:

Activities of a Dental Hygienist 

A dental hygienist’s job is not only interesting but also rewarding. Dental hygienists are in charge of providing preventative patient care and ensuring that their teeth & gums are clean and healthy. 

Although the work differs from dentist to dentist, dental hygienists are responsible for maintaining the hygiene & health of the patient’s gums, teeth, and dentures.

Fillings, scaling, extractions, gingivitis elimination, as well as crown-root canal cleanings, are all services provided by dental hygienists. 

Dentists recruit dental hygienists if they have to conduct regular operations like fillings, sealants, as well as extractions. 

Now let’s check some available alternative options for becoming a dental hygienist without a degree.

Authorized Programs

A college education is not required to work as a dental hygienist. There are numerous ways you might follow to reach your objectives. Many authorized programs exist around the United States that can be used to replace a traditional degree and get you certified.

Such courses are designed to teach the basics of dental hygiene. Though these courses are quite difficult to complete, you have to give a lot of effort and time to do so. And after completing, you can get your dream job.

To complete the course, you must pass a 2 part final examination. You can retake your program as well as the exam if you fail. In addition, these courses offer some extra qualifications, with which you can enhance your skills in the field of dentistry. 

Dealing with X-ray technicians and administering oral anesthetics are some examples of this.

If you don’t think university is for you, there are many other dental hygiene programs that you may enroll in to get into this field.

Practical Learning 

Authorized programs do not provide anyone with the information and resources he/she need to be qualified for the position. Rather practical experience is the key to learning the dental hygiene basic skills.

This way of learning is critical because certain college degrees do not allow you to obtain experience while pursuing the degree. 

Take full use of this opportunity and ask as many questions as you need to, because it’s actually the ideal learning environment. 

You will have the essential experience which can boost your confidence and you will be able to succeed in your career as a dental hygienist if you enroll in one of these recognized programs.

Online Programs

To become a dental hygienist without any degree, you can choose dental hygiene programs online. Nowadays, obtaining dental hygiene certification online has become a more popular alternative. 

Many academic-based courses are delivered entirely online now. Hence, laboratory and clinical works are taking place on any University premises or at any third-party location. 

These online programs provide students with more flexibility than many campus-based programs. These web-based programs provide students with more flexibility than many campus-based programs.

Actually, you can take the advantage of the flexibility of online programs. After all, you should have past practical experience or a dental hygiene degree to be a dental hygienist.

After completing one of the programs listed above, you’ll need to know how to get a dental hygienist license in order to work in any dental clinic.

Step 1: Pass The Board And State-approved License Examinations

A Dental Hygienist must be licensed in each and every state for treating any patients.

A passing mark on the national board dental hygiene examination (NBDHE) is required to be a candidate for licensure. You must also pass a state-approved license exam, which varies from state to state.

Both exams will demand you to demonstrate your professional oral hygiene skills both physically and in writing form.

Luckily, you can retake these exams if you fail.

Step 2: Complete Your Continuing Education Requirement

To keep your license active in dental hygiene, you should also fulfill educational requirements. 

Continuing education programs are available at many universities and colleges to assist you in meeting your renewal requirements. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) already has online courses you can take at your convenience.

Step 3: Apply For The Dental Hygienist Job.

It’s time to attract potential employers to get your job after you’ve obtained the necessary training and qualifications. 

To begin, you will need to create a resume as well as a cover letter that emphasizes the aspects that employers value, like your schooling, the abilities you gained throughout your practical training, and any past employment you’ve done. 

Consider the field of dentistry you want to pursue, such as periodontal, pediatric,  general, or hospital dentistry.

All dental hygiene students undergo equivalent coursework. So it’s critical for job searchers to emphasize what sets them apart from other candidates to catch the attention of potential employers.

As you have already known that becoming a dental hygienist without a degree is not easy. So, if you invest time and effort in these procedures, you must determine whether they are worthwhile or not. 

Let’s see some benefits of becoming a dental hygienist:

Competitive Salary

A dental hygienist job is rewarding one with enough job options. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of dental hygienists was $76,220 in May 2019. 

As different state has different pay ranges. It ranges from $53,130 to $103,340 between states.

This is one of the rising sectors in the U.S, owing to an increasingly older population and increased awareness of the significance of preventative oral care. 

According to CareerOneStop, employment is expected to grow by 11% between 2018 and 2028.

Therefore, if you want to become a dental hygienist, it will be a good choice for you.

Irreplaceable Sector

Dental healthcare is a sector that will always be in need. This sector will be required always in an international market.

We want dental hygienists as well as the dentistry business to aid us to keep our dental care, equally as we want physicians & primary care providers to take proper care of all other parts of our body and specialists for specialized treatment.

If you ask a regular doctor about dental problems, you will almost surely be directed to a dentist’s practice. So this field of dentistry is irreplaceable.

Assisting People Every Day

Whenever it refers to motivations to pursue a career in dentistry, this is usually one of the most compelling factors. 

When you ask anyone why he/she wants to be a dental hygienist, most hygienists answer that they want to become a dental hygienist to help people on a daily basis.

Working as a dental hygienist has a lot of benefits. You will be working in a very people-oriented sector and there you can create relationships with all the patients. With time, you can make a list of patients with whom you enjoy conversing.

In addition, you will be able to monitor the progress of the patients throughout time. So it’s really satisfying to help people every day.

Though the dental hygienist job is wonderful, here are some pros and cons you need to know before deciding to become a dental hygienist.

Verdict

I hope I am able to enlighten you about how to become a dental hygienist without a degree?

Don’t allow society to confine you or push you to take a route you don’t believe is best for you. You must explore the various career options available to you and choose the one which is suitable for you. 

If a university does not seem affordable to you, you can consider enrolling in any sort of authorized program, which can provide you with the skills and experience you need to succeed in your career.

Ready to take the first step toward a career in dental hygiene? Contact us today to learn more about our dental implant marketing services and how we can help you achieve your goals as a dental professional without a degree.