Should i be a dental hygienist or dental assistant

DANB also requires passing scores on an exam. Dental assistants and dental hygienists can anticipate strong employment growth. Dental hygienists receive a higher median pay than dental assistants.

This salary gap reflects the additional training and licensure requirements for dental hygienists. Both types of dental professionals can advance their careers with job experience and by earning higher degrees.

Dental hygienists can move into management roles within dental practices, while dental assistants can pursue careers as dental hygienists. Dental hygienists can also pursue roles in public health or higher education with graduate-level training.

Dental hygienists typically earn higher salaries than dental assistants. In dentist's offices, a dental hygienist also provides more patient care, while a dental assistant focuses more on administrative duties. Dental assistants can become dental hygienists by enrolling in accredited dental hygienist programs and earning state licensure. Some programs offer accelerated bridge options specifically for dental assistants.

Dental assistants generally do not clean teeth. Instead, they assist dentists during procedures, provide administrative support in the office, maintain dental equipment, and interact with patients to schedule appointments or prepare for procedures. In dental assistant school, students learn about oral anatomy, dental terminology, and medical assisting. Completing a certificate or diploma generally takes years. Dental hygienists typically complete years of training to earn their degrees.

After graduation, candidates must pass an exam and apply for a license through their state's Board of Dental Examiners. Dental hygienists benefit from faster-than-average job growth. What Is a Dental Assistant? What Is a Dental Hygienist? Are you ready to discover your college program? Learn more, do more. More topic-relevant resources to expand your knowledge.

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Assists dentists during procedures; completes administrative tasks like billing and scheduling appointments; interacts with patients. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. It is the mission of Florida Dental Assistant Training Schools to provide dental assistant training that allows an individual to complete training and seek employment in the shortest amount of time.

All rights reserved. Designed by: Digital Resource. Call Us Today Should I become a dental assistant or dental hygienist? July 18, The main difference is that: dental assistants work directly for the dentist —sitting chairside and helping with procedures dental hygienists work directly with patients —providing professional teeth cleanings to help remove plaque and stains.

What does a dental assistant do? Here are some of the tasks that dental assistants do on a regular basis: Prepare instruments for upcoming procedures Assist the dentist with procedures by handing them needed instruments chairside assisting Handle lab procedures such as cleaning dentures, taking impressions, making temporary crowns and processing orders Provide patients with oral health care education and home care instructions for procedures completed Update dental records and other administrative tasks Coronal Polishing The exact duties of a dental assistant will vary depending on the job.

While a hygienist spends most of the day providing teeth cleanings, a dental assistant tends to have a wider variety of tasks throughout the day What does a dental hygienist do?

How do you become a dental hygienist? How much does a dental assistant make compared with a dental hygienist? We call it 4 handed dentistry! Organized — for managing a wide range of patient needs Detail oriented — for carrying out dental procedures according to exact protocols Listening skills — for understanding what the dentist needs you to do If you have these skills, and are interested in the field of dentistry, then becoming an assistant or a hygienist might be a good career move for you.

Call us today to discuss how we can help you continue a bright future! Comment or Question? Your submission has been received! Something went wrong while submitting the form. This is a Headline. And never is that more apparent than for the dental hygienist. Then keep reading to discover the differences in the job description and education requirement for a dental assistant vs dental hygienist. As their job titles may suggest, a dental assistant and dental hygienist have different roles in the workplace.

To discover which of these careers is right for you, check out the diverse duties each dental professional must perform on a daily or weekly basis. This may include but is not limited to:. While the exact job description of a dental hygienist may differ depending on what territory you live in, these professionals are most typically educators. The role of a dental hygienist is to teach patients how to prevent dental issues.