This seems like such a good job for me. Right now I'm currently working as a grocery pickup associate at a large chain, and this seems like SUCH a better way to make a living wage and give me the flexibility to pursue other things I'm passionate about, like my art, or have a family.
I want time to pursue hobbies too, hence why this looks like the perfect career! You get to help people, do something interesting, get paid well, and have plenty of time for family, friends, etc.
yay! thank YOU for watching! wishing you the best! here is my video for HS students hope this helps: teethtalkgirl.com/rdh/high-school-to-become-a-hygienist?rq=high%20school
Pros: good money, you decide your schedule, can be part time if have kids. Cons: patients will give you a hard time if they never seen you before, high demanding, you could cry a lot if you did not find a good office. The job is hard on your body mentally physically. I go home some days and my tank is empty.
@@sixteen.candles.4644 if time went back i ‘d rather do microbiology so i can work in lab. Honestly dental hygiene is a good profession great pay even for beginners but man “we” not just my self got yelled at a lot from patients of course we have nice pts but 50/50 i always pray every day to not see grumpy mean and rude pts. And I can’t imagine myself working till retirement lol.
@@sixteen.candles.4644 my husband is a rad tech. Makes great money in the hospital. However he says if you can’t handle rude doctors don’t do it. So I’m going to do dental hygiene. Luckily I’ve been good a chemistry and believe in you. Practice, practice, practice😉
Senior year of dental hygiene school right hereeeee! OMGGGG I am SO ready to graduate! I was a dental assistant for 5 years for an oral surgery and let me tell you.....I AM SO READY TO WORK ALONE! (obviously a hygienist doesn't work completely alone, I know they still work with dental assistants, dentists, front desk receptionists, etc.) Don't get me wrong, I can work in a team, BUT it takes a toll on you when your "team" isn't working as a TEAM. I worked with a group of women who were.....let's say...doing the BARE MINIMUM as much as possible. I love going above and beyond, but I CANNOT CARRY THE WHOLE TEAM BY MYSELF ALL THE TIME. This is what really pushed me to go back to school to become a dental hygienist. I knew this was my end goal but I got too comfortable working as a dental assistant at that oral surgery. Let's just say, DON'T SETTLE! I cannot wait to officially become an RDH! :D
@choua thao I wish I was in your shoes. I'm in school now myself however I'm taking the core classes right now. I have a lonnngggg way. I just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your career.
I'm a dental assistant at the moment and got an offer for a new job but the schedule won't allow for school. I'm thinking of turning it down to attend school part time. It's been a hard decision.
@@COURTNEYVCK Girl do it if you financially can. Thank goodness I was able to quit my dental assisting job and just go full time for hygiene school. I absolutly do not regret any momemt of it. I had no trouble getting a job after graduation. Pay was pretty much 3-4 times more than what I would have ever gotten working as a dental assistant. I work pretty much by myself everyday and I absolutely LOVE it. I am SO, SO much happier working as a dental hygenist than a dental assistant. PLUS, im living very financially comfortably😁✌Dont settle and dont give it up if thats what you really want ❤
BlossomHope810 good luck. Ok currently watching a bunch of dental vids and doing tons of research this is really making me even more happy about the dream I want to achieve 😊
I’ve been doing dental Hygiene for 8 years now, I’m in my late 30’s and have had several different jobs before this: nanny, tutor, dog walker/pet sitter, worked in a restaurant for 7 years, coffe shop for 2 years. I worked for a couple different dental offices part time as i had a hard time finding a dental office that would higher a new grad for full time. Then i was a temporary float for 4 years full time. I really liked every part of it. The “worst” part was that the dental patients would ask “do you like temping? Wouldn’t you want to be at an office?” This bothered me because I really liked temping. I got so many positive affirmations because the office needed help and i got to help them.I often returned to offices and enjoyed seeing team members I remembered and in some cases (not often) i would see a patient I’ve seen before and this was kind of cool. I got to see their progress. Then I worked for the same office for 2 years hit I temped there for 2 years prior. I really loved being their because the dentist was a good friend of mine. And we had a good work relationship. The hardest part of leaving a dental office would be that there are some patients you get to know and you can’t take them with you. However, working less or even temping you can work when you want and do something fun for you on the off days. I’ve had left shoulder pain that is pretty constant now for one year. So working part time is very beneficial for this to get better and heal. Part of this I’m sure got worse when I had stopped going to the gym and during some of those times when I didn’t eat very healthy and there are other times when you just don’t get a lunch because you’re so busy with notes, a patient has more concerns, the dentist and their side is running behind.. oh there are so many reasons. But typically what most people can make in 5 days a dental hygienist can make in 2-3 days depending on the city and state they live in. I would say that if you take care of your body and get massages, practice physical therapy like working out and stretching, see a good chiropractor that works alongside physical therapists, and eat healthy. You could be in this field for a long time. Or keep up with continuing education credits + keep your license up to date, then you could have a family and come back to dental for a little bit or stay in the field until you retire. The benefits are good at most offices and often there is the perk of a really good discount on dental and you only have to pay the lab fee or pay for materials.
@Zi same here! I'm 18 and in my second semester of college but still don't know what career path I want to pursue but at the moment I'm somewhat considering dental hygienist. So you're not alone, good luck! :)
I have been a hygienist for over 10 years in Canada. I definitely agree with those pros. Helping people everyday is so rewarding, especially when you get to see results of their oral health improve. The cons however can be a burden. The stress of taking a sick day is definitely one of them. Another, thinking over long term is not having any benefits. VERY FEW offices will offer any health benefits (besides dental benefits of course) or retirement savings options. Another issue is (I agree) body breakdown. Now since the pandemic in Canada not all offices are equipped to be allowed to use cavitron ( or our power tools) so everything is done by hand...ALL day. It is very stressful on the hands and body. Although there are some cons, all jobs have them. And dental hygiene is a rewarding and respectable career.
@@kaylaperkins8309 yes I do think it would cause an existing issue to be worse. But, I would talk to your doctor or a physiotherapist maybe. There may be things you can do to prevent it.
I have been a hygienist for 18 years. This definitely takes a toll on your body. This year I needed surgery on my left shoulder...I do exercise, but nothing crazy. About 2 years ago I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder.. .and I put off seeing the doctor. I needed a shoulder debridement, bone spur removal and bicep tendon detach, and reattach. Don't know what exactly caused this...but I assume years of hygiene. But good new is 2months off and physical therapy I'm able to work again!
Do you work full time tho? I'm applying for the program this fall..but only intend to work 3 days a week...not sure if it's the right career for me bc of so many folks saying it takes a toll on your body
I am a CDA who is going back to school to take my prerequisites for Dental Hygiene and I love the idea of monotony. Working as a DA I do not like being so stressed going from a implant to a consult to a restoration, it stressed me out. I love you know what you’re doing everyday and you can do it well!
I feel the exact same way! I'm a year into Dental Assistant and i hate the different set ups lol I always forget something and it was really hard to learn at first.
Loved this video! As a student RDH, i was watching this like “ohh Noo she’s about to drop some bombs 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️” but all of your pros were reassuring and all of your cons, i already knew and even don’t have an issue with most haha. Great video!!
Thanks for your video. I'm a single mom working as RDA and taking pre-reqs for dental hygiene, hoping and praying to finish my classes next year and start applying for the program. This video is very helpful and important to know the pros and cons in this field.
Right on point!! I’m an artist and dental hygienists, I only contact as a temp now and this allows me to integrate my creativity into my hygiene practice. 🙌🏽 🤷🏾♀️ You make some fantastic points!
Do you think it is possible to be a singer and dental hygenist at the same time ? Does this job has this flexibility to take some time off whenever you want and go for singing ?
I am actually a dental hygienist specialised in geriatrics in the Netherlands. I drive around the whole country to see patients with dementia in elderly homes. I actually work from home once a week since we have lots of admin! I also have a leading role within the business and need to make lots of calls, send emails and have online meetings. So it IS possible to partly work from home.
Hi Whitney again! First off let me start by saying as a future DH and current DA, your right every job has their pros and cons. I feel that people who are more on the independent side will enjoy DH better because of the freedom you get! I do believe it is a repetitive job, but not everyone's mouth is the same! Keep up with your videos I truly enjoy watching them to compare my experiences I currently face haha!
Awesome video! And I love your positivity! I wish I had looked more into this field when I was younger. I got my bachelors degree in healthcare administration and currently work on the financial side of healthcare. I’m considering doing dental hygiene because I miss working more with my hands and interacting with more people. I also have a passion for dental hygiene (I’ve never had a cavity in my life😂) It’s encouraging to hear you were able to go from a bachelors degree to the dental hygiene program as I know it’s normally an AAS degree.
I’m 24 and I’m barely going to Dental Hygienist School. I love serving and helping people and suddenly have become so appreciative and fond of teeth lol! I think helping someone achieve their dream smile is a good work to do on this earth. ❤️ 🌎
You seem to really love your job! I’m hoping to start dental hygienist school soon, the medical field has always fascinated me but I’ve recently discovered my love for oral health
I’m interested in being a dental hygienist so I did some research to make sure if this is something I want to do long term and at the same time also pays good. I thought after watching this video I would no longer be interested but I got complete opposite, in fact it seems I would actually enjoy this field and the cons are not so bad comparing the Veterinarian Field, and I was expecting worse but instead got a HUGE relief. thank you for sharing! This actually helped me want to continue to be a Dental hygienist❤
I’m super interested in doing dental hygiene as a career. I came across your channel very recently and I love how positive you are. Thank you so much for sharing! It’s making me more confident that this could be a real career for me❤️
***Must mention the con of running by the clock! I often feel like there isn’t enough time for some people and depending on the office, they expect/want more than is reasonable in the time allotted... plus running behind all day is stressful. I find the clock to be the worst part of my job... even though I still love what I do ❤️
This is my least favorite part of hygiene as well! ALWAYS looking at the clock and mentally computing how much more time I have to scale! Or watching the clock filled with stress during a talkative Dr. exam!
This would be so hard for me! Being “late” or the feeling of running out of time is so stressful for me. Do you have techniques for keeping calm when you feel you’re running behind?
@@asiastankus2157 sorry I don’t. You just have to hustle and work as fast as you can to try and catch up/stay on time and often my lunch is what I use to catch up or go to the bathroom. Years of practice and you’ll just get used to it but it will suck regardless… plus if someone is overdue then it’s ok to bring them back to finish since they need it… and better to do that then a crap job that 6 months later they are wondering why it hurts more than when they were overdue (because you’re trying to finish something that you rushed through 6 months prior and the gingiva will be tender…)… anyways. It is what it is in our field 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for sharing, I am a certified EFDA, but worked in ortho, I moved to Houston where EFDA isn’t high demand or competitive pay, so now I’m looking into hygiene school, I’m so nervous but I know I got this!!!
Im a career hygienist of over 20 years. In the past being a dental hygienist was a prestigious job. Due to dentistry moving into a more corporate direction that has all changed not only for Hygienist but for dentist as well. In a private practice I would see about eight patients a day but private practices are quickly disappearing. New corporate offices are wanting Hygienist to see as many as 16 patients a day which is utterly ridiculous, even if all you’re doing is just cleaning the teeth and Assistants are doing everything else. Hygiene is a very physically demanding job, in your young years it won’t be so bad but sitting in one position twisted to one side leaning over and holding that for 30 minutes at a time is very hard on a persons body and you will quickly start to have some sort of physical issues. I know this because I have lots of friends who are Hygienist who are experiencing all types of neck, back and shoulder problems. Also you are treated with zero respect it is more like a Cattlecall , herd them in and heard them out . I know offices that don’t even take lunch breaks. Can you imagine going to college as a dentist or dental hygienist and you’re working like somebody in a sweatshop instead of having any prestige that your education should demand? I am not bitter I was lucky to get in and out of the career at the right time but I would no longer recommend it to anyone.
lololol talk about not getting the prestige your education should demand, try being a social worker, we don't even get the pay our education should demand 🤣🤣
@@leebrown2243 Omggggg huni you aren't lying!!! What we deal with and how many people we help and the pay is a disgrace!!! We went to school much longer than these shorter degree programs to be paid less and not get the respect we deserve. I'm a clinical mental health counselor and already debating if I can even stay in this profession.
@@tamb7587 thank you for sharing your thoughts, insights, and experiences. I've noticed this as well that they have moved into big corporate chains with dentistry & orthodontics moving people in through cattle. Many dentists are miserable who started in private practice have been bought. I remember the comfort of going to the same dentist & few hygienists who personally cared and built a rapport with me & my family much of my life. Now you see multiple dentists and hygienists each time within the same office! And the costs have skyrocketed and barely anything is covered by insurance. Glad you're out now : ). I would tell you counselors/social workers in my field deal with SO much negatives too along with nursing also.
I'm So glad I found an RDH on good old UA-cam! I've come to realize YT is a good source for someone like myself who is on the fence about career paths. I'm weighing my options between becoming an registered nurse and dental hygienist. I want to do something in the health field, but I can't put my finger on what to do. Thanks so much or your informative videos.
Hi, I love you and your videos. I'm not wanting to be a hygenest(I would love to be an actor) , but I love watching tho. You are awesome and you seem to have a great relationship with all the other staff and people you work with, which is great! Don't ever stop being you and stay safe! xxxxxxx
Going to school to become a dental hygienist in the spring I’m super excited and nervous and trying to learn more about the profession and what is expected!
Thank you for making such positive, educational and short videos that get right to the point! Really appreciate being able to watch and learn from all of these! ✌️💜 🦷
I am currently in my first year of DH school and I am so so so happy I decided to follow my passion and go for it. I will admit though, it is probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through, but I know it is going to be so worth it when I graduate. I was a dental assistant for less than a year before getting into school, and I did not like it. I am so looking forward to the freedom of working pretty much by myself most of the time and actually helping patients PREVENT cavities and periodontal disease and any other serious oral health conditions. My health philosophy in general is prevention, not letting health problems arise and/or treating health problems in the early stages so they don't progress, and maybe even reverse them. Also, the other dental assistants I worked with always scoffed at my ambitions to become a dental hygienist, because they don't like the monotony of dental hygiene. But I actually think they are just jealous that I have taken the steps and am working hard to become a hygienist when they might not be able to, or the stage they're in in their lives makes it almost impossible to leave dental assisting and get a different career. They complained a lot about the dental assisting career but I think they feel like they can't get out.
Hi! I just got a job as a DA after taking a program for it and I’m realizing this might not be for me. Hygiene seems very interesting though! So did you complete hygiene school?? What’re you up to now?
Thank you so much for this video! I’m a current assistant and this is exactly what I needed to hear! I asked the hygienist at my office and they gave me one or two answers and this is more in depth and has made me confirm that this is the path I want! Thank you thank you!
I immediately fell into a full-time position with benefits and that I even qualify for overtime should I choose to take it straight out of school as a hygienist and I love it! I absolutely love this job I love my patients and I love the doctors that I work for my coworkers are so great and I absolutely love how I'm helping people everyday with my job! Even on hard days that were really rough I know when I go home that I help somebody that day! I will say that I would like to do some temp work but until I can afford out-of-pocket insurance I don't know if I can do that. And you do really have to commit to a regular regimen of getting massages or seeing a chiropractor for back pain
Thank you for the info. I love all your videos very informational. I'm considering a career change into dental hygiene and I most agree that every career has pros and cons and as an EMT there's more cons than pros.
Love you Whitney!! I am going to school to become a dental assistant and then I hope to get a degree as a dental hygienist. I currently intern at a dental office, just love the atmosphere!
I know this video discusses pros and cons of being a dental hygienist but i wanted to bring up the vast difference in pay. Of course pay will differ based on where you live, education and all that but in my town, as a dental assistant i make $17/hr. I have met other dental assistants that make up to $25 after many years. Workers at the local costco make about $25/hr and more. I feel like dental assistant pay isn't going up even though cost of living has gone up over the years. Maybe it's just in my area but i am not sure. At my current office i get paid $17/hr and the hygienist makes at the very minimum $60/hr. On a daily basis we do about 80% of the same work. We do all the start of day things, take xrays, do prophys, break down rooms. I have noticed this at other offices as well. I have been a hygiene assistant in the past for a few years as well and i was always stumped at how much of a difference in pay there. I am looking into going into the dental Hygiene program and i would recommend it for anyone looking into it as well. I love working with patients, being super busy, and after you get used to it, the tasks are pretty easy. I am 35 years old and honestly wish i had started when i was younger. The big pay bump makes all the hard days worth it!
You help me with my fear of dentists etc 😭 And did you know that I recognised your voice from when I was in a coma? And then some time later, I thought your voice sounded familiar. And now I’m watching all your video 😄🤩💖
Whitney, I would be very interested in seeing a video discussing treating patients that need SRP. I see mostly regular prophy patients at my office, and I feel like I need a refresher. Saying that, I haven't gotten the chance to do local anesthesia, and I REALLY would love a video all about that. ❤
Yesssss! Agreed! I've been trying to find a patient willing to let me film their SRP off hours :) Still working on it! Thank you! As for local anesthesia - also planning to work on that video soon too!!! Until then, "Hygiene Edge" offers GREAT videos on their UA-cam channel! Hope this helps :)
Wen working wiv kids I had to take activity plans and reports home. The onli thing I can fink of taking home is treatment plans. I’ve had dentists see foods on my teeth that isn’t healthy as I ate the food on the way to the dentist. They discussed the cons of that food for my whole body. I was thankful.
There is also employment with the military. I was an assistant on active duty then became a dental hygienist for the military as a civilian. 20 Years in total 😃
I’m a senior in high school in high school I graduate in acouple weeks and I still don’t know what ima do with my life but this kinda making me interested
hi friend! wishing you the best on your career decisions! if you'd like to learn more about becoming a dental hygienist - here is my career portal: teethtalkgirl.com/rdh
im a junior in highschool and i kinda like this job so im considering it but idk honestly. I also want to do marketing but I dont want to sit at a desk all day.
I really want to go into dental hygiene in college! The only problem is I also want to study abroad in college but I can't seem to find any study abroad programs for dental hygiene on lots of college websites. Is dental hygiene study abroad programs a thing?
generally not a study abroad program! however, you can take your prerequisites abroad! here's my RDH checklist that helps explain the RDH schooling process: bit.ly/rdh-video-checklist
Hey, so I've been looking into dental hygiene and have talked to several dental hygenist. These people I talked to seemed to be "trying" to talk me out of it but honestly the more I look into it the more interested I become. As you said in your cons list here the body breakdown is what worries me the most. Can you do a video of the good body mechanics that you do? What about body up keep? Like massage or any of those things? I would be very interested in how you and other hygenist fight body break down since the hygenist that I have talked to told me the average dental hygenist only works 10 - 15 years becuase it's so hard on the body. Thanks so much! I absolutely love your videos and I'm so not letting these people talk me out of this becuase the more I learn the more I fall in love with this profession.
here is my body ergonomics video - ua-cam.com/video/HK0vxnjSZZk/v-deo.html wishing you the best on your career journey :) sending all the positive vibes your way!
I am a DH for the past 5 years and the only CON that I can think of is the fact that there is no potential for Growth. I should have done nursing instead where a registered nurse can go back to school and become a nurse practitioner and have their own business. I don’t like being an employee and I want to have my own business. Nursing can give you this growth and independence. DH are always working under the supervision of a dentist. I am Cindy going back to school for nursing.
I’m struggling to find what to do with my life- I’m currently 25 and I’m a dental assistant and I hate the doctor I work with. I love the other girls in the office but the office front desk girls are hardly there and the hygienist in the office is the only one in the office but she always discourages me from becoming a hygienist because “it’s just not worth it” sometimes she loves her job and sometimes she doesn’t but I feel like she mostly hates it because of the doctor and the front desk will sometimes over pack her schedule or won’t give enough time for a patient when they need more time. I’m struggling between choosing dental hygienist and going into the tech field since there’s always gonna be jobs and it’s paid well. I would love any advice anyone can give.
I am only just starting to look into dental hygiene as a career option (I still am trying to settle on something (tbh, all I want is to have a family)). Anyway, I do know there are a lot of good offices out there to work for. Working at a crappy one is definitely tough and can sway your decision about the job itself. However, no one is obligated to stay in a job that doesn't bring them joy or peace. But, I'd say, don't be afraid to look around at other dental offices for a job if you love what you do. Take some time to do a little research and then go for it (personal connections are gold for finding good jobs). And don't feel bad leaving an office that has a crappy work environment, that's their problem, not yours :) I recently heard someone say, "build your career around your life and not your life around your career. Find out what you want your day-day life to look like and go from there, and don't worry about the Debbie-downers, it's your life not theirs". This blew me away, because all I hear is, what do you want to do? what do you want to do? what do you want to do? and not how do you want to live? Sending hugs girly, feeling stuck is the worst! Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam
Pro: you are more likely to take excellent care of your own teeth; Pro: you're doing very meaningful work; Pro: you can be a UA-cam star by educating others as well; Pro: you know exactly what to do every day; Pro: your education is directly useful to your career; Pro: you meet a lot of people every day; Pro: people look up to you; Pro: you never waste a lot of time, being productive is built into the job; Pro: you work in a pleasant indoor environment; Pro: your job is not degrading
Kind of feel weird with all the amount of women in the comments while i'm the only guy from what I can see 😂 currently doing my general eds/prereqs. hoping to join the DH program next year! By the way I really like your content. Along with doing my own research, I can honestly say you've inspired and encouraged me to pursue this as my career choice. Thank you! 😬
don't feel weird! guys are hygienists, too! thank you for being here and your kindness. I truly appreciate it and wish you the best on your DH journey! looking forward to your joining the DH world!!!
This is late but watching this video to get inspirations if I ever wanna pursue in dental career. My dad wants me to be a nurse and i dont think its for me. Also im a guy lol.
luckily, for me, it wasn't as bad as my undergrad! before DH school I got my bachelors in Biology and that was a wild ride! but, of course DH school had it's stressors too! here is a video about that if you're interested: ua-cam.com/video/GqCKI3xM8pg/v-deo.html
@@TeethTalk I’m currently majoring in bio it’s my freshman year but considering being a dental hygienist. Did you’re bio degree help you with your Dental hygiene degree?
Hi Whitney, I am working in two different offices for one dentist. It’s been a longggg time since I worked in dental office. I was a dental hygienist when we wrote our notes in a paper file. But, now I have two systems to learn to write my notes in. One in Practiceworks and the other is dentrix. I am loosing my mind. I thought maybe a video in different computer software systems with how to write notes ( using a template) and how to take bitewings and fmx with different systems. Thank you for listening. Thank thank you
Hello, so I’m a pre-dental hygiene still have 3 prerequisites classes then I can start apply. So why I asked if it’s good to go, most people wanted me to RUN to nursing….or X-ray tech … Why is that?
I'm currently in my 3rd year doing dental hygiene and therapy after working as a nurse for 2 years and I defo agree with most of your pros and cons. I'm curious about the screening for sleep apnea? I didn't know that was a thing
yes!!!!! there are CE courses on it available! they are super basic but I've taken a few and love learning about the things we can point out to the patient and have them mention to their physician at their next doc appt!
@@kaylaperkins8309 hi, well for me, the practice i was in was amazing but a lot of the time I felt very looked down on by the dentists and the older nurses that had been there for 15+ years, it made me want to quit so bad but the actual nursing was fun! I just felt I could always do a bit more, be a bit more in control maybe
totally both great options! here is my video about the differences between the two careers - hope this helps: teethtalkgirl.com/videos/dentist-versus-dental-hygienist?rq=dentist%20dental%20hygienist
My eye won't shut... and my nostril is blocked after anesthesia it kind of made it hard to. Breathe through my nose when they asked me to, so the dentist could work on my teeth. Not being able to breathe is a problem buy why does it hapoen?
I'm in an event management program but pandemic is making me look where there is continuous money flow 👀 but I also work in retail I can only imagine the wild types of clients you may get 🤔💭💭
I am still in highschool, i got 1200 on my psat, and i am interested in this job. Do you think i have a chance? Like how long does it takes after highschool to achieve this?
totally a mix of both!!! I had both young classmates and older classmates with kids and families! and even people who had a different career prior - and switching to DH!
🦷 Want to become a dental hygienist? Watch my free RDH Video Checklist: bit.ly/rdh-video-checklist
no you cant force me to do anything
This seems like such a good job for me. Right now I'm currently working as a grocery pickup associate at a large chain, and this seems like SUCH a better way to make a living wage and give me the flexibility to pursue other things I'm passionate about, like my art, or have a family.
I want time to pursue hobbies too, hence why this looks like the perfect career! You get to help people, do something interesting, get paid well, and have plenty of time for family, friends, etc.
OMG 💘
SAME I RELATE WITH THIS
How’d this work for ya?
do you guys know what the prerequisites are?
Thank you! I’m a high school senior, butttt I really want to do this as my career, the insight is really helpful!❤️
yay! thank YOU for watching! wishing you the best! here is my video for HS students hope this helps: teethtalkgirl.com/rdh/high-school-to-become-a-hygienist?rq=high%20school
Samee
@@TeethTalkYou are a life saver, I'm also a highschool senior looking to become a dental hygienist 😌
Pros: good money, you decide your schedule, can be part time if have kids.
Cons: patients will give you a hard time if they never seen you before, high demanding, you could cry a lot if you did not find a good office. The job is hard on your body mentally physically. I go home some days and my tank is empty.
God bless you
Imagine being a dentist if you feel that way about hygiene!
Damn. Idk i was thinking abt being a dental hygeinist but chemistry is a beast for me. So im doing Rad Tech
@@sixteen.candles.4644 if time went back i ‘d rather do microbiology so i can work in lab. Honestly dental hygiene is a good profession great pay even for beginners but man “we” not just my self got yelled at a lot from patients of course we have nice pts but 50/50 i always pray every day to not see grumpy mean and rude pts. And I can’t imagine myself working till retirement lol.
@@sixteen.candles.4644 my husband is a rad tech. Makes great money in the hospital. However he says if you can’t handle rude doctors don’t do it. So I’m going to do dental hygiene. Luckily I’ve been good a chemistry and believe in you. Practice, practice, practice😉
Senior year of dental hygiene school right hereeeee! OMGGGG I am SO ready to graduate! I was a dental assistant for 5 years for an oral surgery and let me tell you.....I AM SO READY TO WORK ALONE! (obviously a hygienist doesn't work completely alone, I know they still work with dental assistants, dentists, front desk receptionists, etc.) Don't get me wrong, I can work in a team, BUT it takes a toll on you when your "team" isn't working as a TEAM. I worked with a group of women who were.....let's say...doing the BARE MINIMUM as much as possible. I love going above and beyond, but I CANNOT CARRY THE WHOLE TEAM BY MYSELF ALL THE TIME. This is what really pushed me to go back to school to become a dental hygienist. I knew this was my end goal but I got too comfortable working as a dental assistant at that oral surgery. Let's just say, DON'T SETTLE! I cannot wait to officially become an RDH! :D
so happy for you to start your DH journey! sending positive toothy vibes your way :) thank you for watching!
Yess omg I feel the same !! I’m an assistant and ugh definitely can’t wait to start hygiene ❤️
@choua thao
I wish I was in your shoes. I'm in school now myself however I'm taking the core classes right now. I have a lonnngggg way. I just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your career.
I'm a dental assistant at the moment and got an offer for a new job but the schedule won't allow for school. I'm thinking of turning it down to attend school part time. It's been a hard decision.
@@COURTNEYVCK Girl do it if you financially can. Thank goodness I was able to quit my dental assisting job and just go full time for hygiene school. I absolutly do not regret any momemt of it. I had no trouble getting a job after graduation. Pay was pretty much 3-4 times more than what I would have ever gotten working as a dental assistant. I work pretty much by myself everyday and I absolutely LOVE it. I am SO, SO much happier working as a dental hygenist than a dental assistant. PLUS, im living very financially comfortably😁✌Dont settle and dont give it up if thats what you really want ❤
Thank you! I’m currently taking prerequisites. I can’t wait to become a hygienist!
We’re in the same boat
alando duhaney we’ll make it❤️
BlossomHope810 good luck. Ok currently watching a bunch of dental vids and doing tons of research this is really making me even more happy about the dream I want to achieve 😊
Same!!
Same here I always change my major afraid of the cons but Jesus I want to try this
I’ve been doing dental Hygiene for 8 years now, I’m in my late 30’s and have had several different jobs before this: nanny, tutor, dog walker/pet sitter, worked in a restaurant for 7 years, coffe shop for 2 years.
I worked for a couple different dental offices part time as i had a hard time finding a dental office that would higher a new grad for full time. Then i was a temporary float for 4 years full time. I really liked every part of it. The “worst” part was that the dental patients would ask “do you like temping? Wouldn’t you want to be at an office?” This bothered me because I really liked temping. I got so many positive affirmations because the office needed help and i got to help them.I often returned to offices and enjoyed seeing team members I remembered and in some cases (not often) i would see a patient I’ve seen before and this was kind of cool. I got to see their progress. Then I worked for the same office for 2 years hit I temped there for 2 years prior. I really loved being their because the dentist was a good friend of mine. And we had a good work relationship. The hardest part of leaving a dental office would be that there are some patients you get to know and you can’t take them with you.
However, working less or even temping you can work when you want and do something fun for you on the off days.
I’ve had left shoulder pain that is pretty constant now for one year. So working part time is very beneficial for this to get better and heal. Part of this I’m sure got worse when I had stopped going to the gym and during some of those times when I didn’t eat very healthy and there are other times when you just don’t get a lunch because you’re so busy with notes, a patient has more concerns, the dentist and their side is running behind.. oh there are so many reasons.
But typically what most people can make in 5 days a dental hygienist can make in 2-3 days depending on the city and state they live in.
I would say that if you take care of your body and get massages, practice physical therapy like working out and stretching, see a good chiropractor that works alongside physical therapists, and eat healthy. You could be in this field for a long time. Or keep up with continuing education credits + keep your license up to date, then you could have a family and come back to dental for a little bit or stay in the field until you retire. The benefits are good at most offices and often there is the perk of a really good discount on dental and you only have to pay the lab fee or pay for materials.
@Zi same here! I'm 18 and in my second semester of college but still don't know what career path I want to pursue but at the moment I'm somewhat considering dental hygienist. So you're not alone, good luck! :)
Really appreciate the perspective!
That shoulder pain could be imbalanced hormons - check out your progesterone as that was the answer to my sisters shoulder pain.
I have been a hygienist for over 10 years in Canada. I definitely agree with those pros. Helping people everyday is so rewarding, especially when you get to see results of their oral health improve. The cons however can be a burden. The stress of taking a sick day is definitely one of them. Another, thinking over long term is not having any benefits. VERY FEW offices will offer any health benefits (besides dental benefits of course) or retirement savings options. Another issue is (I agree) body breakdown. Now since the pandemic in Canada not all offices are equipped to be allowed to use cavitron ( or our power tools) so everything is done by hand...ALL day. It is very stressful on the hands and body. Although there are some cons, all jobs have them. And dental hygiene is a rewarding and respectable career.
totally agree! thank you so much for watching and commenting kind :)
I'm 22 and have a bad lower back from sports. Do you think going into this career would cause more back pain?
@@kaylaperkins8309 yes I do think it would cause an existing issue to be worse. But, I would talk to your doctor or a physiotherapist maybe. There may be things you can do to prevent it.
I have been a hygienist for 18 years. This definitely takes a toll on your body. This year I needed surgery on my left shoulder...I do exercise, but nothing crazy. About 2 years ago I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder.. .and I put off seeing the doctor. I needed a shoulder debridement, bone spur removal and bicep tendon detach, and reattach. Don't know what exactly caused this...but I assume years of hygiene. But good new is 2months off and physical therapy I'm able to work again!
Do you work full time tho? I'm applying for the program this fall..but only intend to work 3 days a week...not sure if it's the right career for me bc of so many folks saying it takes a toll on your body
@Vikki Mua yes I worked 4-5 days a week for 17 years. Now I work 2-4 days a week. I enjoy being a hygienist. I don't know what else I would have done.
@@mua10do you know what the prerequisites are to get in the program
I feel this anyway and I’m not a hygienist
I am a CDA who is going back to school to take my prerequisites for Dental Hygiene and I love the idea of monotony. Working as a DA I do not like being so stressed going from a implant to a consult to a restoration, it stressed me out. I love you know what you’re doing everyday and you can do it well!
thank you so much for watching and commenting kind! sending positive toothy vibes your way on your DH journey :)
Teeth Talk Girl you’re a sweetie Whitney!
I feel the exact same way! I'm a year into Dental Assistant and i hate the different set ups lol I always forget something and it was really hard to learn at first.
Loved this video! As a student RDH, i was watching this like “ohh Noo she’s about to drop some bombs 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️” but all of your pros were reassuring and all of your cons, i already knew and even don’t have an issue with most haha. Great video!!
yay! thank you so much for saying that! sending you positive toothy vibes on your DH journey :)
Thanks for your video. I'm a single mom working as RDA and taking pre-reqs for dental hygiene, hoping and praying to finish my classes next year and start applying for the program. This video is very helpful and important to know the pros and cons in this field.
thank you so much for watching! sending all the positive toothy vibes your way! you got this!
Right on point!! I’m an artist and dental hygienists, I only contact as a temp now and this allows me to integrate my creativity into my hygiene practice. 🙌🏽 🤷🏾♀️ You make some fantastic points!
I love this that’s my goals !
Do you think it is possible to be a singer and dental hygenist at the same time ?
Does this job has this flexibility to take some time off whenever you want and go for singing ?
@@hediyeh7853 u can choose when u want to work
This is exactly what I want to do! By artist do you mean freelancer or do you have a studio you work for?
i just applied for the dental hygiene program. I pray I get in. Thank you for this video!!
sending all the positive toothy vibes your way :) :) :)
What made you choose that profile?
Me too
Me too, finished my pre-requisites and applied to the program. I can't wait to get in 🙂
@@tikamystique434 Good luck queen, I will be praying you get in!❤️
I am actually a dental hygienist specialised in geriatrics in the Netherlands. I drive around the whole country to see patients with dementia in elderly homes. I actually work from home once a week since we have lots of admin! I also have a leading role within the business and need to make lots of calls, send emails and have online meetings. So it IS possible to partly work from home.
His does the pay compare in the Netherlands to the States, if I meat ask? The US average is about $30usd an hr.
@@iteaire it depends on what type of job you have, but i earn more than 30 dollars
Hi Whitney again! First off let me start by saying as a future DH and current DA, your right every job has their pros and cons. I feel that people who are more on the independent side will enjoy DH better because of the freedom you get! I do believe it is a repetitive job, but not everyone's mouth is the same! Keep up with your videos I truly enjoy watching them to compare my experiences I currently face haha!
hello!!!! thank you so much for watching! and commenting! sending positive toothy vibes your way on your DH journey :)
Awesome video! And I love your positivity! I wish I had looked more into this field when I was younger. I got my bachelors degree in healthcare administration and currently work on the financial side of healthcare. I’m considering doing dental hygiene because I miss working more with my hands and interacting with more people. I also have a passion for dental hygiene (I’ve never had a cavity in my life😂) It’s encouraging to hear you were able to go from a bachelors degree to the dental hygiene program as I know it’s normally an AAS degree.
You make dental hygienist sound like a good azz job the con ain’t even cons fr💯
I’m 24 and I’m barely going to Dental Hygienist School. I love serving and helping people and suddenly have become so appreciative and fond of teeth lol! I think helping someone achieve their dream smile is a good work to do on this earth. ❤️ 🌎
You seem to really love your job! I’m hoping to start dental hygienist school soon, the medical field has always fascinated me but I’ve recently discovered my love for oral health
I’m interested in being a dental hygienist so I did some research to make sure if this is something I want to do long term and at the same time also pays good. I thought after watching this video I would no longer be interested but I got complete opposite, in fact it seems I would actually enjoy this field and the cons are not so bad comparing the Veterinarian Field, and I was expecting worse but instead got a HUGE relief. thank you for sharing! This actually helped me want to continue to be a Dental hygienist❤
I’m super interested in doing dental hygiene as a career. I came across your channel very recently and I love how positive you are. Thank you so much for sharing! It’s making me more confident that this could be a real career for me❤️
truly thank you for watching & commenting kind :) wishing you the best in your career journey :)
***Must mention the con of running by the clock! I often feel like there isn’t enough time for some people and depending on the office, they expect/want more than is reasonable in the time allotted... plus running behind all day is stressful. I find the clock to be the worst part of my job... even though I still love what I do ❤️
YESSSSSSS SO SO SO SO TRUE TIME IS SOOOO STRESSFUL! couldn't agree more!
This is my least favorite part of hygiene as well! ALWAYS looking at the clock and mentally computing how much more time I have to scale! Or watching the clock filled with stress during a talkative Dr. exam!
@@c8lin81 Exactly!!! The clock is not my friend and I joke with patients about this all day long lol
This would be so hard for me! Being “late” or the feeling of running out of time is so stressful for me. Do you have techniques for keeping calm when you feel you’re running behind?
@@asiastankus2157 sorry I don’t. You just have to hustle and work as fast as you can to try and catch up/stay on time and often my lunch is what I use to catch up or go to the bathroom. Years of practice and you’ll just get used to it but it will suck regardless… plus if someone is overdue then it’s ok to bring them back to finish since they need it… and better to do that then a crap job that 6 months later they are wondering why it hurts more than when they were overdue (because you’re trying to finish something that you rushed through 6 months prior and the gingiva will be tender…)… anyways. It is what it is in our field 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for sharing, I am a certified EFDA, but worked in ortho, I moved to Houston where EFDA isn’t high demand or competitive pay, so now I’m looking into hygiene school, I’m so nervous but I know I got this!!!
yesssss you got this! so excited for your toothy journey!
Hi! I’m currently a Dental Student in the Philippines🙂 Watching your videos makes me smile❤️
thank you for watching!!!! reading this made me smile :) wishing you the best dental journey!
This video honestly helped me even though I’m interested in dentistry! Love this so much because It even helped me. Thank you ☺️
so happy to hear that! thank you so much for watching and commenting kind :)
Im a career hygienist of over 20 years. In the past being a dental hygienist was a prestigious job. Due to dentistry moving into a more corporate direction that has all changed not only for Hygienist but for dentist as well. In a private practice I would see about eight patients a day but private practices are quickly disappearing. New corporate offices are wanting Hygienist to see as many as 16 patients a day which is utterly ridiculous, even if all you’re doing is just cleaning the teeth and Assistants are doing everything else. Hygiene is a very physically demanding job, in your young years it won’t be so bad but sitting in one position twisted to one side leaning over and holding that for 30 minutes at a time is very hard on a persons body and you will quickly start to have some sort of physical issues. I know this because I have lots of friends who are Hygienist who are experiencing all types of neck, back and shoulder problems. Also you are treated with zero respect it is more like a Cattlecall , herd them in and heard them out . I know offices that don’t even take lunch breaks. Can you imagine going to college as a dentist or dental hygienist and you’re working like somebody in a sweatshop instead of having any prestige that your education should demand? I am not bitter I was lucky to get in and out of the career at the right time but I would no longer recommend it to anyone.
lololol talk about not getting the prestige your education should demand, try being a social worker, we don't even get the pay our education should demand 🤣🤣
Tam B I totally agree with you.
@@leebrown2243 I totally agree
@@leebrown2243 Omggggg huni you aren't lying!!! What we deal with and how many people we help and the pay is a disgrace!!! We went to school much longer than these shorter degree programs to be paid less and not get the respect we deserve. I'm a clinical mental health counselor and already debating if I can even stay in this profession.
@@tamb7587 thank you for sharing your thoughts, insights, and experiences. I've noticed this as well that they have moved into big corporate chains with dentistry & orthodontics moving people in through cattle. Many dentists are miserable who started in private practice have been bought. I remember the comfort of going to the same dentist & few hygienists who personally cared and built a rapport with me & my family much of my life. Now you see multiple dentists and hygienists each time within the same office! And the costs have skyrocketed and barely anything is covered by insurance. Glad you're out now : ). I would tell you counselors/social workers in my field deal with SO much negatives too along with nursing also.
I'm So glad I found an RDH on good old UA-cam! I've come to realize YT is a good source for someone like myself who is on the fence about career paths. I'm weighing my options between becoming an registered nurse and dental hygienist. I want to do something in the health field, but I can't put my finger on what to do. Thanks so much or your informative videos.
thank you for watching and wishing you the best on your career journey!!!
I just got into DH school, I start in August! I just found your channel and I’ve been binging. I’m sooo excited to start the program 💗
congrats on getting into DH school! so excited for your toothy journey :) thank you for watching!!!
Can you describe your grade did you get all A’s in anatomy and physiology
Hi, I love you and your videos. I'm not wanting to be a hygenest(I would love to be an actor) , but I love watching tho. You are awesome and you seem to have a great relationship with all the other staff and people you work with, which is great! Don't ever stop being you and stay safe! xxxxxxx
thank you SO much for being here - I'm so happy you're here :) and sending you all the positive toothy vibes on your acting career!!!!!!
I love your positivity. I'm applying for the program at my school this December 😬 your videos really reassured me this is what I wanna do :)
YAY! this makes me so happy! sending you ALL the positive toothy vibes on your dental journey :) you got this!
thanks a lot for putting out this information. I find it really helpful.
Going to school to become a dental hygienist in the spring I’m super excited and nervous and trying to learn more about the profession and what is expected!
yay! you got this! wishing you the best toothy journey!
Thank you for making such positive, educational and short videos that get right to the point! Really appreciate being able to watch and learn from all of these! ✌️💜 🦷
THANK YOU so much for saying this. I'm so happy to hear this! Sending all the positive toothy vibes your way :)
I am currently in my first year of DH school and I am so so so happy I decided to follow my passion and go for it. I will admit though, it is probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through, but I know it is going to be so worth it when I graduate. I was a dental assistant for less than a year before getting into school, and I did not like it. I am so looking forward to the freedom of working pretty much by myself most of the time and actually helping patients PREVENT cavities and periodontal disease and any other serious oral health conditions. My health philosophy in general is prevention, not letting health problems arise and/or treating health problems in the early stages so they don't progress, and maybe even reverse them. Also, the other dental assistants I worked with always scoffed at my ambitions to become a dental hygienist, because they don't like the monotony of dental hygiene. But I actually think they are just jealous that I have taken the steps and am working hard to become a hygienist when they might not be able to, or the stage they're in in their lives makes it almost impossible to leave dental assisting and get a different career. They complained a lot about the dental assisting career but I think they feel like they can't get out.
Can you share with me what courses you are taking. Why is it difficult? I just want to know more about this career path. How is the journey so far?
Hi! I just got a job as a DA after taking a program for it and I’m realizing this might not be for me. Hygiene seems very interesting though! So did you complete hygiene school?? What’re you up to now?
Thank you so much for this video! I’m a current assistant and this is exactly what I needed to hear! I asked the hygienist at my office and they gave me one or two answers and this is more in depth and has made me confirm that this is the path I want! Thank you thank you!
wishing you the best on your toothy journey!!!
Wow, to be honest I really want to be a dental hygienist..... Greetings from Mexico!
thank you for watching! would love to visit Mexico one day! greetings :) :) :)
I immediately fell into a full-time position with benefits and that I even qualify for overtime should I choose to take it straight out of school as a hygienist and I love it! I absolutely love this job I love my patients and I love the doctors that I work for my coworkers are so great and I absolutely love how I'm helping people everyday with my job! Even on hard days that were really rough I know when I go home that I help somebody that day!
I will say that I would like to do some temp work but until I can afford out-of-pocket insurance I don't know if I can do that. And you do really have to commit to a regular regimen of getting massages or seeing a chiropractor for back pain
yessss! so happy you found an awesome place! thank you so much for watching and commenting!
Thank you for the info. I love all your videos very informational. I'm considering a career change into dental hygiene and I most agree that every career has pros and cons and as an EMT there's more cons than pros.
This helped a lot!
I was on the fence about two jobs and decided I want to be a dental hygienist!
What was the other job
@@masagharbi347 one of those guys who holds a stop sign on construction sites
Love you Whitney!! I am going to school to become a dental assistant and then I hope to get a degree as a dental hygienist. I currently intern at a dental office, just love the atmosphere!
yay! so excited for you! thank you for your kind words :) sending positive toothy vibes your way on your dental journey :)
I want to become a dentist so bad. Dentistry is amazing.
Watching this right after the worst but deserved deep cleaning I have ever head I will from now on get my teeth cleaned every 3 to 6 months.
Thanks .U really made my decision clear to study dental hygiene in college
I know this video discusses pros and cons of being a dental hygienist but i wanted to bring up the vast difference in pay. Of course pay will differ based on where you live, education and all that but in my town, as a dental assistant i make $17/hr. I have met other dental assistants that make up to $25 after many years. Workers at the local costco make about $25/hr and more. I feel like dental assistant pay isn't going up even though cost of living has gone up over the years. Maybe it's just in my area but i am not sure. At my current office i get paid $17/hr and the hygienist makes at the very minimum $60/hr. On a daily basis we do about 80% of the same work. We do all the start of day things, take xrays, do prophys, break down rooms. I have noticed this at other offices as well. I have been a hygiene assistant in the past for a few years as well and i was always stumped at how much of a difference in pay there. I am looking into going into the dental Hygiene program and i would recommend it for anyone looking into it as well. I love working with patients, being super busy, and after you get used to it, the tasks are pretty easy. I am 35 years old and honestly wish i had started when i was younger. The big pay bump makes all the hard days worth it!
Your pros got me but your cons backed me up again... That's a hard one.
am a biotechnology student am going to double my major after this video to be dental hygienist ,thank you for the info
You help me with my fear of dentists etc 😭 And did you know that I recognised your voice from when I was in a coma? And then some time later, I thought your voice sounded familiar. And now I’m watching all your video 😄🤩💖
whaaaaat!!!!!? what what?! please dm me (@teethtalkgirl on IG) and tell me your story! so thankful you're here watching :)
Teeth Talk Girl Haha ok, I sent you a DM 😄
Whitney, I would be very interested in seeing a video discussing treating patients that need SRP. I see mostly regular prophy patients at my office, and I feel like I need a refresher. Saying that, I haven't gotten the chance to do local anesthesia, and I REALLY would love a video all about that. ❤
Yesssss! Agreed! I've been trying to find a patient willing to let me film their SRP off hours :) Still working on it! Thank you! As for local anesthesia - also planning to work on that video soon too!!! Until then, "Hygiene Edge" offers GREAT videos on their UA-cam channel! Hope this helps :)
@@TeethTalk you are awesome! Thank you so much! And thank you for always taking the time to reply to my comments :)
this was very much needed thank you !❤️
Wen working wiv kids I had to take activity plans and reports home. The onli thing I can fink of taking home is treatment plans. I’ve had dentists see foods on my teeth that isn’t healthy as I ate the food on the way to the dentist. They discussed the cons of that food for my whole body. I was thankful.
There is also employment with the military. I was an assistant on active duty then became a dental hygienist for the military as a civilian. 20
Years in total 😃
Thanks for this I’m in the military but going to get out and become a hygienist.
YES!!! thank you for this insight! sending positive vibes your way!
Thanks for the video. The only part that scares me is the body breakdown
Same 😪
Graduated hygiene school in 2005... it's real! Practice good ergonomics from the get go and don't get into bad habits!
I’m a senior in high school in high school I graduate in acouple weeks and I still don’t know what ima do with my life but this kinda making me interested
hi friend! wishing you the best on your career decisions! if you'd like to learn more about becoming a dental hygienist - here is my career portal: teethtalkgirl.com/rdh
im a junior in highschool and i kinda like this job so im considering it but idk honestly. I also want to do marketing but I dont want to sit at a desk all day.
I love you so much the way you share you stories
I really want to go into dental hygiene in college! The only problem is I also want to study abroad in college but I can't seem to find any study abroad programs for dental hygiene on lots of college websites. Is dental hygiene study abroad programs a thing?
generally not a study abroad program! however, you can take your prerequisites abroad! here's my RDH checklist that helps explain the RDH schooling process: bit.ly/rdh-video-checklist
Hey, so I've been looking into dental hygiene and have talked to several dental hygenist.
These people I talked to seemed to be "trying" to talk me out of it but honestly the more I look into it the more interested I become.
As you said in your cons list here the body breakdown is what worries me the most. Can you do a video of the good body mechanics that you do? What about body up keep? Like massage or any of those things?
I would be very interested in how you and other hygenist fight body break down since the hygenist that I have talked to told me the average dental hygenist only works 10 - 15 years becuase it's so hard on the body.
Thanks so much! I absolutely love your videos and I'm so not letting these people talk me out of this becuase the more I learn the more I fall in love with this profession.
here is my body ergonomics video - ua-cam.com/video/HK0vxnjSZZk/v-deo.html
wishing you the best on your career journey :) sending all the positive vibes your way!
Im thinking about taking 2 years of dental hygienist in NoVA college
I am starting a hygiene program in August and I’m wondering if you could do a video over how to find patients for class? I love your content!
Thank you SO much for this video! Vey useful!!
Could you make a video talking about different schools that offer programs?
I am a DH for the past 5 years and the only CON that I can think of is the fact that there is no potential for Growth. I should have done nursing instead where a registered nurse can go back to school and become a nurse practitioner and have their own business. I don’t like being an employee and I want to have my own business. Nursing can give you this growth and independence. DH are always working under the supervision of a dentist. I am Cindy going back to school for nursing.
In Canada you can have your own practice
I’m struggling to find what to do with my life- I’m currently 25 and I’m a dental assistant and I hate the doctor I work with. I love the other girls in the office but the office front desk girls are hardly there and the hygienist in the office is the only one in the office but she always discourages me from becoming a hygienist because “it’s just not worth it” sometimes she loves her job and sometimes she doesn’t but I feel like she mostly hates it because of the doctor and the front desk will sometimes over pack her schedule or won’t give enough time for a patient when they need more time. I’m struggling between choosing dental hygienist and going into the tech field since there’s always gonna be jobs and it’s paid well. I would love any advice anyone can give.
I am only just starting to look into dental hygiene as a career option (I still am trying to settle on something (tbh, all I want is to have a family)). Anyway, I do know there are a lot of good offices out there to work for. Working at a crappy one is definitely tough and can sway your decision about the job itself. However, no one is obligated to stay in a job that doesn't bring them joy or peace. But, I'd say, don't be afraid to look around at other dental offices for a job if you love what you do. Take some time to do a little research and then go for it (personal connections are gold for finding good jobs). And don't feel bad leaving an office that has a crappy work environment, that's their problem, not yours :) I recently heard someone say, "build your career around your life and not your life around your career. Find out what you want your day-day life to look like and go from there, and don't worry about the Debbie-downers, it's your life not theirs". This blew me away, because all I hear is, what do you want to do? what do you want to do? what do you want to do? and not how do you want to live? Sending hugs girly, feeling stuck is the worst!
Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam
Very good talker brilliant video thank you very much.
I’m more concerned if I have to deal with needles and stitches
Pro: you are more likely to take excellent care of your own teeth; Pro: you're doing very meaningful work; Pro: you can be a UA-cam star by educating others as well; Pro: you know exactly what to do every day; Pro: your education is directly useful to your career; Pro: you meet a lot of people every day; Pro: people look up to you; Pro: you never waste a lot of time, being productive is built into the job; Pro: you work in a pleasant indoor environment; Pro: your job is not degrading
I’m 19 and I already have bad back problems and I’ve never even worked
I’m about to go to SJVC college for an associate degree in this field hopefully it’s worth it !!!
wishing you the best on your DH journey :) you got this!
@@TeethTalk thank you
Kind of feel weird with all the amount of women in the comments while i'm the only guy from what I can see 😂 currently doing my general eds/prereqs. hoping to join the DH program next year! By the way I really like your content. Along with doing my own research, I can honestly say you've inspired and encouraged me to pursue this as my career choice. Thank you! 😬
don't feel weird! guys are hygienists, too! thank you for being here and your kindness. I truly appreciate it and wish you the best on your DH journey! looking forward to your joining the DH world!!!
Im a guy taking pre reqeqs for hygiene too. Don’t worry you’re not alone 😂.
J G haha good to know. how are the prereqs in terms of difficulty for you?
Kev LA not too bad Right now I’m in my 3rd semester going part time. So I’m just really getting into my science classes.
This is late but watching this video to get inspirations if I ever wanna pursue in dental career. My dad wants me to be a nurse and i dont think its for me. Also im a guy lol.
You can screen for sleep apnea
this makes me excited to start :)
yay you got this!
Thank you!! This video was very helpful. Im a dental assistant looking to moving forward.
yay! you got this! sending positive vibes your way on your toothy journey :)
Last office I was at they schedulef 25-28 patients per day for the RDH. I'll bet you are doing 8-10.
how often do you work part time? is it 20 hours at least? do you get paid even if. a patient doesn’t show up or are you forced to clock out?
Thank you❣
I love being RDH 💙💙💙 I do not love not having any scheduled breaks... and no benefits.
amen to that!
How difficult was dental hygiene school for you?
luckily, for me, it wasn't as bad as my undergrad! before DH school I got my bachelors in Biology and that was a wild ride! but, of course DH school had it's stressors too! here is a video about that if you're interested: ua-cam.com/video/GqCKI3xM8pg/v-deo.html
@@TeethTalk I’m currently majoring in bio it’s my freshman year but considering being a dental hygienist. Did you’re bio degree help you with your Dental hygiene degree?
I just got accepted into a dental hygiene program!! I’m so excited!
congrats!!! wishing you the best toothy journey :)
I can't wait for u to get 60k to 100k subscribers I'm so so happy
THANK YOU for saying that! So supportive! I appreciate you :)
Hi Whitney, I am working in two different offices for one dentist. It’s been a longggg time since I worked in dental office. I was a dental hygienist when we wrote our notes in a paper file. But, now I have two systems to learn to write my notes in. One in Practiceworks and the other is dentrix. I am loosing my mind. I thought maybe a video in different computer software systems with how to write notes ( using a template) and how to take bitewings and fmx with different systems. Thank you for listening. Thank thank you
Finished my pre's in Dec 2019.
yay! wishing you the best!!!
Hello, so I’m a pre-dental hygiene still have 3 prerequisites classes then I can start apply.
So why I asked if it’s good to go, most people wanted me to RUN to nursing….or X-ray tech …
Why is that?
I'm currently in my 3rd year doing dental hygiene and therapy after working as a nurse for 2 years and I defo agree with most of your pros and cons. I'm curious about the screening for sleep apnea? I didn't know that was a thing
yes!!!!! there are CE courses on it available! they are super basic but I've taken a few and love learning about the things we can point out to the patient and have them mention to their physician at their next doc appt!
@@TeethTalk wow!! Thank you so much, that's awesome I'll look into it to 🧡🦷
What about nursing did you not like?
@@kaylaperkins8309 hi, well for me, the practice i was in was amazing but a lot of the time I felt very looked down on by the dentists and the older nurses that had been there for 15+ years, it made me want to quit so bad but the actual nursing was fun! I just felt I could always do a bit more, be a bit more in control maybe
Brah im stuck between dental hygiene or dentist :C
totally both great options! here is my video about the differences between the two careers - hope this helps: teethtalkgirl.com/videos/dentist-versus-dental-hygienist?rq=dentist%20dental%20hygienist
Teeth Talk Girl after getting a diploma in dental hygienist,, how long will it take to become a dentist ,,6 years?
Where are you now?
is it possible to become a dental hygenist with an associate's degree in gental hygiene from a community college?
Yes!!
This was great! Best UA-cam video! Straight forward and informative
My eye won't shut... and my nostril is blocked after anesthesia it kind of made it hard to. Breathe through my nose when they asked me to, so the dentist could work on my teeth. Not being able to breathe is a problem buy why does it hapoen?
you got a new subscriber today. :)
thank you for being here!!! :)
I would love to be a dental hygienist in the uk
I am currently training as a dental assistant so working towards getting to study
sending you positive vibes on your dental journey :) :) :)
Omg same! I’m doing an oral health science course next year! Is there a demand of dental hygienists in the UK? So scared I won’t get a job
@@octaviaactive8257 yes a huge demand
But all u have to do is work hard and soon it will be yours / mine features
Good luck
@@TeethTalk thanks 😊
Good afternoon everyone from wellington Somerset in the UK
good evening from the US :) thank you so much for watching!!!
U always comment that lol
I know mouths can be nasty, so how long does it take you to get used to that.. the smells and sights etc..
I just got accepted into my DH program after 4 years and the course work is killing me. Any advice?
I'm in an event management program but pandemic is making me look where there is continuous money flow 👀 but I also work in retail I can only imagine the wild types of clients you may get 🤔💭💭
I feel you
Can you plz tell me about the difference btw qualifications of a dental hygienist and a dental therapists?
I am thinking about going into dental hygiene but I already have lower back problems and I’m worried about the body breakdown
I am still in highschool, i got 1200 on my psat, and i am interested in this job. Do you think i have a chance? Like how long does it takes after highschool to achieve this?
Thanks, so interesting
Are there a lot of older (over 40) beginner DH in the field or mainly younger?
totally a mix of both!!! I had both young classmates and older classmates with kids and families! and even people who had a different career prior - and switching to DH!
Great video❤️
thank you for watching :)
I'm a freshman about to start this October. Thanks for the information ❤
yay!!! wishing you the best toothy journey!!!!!