Anthem	Apache Junction	Avondale
Buckeye	Bullhead City	Casa Grande
Casas Adobes	Catalina Foothills	Chandler
Coolidge	Douglas	Drexel Heights
El Mirage	Eloy	Flagstaff
Florence	Flowing Wells	Fort Mohave
Fortuna Foothills	Fountain Hills	Gilbert
Glendale	Goodyear	Green Valley
Kingman	Lake Havasu City	Marana
Maricopa	Mesa	New Kingman Butler
New River	Nogales	Oro Valley
Paradise Valley	Payson	Peoria
Phoenix	Prescott	Prescott Valley
Queen Creek	Rio Rico	Sahuarita
San Luis	San Tan Valley	Scottsdale
Sierra Vista	Sierra Vista Southeast	Somerton
Sun City	Sun City West	Sun Lakes
Surprise	Tanque Verde	Tempe
Tucson	Verde Village	Yuma

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Dental Hygienist Career Below

Dental Hygienist Job Functions

When contrasting the duties of a dental assistant to that of a hygienist, the main difference is probably that the hygienist works more on their own. Dental assistants work with and assists the Arizona dentists and the practice. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, work with the patients more on a one-to-one basis. They are frequently the initial person a patient sees when called from the waiting area. They examine each patient's teeth and gums and report their findings to the dentists. They may also carry out basic procedures. Based on state law, a hygienist's responsibilities can include:

• Removing stains, tartar and plaque
• Administering fluoride treatments
• Polishing teeth and applying sealants
• Instructing patients about oral care
• Taking and developing X-rays
• Applying fillings and removing sutures

In order to be licensed in almost all states, dental hygienists must have graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) accredited dental hygiene program. They must also pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination in addition to passing any state licensure examinations. When they have fulfilled these requirements they are considered fully licensed and can add the "RDH" designation to their names, standing for Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Degree Options

Due to the additional responsibility as compared to an assistant, dental hygienists employed in Arizona dental practices are normally required to hold an Associate Degree in dental hygiene rather than a certificate. These programs can take anywhere from 2 to as long as 3 years to finish and must be accredited by the CDA in virtually every state. They are offered in trade and technical schools as well as community colleges. And in addition to classroom studies learning the fundamentals of dental hygiene, there will be a practical aspect to the training as well| Many programs also sponsor internships with local dentists or dental practices.

Dental Hygienist Online Programs

Selecting an online dental hygienist college might be a viable alternative for getting your education. Just keep in mind that the program will not be 100% online, since there will be a practical component to your training. But the rest of your classes will be available via your desktop computer in the comfort of your Arizona home or elsewhere on your laptop or tablet. For those continuing to work while attending college, online dental programs make education much more obtainable. Some may even offer lower tuition costs than their traditional counterparts. And additional expenses for items like books, school supplies and commuting may be reduced as well. The practical training can often be performed at a community dental practice or in an on-campus lab. With both the clinical and online training, everything needed to obtain the proper education is furnished. If you have the discipline for this method of learning, you might find that enrolling in an dental hygienist online school is the ideal choice for you.

Find Out More About Training to Become a Dental Hygienist in Arizona

 

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