Ashland	Bardstown	Berea
Bowling Green	Burlington	Covington
Danville	Elizabethtown	Erlanger
Fern Creek	Florence	Fort Campbell North
Fort Thomas	Frankfort	Georgetown
Glasgow	Henderson	Highview
Hopkinsville	Independence	Jeffersontown
Lexington	Lexington Fayette	Louisville
Madisonville	Meads	Mount Washington
Murray	Newburg	Newport
Nicholasville	Okolona	Owensboro
Paducah	Pleasure Ridge Park	Radcliff
Richmond	Saint Matthews	Shelbyville
Shively	Valley Station	Winchester

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

Dental Hygienist Job Duties

When contrasting the duties of a dental hygienist to that of an assistant, the biggest difference is probably that the hygienist works more independently. Dental assistants work with and in support of the Kentucky practice and the dentists. Hygienists, while also supporting the practice, work with the patients more on an individual basis. They are usually the first person a patient sees when called from the waiting area. They examine every patient's teeth and gums and present their results to the dentists. They also may perform basic procedures. Based on state law, a hygienist's duties may include:

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

In order to be licensed in nearly all states, dental hygienists must graduate 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. Once they have fulfilled these requirements they are considered fully licensed and may add the "RDH" designation to their names, signifying Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Education Options

As a result of the added responsibility as compared to an assistant, dental hygienists employed in Kentucky dental practices are generally required to hold an Associate Degree in dental hygiene rather than a certificate. These programs can take anywhere from two to as long as three years to complete and must be accredited by the CDA in virtually every state. They are offered in trade and vocational schools as well as community colleges. And in addition to classroom studies learning the fundamentals of dental hygiene, there will be a clinical component to the training as well| A number of programs also sponsor internships with local dentists or dental practices.

Online Dental Hygienist Programs

Selecting an online dental hygienist college can be a great alternative for receiving your training. Just keep in mind that the program will not be 100% online, since there will be a clinical component to your training. But the rest of your classes will be provided via your personal computer in the convenience of your Kentucky home or elsewhere on your laptop or tablet. For those continuing to work while going to school, online dental classes make education a lot more accessible. Some may even have lower tuition fees than their traditional competitors. And supplementary expenses for items like books, school supplies and commuting may be reduced as well. The practical training can typically be performed at an area dental practice or in an on-campus lab. With both the online and clinical training, everything necessary to obtain the appropriate education is provided. If you have the discipline for this method of learning, you may find that enrolling in an online dental hygienist college is the ideal option for you.

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

 

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