Albemarle	Apex	Asheboro
Asheville	Boone	Burlington
Carrboro	Cary	Chapel Hill
Charlotte	Clayton	Clemmons
Concord	Cornelius	Durham
Eden	Elizabeth City	Fayetteville
Fort Bragg	Fuquay Varina	Garner
Gastonia	Goldsboro	Graham
Greensboro	Greenville	Harrisburg
Havelock	Henderson	Hendersonville
Hickory	High Point	Holly Springs
Hope Mills	Huntersville	Indian Trail
Jacksonville	Kannapolis	Kernersville
Kinston	Knightdale	Laurinburg
Leland	Lenoir	Lewisville
Lexington	Lumberton	Matthews
Mebane	Mint Hill	Monroe
Mooresville	Morganton	Morrisville
Mount Holly	Murraysville	New Bern
Newton	Pinehurst	Piney Green
Raleigh	Reidsville	Roanoke Rapids
Rocky Mount	Salisbury	Sanford
Shelby	Southern Pines	Spring Lake
Stallings	Statesville	Thomasville
Wake Forest	Waxhaw	Wilmington
Wilson	Winston Salem

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

Dental Hygienist Job Functions

When comparing the duties of a dental assistant to that of a hygienist, the most significant difference is probably that the hygienist works more independently. Dental assistants work with and assists the North Carolina practice and the dentists. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, work with the patients more on an individual basis. They are usually the initial person a patient sees when called from the waiting room. They examine each patient's teeth and gums and report their findings to the dentists. They may also perform basic procedures. Based on state law, a hygienist's responsibilities may include:

• Removing stains, tartar and plaque
• Applying fluoride treatments
• Applying sealants and polishing teeth
• Teaching patients regarding oral care
• Taking and developing X-rays
• Applying fillings and removing sutures

To qualify for licensing in almost all states, dental hygienists must have graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) accredited dental hygiene program. They also must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam in addition to passing any state licensing examinations. When they have completed these requirements they are deemed fully licensed and may add the "RDH" designation to their names, signifying Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Degree Options

As a result of the increased responsibility as compared to an assistant, dental hygienists working in North Carolina dental practices are generally required to have an Associate Degree in dental hygiene rather than a certificate. These programs can take anywhere from two to as long as three 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 component to the training as well| Some programs also offer internships with local dental practices or dentists.

Dental Hygienist Online Programs

Selecting an online dental hygienist school can be a great alternative for getting your training. Just keep in mind that the classes will not be 100% online, since there will be a clinical component to your training. But the balance of your classes will be available by means of your personal computer in the comfort of your North Carolina home or anywhere else on your tablet or laptop. For those working while going to college, online dental programs make education far more obtainable. Many may even have lower tuition costs than their traditional competitors. And additional expenses for items like commuting, books and school supplies may be reduced also. The clinical training can typically be completed at an area dental practice or in an on-campus lab. With both the clinical and online training, everything needed to receive the proper education is provided. If you have the discipline for this style of learning, you may find that enrolling in an dental hygienist online college is the ideal choice for you.

Find Out More About How to Become a Dental Hygienist in North Carolina

 

New York | North Dakota