Aiken	Anderson	Beaufort
Berea	Bluffton	Cayce
Charleston	Clemson	Columbia
Conway	Dentsville	Easley
Five Forks	Florence	Fort Mill
Gaffney	Gantt	Goose Creek
Greenville	Greenwood	Greer
Hanahan	Hilton Head	Hilton Head Island
Ladson	Lexington	Mauldin
Mount Pleasant	Myrtle Beach	North Augusta
North Charleston	North Myrtle Beach	Orangeburg
Parker	Port Royal	Red Hill
Rock Hill	Saint Andrews	Seven Oaks
Simpsonville	Socastee	Spartanburg
Summerville	Sumter	Taylors
Wade Hampton	West Columbia

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

Dental Hygienist Job Functions

When contrasting the job of a dental assistant to that of a hygienist, the most significant difference is undoubtedly that the hygienist works more on their own. Dental assistants work with and in support of the South Carolina dentists and the practice. Hygienists, while also supporting the practice, deal with the patients more on a one-to-one basis. They are usually the initial person a patient sees when called from the waiting area. They examine each patient's gums and teeth and present their results to the dentists. They also may carry out basic procedures. Depending on state law, a hygienist's duties may include:

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

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 also must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam as well as any state licensure exams. After they have fulfilled these requirements they are deemed fully licensed and can add the "RDH" designation to their names, standing for Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Training Options

Due to the increased responsibility in contrast to an assistant, dental hygienists working in South Carolina dental practices are normally required to have an Associate Degree in dental hygiene rather than a certificate. These programs can take anywhere from 2 to as long as 3 years to complete and must be accredited by the CDA in nearly 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 practical aspect to the training as well| A number of programs also offer internships with local dental practices or dentists.

Dental Hygienist Online Programs

Selecting an online dental hygienist college can be a good option for receiving your training. Just remember that the classes will not be totally online, since there will be a practical component to your training. But the remainder of your classes will be provided by means of your desktop computer in the comfort of your South Carolina home or anywhere else on your laptop or tablet. For those continuing to work while attending school, online dental programs make education far more obtainable. Some may even offer lower tuition rates than their traditional competitors. And added expenses such as for commuting, books and school supplies may be lessened as well. The practical training can typically be performed at a community dental practice or in an on-campus lab. With both the online and clinical training, everything necessary to get the proper education is provided. If you have the discipline for this mode of education, you might find that enrolling in an dental hygienist online college is the right option for you.

Learn More About Becoming a Dental Hygienist in South Carolina

 

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