American Fork	Bountiful	Brigham City
Cedar City	Centerville	Clearfield
Clinton	Cottonwood Heights	Draper
Eagle Mountain	Farmington	Heber
Herriman	Highland	Holladay
Hurricane	Kaysville	Kearns
Layton	Lehi	Logan
Magna	Midvale	Millcreek
Murray	North Ogden	North Salt Lake
Ogden	Orem	Payson
Pleasant Grove	Provo	Riverton
Roy	Saint George	Salt Lake City
Sandy	Saratoga Springs	South Jordan
South Ogden	South Salt Lake	Spanish Fork
Springville	Syracuse	Taylorsville
Tooele	Washington	West Jordan
West Valley City

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

Dental Hygienist Job Description

When comparing the job of a dental assistant to that of a hygienist, the most significant difference is probably that the hygienist works more on their own. Dental assistants work with and in support of the Utah practice and the dentists. Hygienists, while also assisting the practice, work with the patients more on a one-to-one basis. They are often the initial person a patient interacts with when called from the waiting area. They examine each patient's teeth and gums and report their findings to the dentists. They also may perform basic procedures. Depending on state law, a hygienist's duties may include:

• Removing tartar, stains and plaque
• Administering fluoride treatments
• Polishing teeth and applying sealants
• Educating patients regarding oral hygiene
• Taking X-rays and developing film
• Removing sutures and applying fillings

To qualify for licensing in nearly 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 licensing exams. When they have fulfilled these requirements they are regarded as fully licensed and may add the "RDH" designation to their names, standing for Registered Dental Hygienist.

Dental Hygienist Degree Options

Because of the additional responsibility in contrast to an assistant, dental hygienists working in Utah dental offices are usually required to hold an Associate Degree in dental hygiene rather than a certificate. These programs can require 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 community colleges as well as trade and technical schools. And in addition to classroom studies learning the fundamentals of dental hygiene, there will be a clinical component to the training as well| Many programs also offer internships with local dental practices or dentists.

Online Dental Hygienist Classes

Enrolling in an online dental hygienist school might be a great alternative for getting your education. Just remember that the classes will not be completely online, since there will be a clinical portion to your training. But the remainder of your classes will be available via your personal computer in the convenience of your Utah home or anywhere else on your laptop or tablet. For those continuing to work while attending college, online dental classes make education much more obtainable. Some may even have lower tuition fees than their traditional counterparts. And supplementary expenses for items like commuting, books and school supplies may be reduced also. The clinical training can usually be completed at a community dental office or in an on-campus lab. With both the clinical and online training, everything needed to obtain the appropriate education is furnished. If you have the dedication for this style of education, you may find that attending an dental hygienist online program is the right option for you.

Learn More About Training to Become a Dental Hygienist in Utah

 

Texas | Vermont