Allouez	Appleton	Ashwaubenon
Beaver Dam	Bellevue	Beloit
Brookfield	Caledonia	Chippewa Falls
Cudahy	De Pere	Eau Claire
Fitchburg	Fond Du Lac	Fort Atkinson
Franklin	Germantown	Glendale
Grand Chute	Green Bay	Greendale
Greenfield	Hartford	Howard
Hudson	Janesville	Kaukauna
Kenosha	La Crosse	Madison
Manitowoc	Marshfield	Menasha
Menomonee Falls	Menomonie	Mequon
Middleton	Milwaukee	Mount Pleasant
Muskego	Neenah	New Berlin
Oak Creek	Oconomowoc	Onalaska
Oshkosh	Pewaukee	Platteville
Pleasant Prairie	Plover	Racine
River Falls	Sheboygan	Shorewood
South Milwaukee	Stevens Point	Stoughton
Suamico	Sun Prairie	Superior
Verona	Watertown	Waukesha
Waunakee	Wausau	Wauwatosa
West Allis	West Bend	Weston
Whitefish Bay	Whitewater	Wisconsin Rapids

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

Dental Hygienist Job Functions

When contrasting the role of a dental hygienist to that of an assistant, the most significant difference is probably that the hygienist works more independently. Dental assistants work with and in support of the Wisconsin dentists and the practice. Hygienists, while also supporting the practice, work with the patients more on a one-to-one basis. They are often the initial person a patient encounters when called from the waiting room. They examine each patient's gums and teeth and present their results to the dentists. They may also perform basic procedures. Based on state law, a hygienist's responsibilities may include:

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

In order to be licensed in almost all states, dental hygienists must graduate 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 licensing examinations. Once 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

Because of the increased responsibility as compared to an assistant, dental hygienists working in Wisconsin dental offices are usually 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 vocational schools as well as community colleges. And in addition to classroom studies learning the fundamentals of dental hygiene, there will be a clinical aspect to the training as well| Many programs also offer internships with local dentists or dental practices.

Online Dental Hygienist Colleges

Selecting an online dental hygienist college might be a great option for receiving your education. Just remember that the program will not be totally online, since there will be a clinical component to your training. But the remainder of your classes will be provided by means of your personal computer in the comfort of your Wisconsin home or elsewhere on your tablet or laptop. For those continuing to work while attending college, online dental programs make education a lot more accessible. Many may even have lower tuition costs than their traditional counterparts. And additional expenses such as for books, school supplies and commuting may be reduced as well. The practical training can usually be performed at a community dental office or in an on-campus lab. With both the clinical and online training, everything needed to obtain the proper education is provided. If you have the discipline for this style of education, you might find that enrolling in an online dental hygienist college is the ideal option for you.

Learn More About Becoming a Dental Hygienist in Wisconsin

 

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