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Cindy’s Answer
Hi Kenyia,
Valerie answered the question extremely well but I wanted to give you more advice as a dental hygienist myself so that you can learn the different careers in the dental field!
First, being a dental hygienist or a dentist are not the only things that you can do in dentistry. If you are interested in research, you can definitely do that as well. There are also lab technicians and dental assistants as well and each job is vital in the field.
A lab technician primarily works in creating different items that are needed for treatment such as crowns, dentures, and any models of teeth that may be needed.
A dental assistant helps the dentist perform any four-handed procedures along with sterilizing materials in the practice. Depending on the state you can become an assistant through on-the-job training or receive formal training (which can vary but is typically within 2 years).
A dental hygienist is a preventative care specialist - that is, we do our best to help prevent any problems from arising on your teeth by providing cleanings, fluoride treatment, and assessments to check on your oral health and see if there is anything of concern for a dentist to consider. Dental hygiene school can vary from 2 to 4 years depending on the program that you wish to pursue. There are associates in dental hygiene and also bachelor's programs as well but typically you will need to be in person for the classwork as it is clinically focused.
A dentist helps resolve issues that you may be facing by providing fillings, crowns, Invisalign - you name it! Becoming a dentist requires a bachelor's degree (in anything, it doesn't have to be science-related but you will need to have all of the pre-requisites completed to apply to dental school) and 4 years of dental school. Before you can practice as a dentist, you may need to complete a residency depending on the state. You can also specialize for an additional 2-3 years of schooling.
If you want to learn more about the field of dentistry, the best way to go about it is by gaining shadowing opportunities and networking with others. This can be a little bit difficult but once you get your foot in the door, having these shadowing hours will help you learn more about how each job plays a role to providing care for the patient. In addition, part of applying to dental school requires having shadowing hours as well, so it's like killing two birds with one stone!
I hope this answers your question and please feel free to reach out if you have more questions!
Valerie answered the question extremely well but I wanted to give you more advice as a dental hygienist myself so that you can learn the different careers in the dental field!
First, being a dental hygienist or a dentist are not the only things that you can do in dentistry. If you are interested in research, you can definitely do that as well. There are also lab technicians and dental assistants as well and each job is vital in the field.
A lab technician primarily works in creating different items that are needed for treatment such as crowns, dentures, and any models of teeth that may be needed.
A dental assistant helps the dentist perform any four-handed procedures along with sterilizing materials in the practice. Depending on the state you can become an assistant through on-the-job training or receive formal training (which can vary but is typically within 2 years).
A dental hygienist is a preventative care specialist - that is, we do our best to help prevent any problems from arising on your teeth by providing cleanings, fluoride treatment, and assessments to check on your oral health and see if there is anything of concern for a dentist to consider. Dental hygiene school can vary from 2 to 4 years depending on the program that you wish to pursue. There are associates in dental hygiene and also bachelor's programs as well but typically you will need to be in person for the classwork as it is clinically focused.
A dentist helps resolve issues that you may be facing by providing fillings, crowns, Invisalign - you name it! Becoming a dentist requires a bachelor's degree (in anything, it doesn't have to be science-related but you will need to have all of the pre-requisites completed to apply to dental school) and 4 years of dental school. Before you can practice as a dentist, you may need to complete a residency depending on the state. You can also specialize for an additional 2-3 years of schooling.
If you want to learn more about the field of dentistry, the best way to go about it is by gaining shadowing opportunities and networking with others. This can be a little bit difficult but once you get your foot in the door, having these shadowing hours will help you learn more about how each job plays a role to providing care for the patient. In addition, part of applying to dental school requires having shadowing hours as well, so it's like killing two birds with one stone!
I hope this answers your question and please feel free to reach out if you have more questions!
Updated
Valerie’s Answer
Hi Kenyia:
There are a couple options in the dental field. You can be a hygienist, which requires an associates degree (you can do this online or at a local community college), however this really depends on what state you want to practice in. So look up "how to become a dental hygienist in Texas" if that is where you want to practice.
If you want to become a dentist, you will need to graduate high school, attend college (4 years) and then attend a dental school (4 years). This requires more training, but you do get paid more. This way you can go into pediatrics dentistry, adult, orthodontics, cosmetics, etc.
Therefore, it depends on how much schooling you would want to do and what your goals are in life.
Hope this helps
There are a couple options in the dental field. You can be a hygienist, which requires an associates degree (you can do this online or at a local community college), however this really depends on what state you want to practice in. So look up "how to become a dental hygienist in Texas" if that is where you want to practice.
If you want to become a dentist, you will need to graduate high school, attend college (4 years) and then attend a dental school (4 years). This requires more training, but you do get paid more. This way you can go into pediatrics dentistry, adult, orthodontics, cosmetics, etc.
Therefore, it depends on how much schooling you would want to do and what your goals are in life.
Hope this helps
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