Why did you become a dental hygienist?
Hello! My name is Lizeth and I am a current high school student. I'm conducting an interview with any professional in the dental hygienist field for a Foundations in Health Science Class project about careers! I have created a total of 13 questions. Please comment on this post, answering all 13 questions to be a part of my assignment.
1) What profession did you choose? Why?
2)How many years of college did you need to go through?
3)What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
4)How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
5)Were you in a college program?
6)Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
7)Did you shadow another professional in the field?
8) Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
9) Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
10) What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
11) What was the last stressful situation you encountered in your job, and how did you react?
12)What's one challenge you occasionally or regularly face in your job?
13) What is your philosophy with medicine and treating patients
1 answer
Tracy’s Answer
I am a dental hygienist educator. I worked in private practice for 14 years before going into education. I love dental hygiene and always knew from an early age I wanted to be a teacher in some form or fashion.
2)How many years of college did you need to go through?
Dental Hygiene is 5 semesters plus core classes, so that is about 2 years and an Associate's degree.
Bachelor in Dental Hygiene is additional 2 years.
Master in Adult and Career Education is an additional 2 years.
3)What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
Dental Hygienist in a private practice for 14 years.
4)How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
This is not an option in Dental Hygiene, but it is in education. If you plan to retire in this field, your pay and expertise will all be better with a PH.D. or with a Doctorate in Education. But I would recommend doing this while working.
5)Were you in a college program?
Yes
6)Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
Yes
7)Did you shadow another professional in the field?
Yes
8) Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
Yes, the Student American Dental Hygienist Association
9) Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
History as part of my core classes was difficult for me and Statistics is a tough one.
10) What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
Organizational skills, leadership, patience, delegation, time management
11) What was the last stressful situation you encountered in your job, and how did you react?
Currently, we are short staffed so I am having to carry a larger load of courses to teach than usual. I am just taking it day by day and learning to appreciate what the other normal full time person would do and how helpful it is to have that extra person.
12)What's one challenge you occasionally or regularly face in your job?
Student's attitudes can be difficult at times, but not every day.
13) What is your philosophy with medicine and treating patients
Prevention is key in dental hygiene. When medicines are needed, they are just that, needed. Infection is treated with antibiotics, but if I can teach my patients how to never get to the point of infection, then I reduce the number of antibiotics tremendously. Teaching students how to properly educate their patients on proper homecare is the foundation to good oral health.