How to Get a Job as a Dental Hygienist
A dental hygienist teaches patients how to clean and care for their teeth. A dental hygienist also examines patients' teeth and gums, removes plaque and tarter from their teeth, takes dental x-rays, cleans teeth and gums and educates their patients about good oral hygiene. A dental hygienist has a very rewarding career, with nice benefits, a flexible work schedule and dental perks. There are a few things that you should do in order to get a job as a dental hygienist.
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Things You'll Need
- Two- or four-year college degree
- State license
- Current resumé
- Cover letter
Instructions
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Complete the prerequisites for dental hygiene school. In order to enroll in a dental hygienist program, you must meet the minimum requirements, which include being at least 18 years of age, having a high school diploma or GED, having at least a "C" average in math, chemistry, biology and English high school courses and having successfully passed your college entrance examination.
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Enroll in an accredited dental hygiene program. You may choose to pursue a two-year (associate's) or a four-year (bachelor's) degree depending upon your interests and goals. With an associate's degree, you can work as a dental hygienist in private dental offices, public health clinics and hospitals. A bachelor's degree gives you the option to work in administration, research, clinical practice or teaching.
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Pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). You must also successfully pass the regional or state clinical examination to practice as a dental hygienist. Once you pass the required examinations, you must apply for your state license in order to become a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).
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Create a resume and cover letter. Your resume should include your current contact information, education, license information, work experiences and skills. Your cover letter should address your qualifications, interests and goals.
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Make a list with three to five professional references. Your list should include updated information for each reference, such as a working telephone number, mailing address and email address. In addition, ask each reference to write a letter of recommendation for you.
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Locate available dental hygienist jobs by contacting the American Dental Association and the American Dental Hygienist Association. You can also search for jobs by visiting career websites, such as Indeed and Simply Hired.
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Apply for jobs by completing the appropriate applications and submitting the required documents. You may be asked to include a copy of your license and college transcript. Be sure to apply for jobs that best suit your needs such as work environment preference, flexibility and benefits.
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Go to your scheduled interview. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start time and dress professionally. Follow-up on the job interview (within two weeks) by contacting the employer.
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Tips & Warnings
Many dental hygienists have the option of working a flexible schedule, including part time, evenings and weekends.
