what is hard about it? what do you like about it? what do they teach you?
2006-08-09 02:20:35 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
I was going to first get my degree in dental hygiene, but decided since here (in california) it is extremely hard to even get into the program. So I decided to go for dental assisting, get my pre-req's in dental hygiene, and work as a dental assistant until I am accepted into a dental hygiene program.
When I started the dental assisting program, we had a class lunch with all the dental hygiene students. We asked them all the same questions that you asked above.
The hardest thing about going into a dental hygiene program is that without previous experience in a dental office, it made the program 10 times more hard, you are basically learning what dental assistants have to do and dental hygienist have to do at the same time, whereas if you were already a dental assistant then you have a definite advantage over the people that don't know anything about dentistry.
They teach you about morphology, and structure of teeth and surrounding structure of teeth. I know they get way more into then they do in dental assisting. I don't know exactly everything that they teach you, but if you find an accredited school you can look up the program schedule for dental hygiene and see what classes you would be taking.
I know that the number of students accepted a year in dental hygiene at Sacramento City College are 27 seats. The amount of returning students for the second year was less then half that. So somewhere around 12 students came back. Obviously this program is serious, but if you put your mind to it then you can definitely pass!
I know one of the biggest problems for students failing is working while being in this program. So if you plan on going into dental hygiene just plan ahead so you don't have to work as well.
The benefits of dental hygiene are wonderful. You get great pay and flexible hours. Sacrificing two years for this isn't anything to what it could bring you in the future! Just remember they always say that dental hygienist naturally have to be anal, and like to work independently. They are ususally very structured and orderly.
I hope if you are interested in it you will definitely think about doing it, but always think about doing assisting first, it would be a horrible thing to go into hygiene and have to fail!
Also, if you are able to go into a program anywhere in your state or in another state, it will open your chances greatly for getting in. I do know that some tech colleges (Western Career College in CA) are starting to incorporate dental hygiene into there programs, but if there hygiene program is anything like there assisting program I would run as far away from it as possible, I have heard tons of horrible stories about assistants that go through programs and don't know anything about assisting, as well as teachers be lazy on the job!!!
goodluck with whatever you do!
2006-08-09 05:26:30 · answer #1 · answered by Braidynsmama 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The difficulty of any schooling depends on your interest in the subject.
2006-08-09 10:13:58 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's just a college degree. you can never ever miss class and you have to study every night.
2006-08-09 12:08:21 · answer #3 · answered by tomh311 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋