Is The Work of A Dental Hygienist Boring?

Question

I've had some people say that it's fun and there's a lot of variety. But then I've had someone else say that it's just cleaning teeth all day. I know either way that they make plenty of money--but money isn't my main objective.

Anyone out there with real experience in this field?

Answer 1

I've been a hygienist for 12 years now and I can tell you I love it. There is more to it than just cleaning teeth though. You have the chance to help treat people and help them in their dental health. To be able to help anyone is a true reward of any job I feel. Although at times it can feel monotonous, however you will have a variety of patients with a variety of problems and completely different personalities. I can remember one of my very first patients who sat in the chair and told me straight off " he hated the dentist office, hated dental work and cleanings and although he didn't know me probably wouldn't like me either" !! LOL I was terrified at the time, but he became a regular patient of mine and would only see me from then on for his cleanings.
Money in this field is good too...and you are right. It should not be your main motivator.
Something I would suggest to you if you are really interested in this field is contact your personal dentist and talk to him about your interest in this field. Ask him if you might be able to come in for a few hours one day and observe the office at work and watch one of the hygienist's. Most dentist's I have come across and the one I currently work for are usually pretty good about this. Naturally, you won't be able to really do anything, but at least it would give you a feel of what they do.
Remember, like I said, it is more than just cleaning teeth..you are a heatlhcare provider for these people who come to see you and you have the opportunity to really help people.

Good luck :-)

To Jennifer L below me who posted......a "perio" office is a periodontal office...a dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease. A pediatric office is the specialty that treats children.

Answer 2

I'm a dentist.

While money may not be your "main" objective, it should be a major one.

Let me put it to you this way: dentistry, as an occupation, stinks. The work is boring, often monotonous and unstimulating, only marginally respected by the public, and people tend to hate seeing you. The ONLY reason dentists remain dentists is because of the money (and sometimes because they enjoy the opportunity to interact with their patients....but this is not as important as the money). If dentists didn't make a lot of money, there would be an extreme shortage of them. And I do mean extreme.

As I said, I'm a dentist. I perform fillings, crown and bridge, cosmetics, a variety of surgery, prescribe medications, and I have complete authority over the diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up/maintenance aspects of patients' care. And once again, many dentists consider dentistry to be a fairly unexciting profession.

Just imagine what it would be like to be a hygienist, where you do nothing but clean teeth and educate patients on oral hygiene (the latter of which many hygienists don't bother doing anyway). If you didn't get paid well for this mind-numbing work, you'd quit in a heartbeat.

Make no mistake about it, hygiene is boring as hell. The only thing that makes it a desirable profession is that it pays well and the responsibilities are exceedingly little.

Answer 3

I can't imagine a career doing something you hate, just for the money. Tsk, tsk. My hygienist has been with me for almost 15 years and she plans on staying another 15, if I last that long.

It's as fun as you make it. Simply cleaning teeth all day can be tedious. Visiting with the nice people whose teeth you are cleaning can be a real blast. Even old sourpuss curmudgeons will have something interesting to talk about once you give them a chance.

There are other things a hygienist can do besides cleaning teeth, also, depending on the laws of your state.

I'm a dentist and I love it. I've been doing this a long time. If I hated it, I'd have changed careers or shot myself long ago.

Never do something just for the money and never make money the main reason you do something. You DO have to make a living at it, but money is not the main reason you would ever look forward to going to work every day.

Answer 4

My sister has been a dental hygienist for 30 years.

She is so sorry she got into the profession. Basically you work on dirty mouths all day. She said you'd be shocked how many people go years without cleaning their teeth.
It's disgusting to say the least.

Also she has to constantly worry about how her breathe smells (she smokes) and she can't eat onions or garlic at lunch.

She told me her back hurts from constantly hunching over patients and she has terrible carpel tunnel syndrome in her wrists from the constant abuse on the tendons in her wrists to use one hand to stretch the patients mouth open during the entire hour... and then the next hour and so on.

A great concern now is of course AIDS since it doesn't get much bloodier than teeth cleanings! You have to wear goggles and gloves and even that's not fail safe.

What fun? What variety? It's the same old, same old. Her bosses constantly try to make her do more patients in less time, despite the condition of their mouths.

Not to mention squimish patients! Teeth cleaning goes down to the roots and hurts... then they'll complain about you or start moaning in the chair.

Who needs that? Find something truly fun like fashion merchandising or something.

Answer 5

you should study even if you slot the occupation. sure, a Registered Dental Hygienist(R.D.H.) might want to be efficient financially($400-$500+/- in step with day) yet money isn't each little thing even as it is composed of a job! locate out in case you savour operating up close & own with human beings, are extra of a "ingredient" oriented human being-your teeth & mouth are a small area after all, are extra of a perfectionist in nature& arent't extremely intimidated by the be conscious "physician" because you'd be operating heavily along with your boss at cases. it truly is very few issues to imagine about once you're heavily thinking a occupation in Dental Hygiene. it would want to be interesting and efficient IF this is the right occupation for YOU! strong success!

Answer 6

Depends upon the area you're thinking of practicing at. Some Dental Hyg. don't make that great of money. Although the ladies seem to be happy all the time i go to the dentist after year and have been there awhile now. So appearently they like it. call around and ask some of the places if it would be okay to come and basically job shadow or talk with a few of their dent. hyg. - good luck .

Answer 7

dental hygienists are the ones who remove the tartar build up off of teeth. they do this all day. they never do anything different (except for the occasional sealant).
if you are wanting something that has more variety, look into dental assisting :)

Answer 8

I love it. I love interacting with patients on a one on one basis. I LOVE the instant gratification of getting chunks of build-up off of people's teeth. I am able to give local anesthetic and nitrous to patients. I haven't done sealants in awhile but I don't mind doing that. Ironically, and this is gonna sound silly, but I get grossed out by spit. LOL Thank God for suctioning and gauze! :) (But exudate doesn't gross me out, go figure)

There are other things hygienists can do, like doing work with education, mobile dentistry, working on a reservation etc.

I did think about going into Nursing years ago. I worked as a nurses' aide for 5 years at a nursing home. I saw what the nurses did and I didn't mind it, but they basically pushed pills and had to worry about 30+ residents at one time and sometimes had manditory overtime, worked midnights, holidays, etc. They have a hard job and a lot of time their hard work was overlooked. Although I wouldn't mind nursing, I went into Hygiene because I could still help my patients, but deal with them on a one-on-one basis, giving them all of my attention and giving them my best. When I was at the nursing home, I had 15-30 patients I had to take care of, feed, dress, shower, change, etc all at once and it was overwhelming and there was no way I could give my 100% to each person like they deserved. In Dentistry I am able to give 100% to my patients every day.

I do provide all my patients with oral hygiene instruction. That is something I enjoy doing as well. I have even thought of going into teaching college classes for science health and nutrition because I enjoy it, but that's just me.

Dentistry has it's own challenges. If you like more challenges, a perio office might be for you. Children would be easier to clean but then you have to deal with patience and a lot of psychology when dealing with them sometimes.

I like talking so each new patient is a challenge for me to see about their likes, dislikes, etc. 99% of the time I can get people chatting and laughing and relaxed. When you can get them relaxed and trusting you, you can tell them about how to take care of themselves better at home, and WHY they need to floss not just say "Floss daily", and they listen better.

Just my 2 cents. :)