im gonna graduate from highschool this upcoming year and i need to pick the right college for what i want to do. i want to become a dental hygienist then go to school to become a dentist.. good idea? or bad?
2007-06-27 16:22:14 · 13 answers · asked by TIFFUhhNEE 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment ➔ Health Care
If you are really really positive you want to be a dentist, then maybe go straight toward that goal. It takes awhile to get in all the science classes and whatnot before you can even try to get accepted into dental school (which I read is competitive).
However, if you're not fully sure you want to be a dentist or haven't really followed a dentist for a few days to see how it is in a dental office daily, then become a hygienist first. Hygienists have flexible schedules and make a decent salary, and all you need is an Associate's degree (though the training is not easy and you'll do a lot during the two year program). You may end up liking this field better, who knows. Or you might find that your interests change when you enter your 20s. Since you are just graduating high school and still pretty young, becoming a hygienist first might be best because you'll gain firsthand clinical experience and have some career freedom before entering dental school.
My advice if you do become a dentist: Go to school for just two-extra years to specialize in Orthodontics. They make much more for just those two extra years and have a "less dirty" job (as one article put it).
2007-06-27 16:35:16 · answer #1 · answered by Miss.Understanding 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny, I heard a dental hygienist mention the same thing a couple of days ago in my dentist's office. She said, maybe is should be a dentist. He laughed and he said, "why not? You just need to pay $50,000 a year. Something to think about. This was an Ivy league school though You could find better deals, maybe even go to a dental school outside the U.S.
2007-06-27 17:39:33 · answer #2 · answered by holacarinados 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to become a dentist, don't be a hygienist first. There are two different programs for each field. They don't 'piggy back' on one another. I also think if you become a hygienist, you will not continue on to become a Dentist. If you really want to become a Dentist - go for it. BUT a hygienist makes a good living, and can pick her own hours and doesn't have the headaches of owning their own business. I should know- I married a Dentist! He loves his profession but the Hygienist loves her job and hours too!
2007-06-27 18:05:34 · answer #3 · answered by kaneill2002 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't necessarily think it is a bad idea, but the curriculum between the two will be completely different. You will however be able to get a general idea of what working in a dentists office is like. As a reminder, you will be going to get a hygienist certificate that usually takes two years and you will need to schedule the time to finish up your bachelors and the move on to pre-dentistry.
Good Luck with your studies.
2007-06-27 16:54:54 · answer #4 · answered by kam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bad... you'll waste time in DH classes that you can use towards Dental School... Although, you could alway get a Bachelors in Dental Hygiene and then apply to Dental School. Whatever you decide works best for you, Good Luck! Oh, I know this because my husband went to Dental School, and the curriculum between the two are different.
2007-06-27 16:26:35 · answer #5 · answered by ohmygosh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is exactly what I am doing. I think it is a great idea, that way you can decide if the dental field is right for you. If you feel you want to commit, then you can just go back to school with the dental knowledge you have from dental hygiene school. If you don't feel it is right for you, then you won't have to waste all those years in graduate school.
2007-06-27 16:26:29 · answer #6 · answered by JESSICA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
choose dentist. being a hygienist dosent help you along the way. becoming a direct dentist is better, more cash is made, and short time in school, leading to more time to become successful. the hygienist just gives you more information on whats good and whats bad in detail.
2007-06-27 16:26:17 · answer #7 · answered by robo372 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I was you, I'd go right to denistry school, since this is what you really want to do. Don't waste your time being a hygienist first, unless you aren't 100% sure that you do indeed want to become a dentist. :D
2007-06-27 16:31:54 · answer #8 · answered by Shortstuff13 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good idea i think
or you can just got to dental school and intern/work at an office
2007-06-27 16:26:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a great idea. That way you can see from the inside what its all really like and base your ultimate decision on that.
2007-06-27 16:25:17 · answer #10 · answered by cindy h 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋