I cannot decide between dental hygiene and ultrasound technician (diagnostic medical sonographer)?

Question

Need help deciding which of these 2 careers to pursue. Please give me your opinions. I have a family with young children so that is a major deciding factor for me in terms of which would be best for my family. Here is what I know so far:

Dental Hygiene
PROS- days, no nights or weekends; great starting pay; only about 2 year program; clinicals for the two years are only 1-2 days a week for only about 4 hrs which is doable
CONS- Can only work day shift, no options for working nights or weekends if needed, may be hard to find full-time employment and medical benefits; hygienists suffer from back and neck problems and carpal tunnel

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
PROS- can work any time, day/night/weekend, good starting pay, usually have medical benefits
CONS- Longer school, about 3 yrs, the first 2 for x-ray tech and the 3rd for sonography; clinicals are 40 hour weeks for 3yrs which is like a fulltime job for 3 yrs and I don't know if I can handle it or if it will be worth it.

Answer 1

I am going to school right now for dental hygiene, it is such a great job. I am currently a dental assistant. Dental hygienist basically make their own schedule, have a great pay rate...
I love the dental field, it's something different everyday. I do however think a medical sonographer would be very interesting too...but I guess I am just partial to dental hygiene, plus it is less school, I too have a young son and I needed something that didn't take a long time to finish..which helped in my decision
Good Luck

Answer 2

I can tell you that sonography schools are few and far between, and they are ALL difficult to get into, and have horrendous schedules/curriculums.

If you are very social/sociable, do the dental hygiene. If you are a little more introverted, do the sonography.

Sonography schools DO take longer, and truly....if you are going to go to school for 5 years, why not stick it out another year or two and get a pharmacy degree.

I was in pre pharmacy program, but lacked funding. I had to stop, and it killed me. You make at LEAST $100,000 right out of school.

I personally could never work on teeth. I'd recommend being a cardiac sonographer if you are really interested in sonography. Important job.

Answer 3

Medical sonographer.

Most of the ones I have met are happy being sonographers. Their contract is with a fairly large hospital or private corporation and they are paid well.
Dental hygienists on the other hand may like the ability to find jobs anywhere they go, but their satisfaction with the job is very dependent on the dentist they work with. The pay scale varies according to the employer, mainly private dental practices.

Answer 4

if you lean towards the dentistry -- - oh and total dental hygiene education is 6 years total -- being a regular DDS, is 8, get the DDS license - for only 2 years more of school, and make a bunch more money - but dental school - ugh - so long. and the stuff yu will see while working on pateints in DDS school -- omg - not for the squeamish!