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Becoming a Dental Hygienist Becoming a Dental Hygienist Jessy Hernandez Professor Dr. Marie-Flore Lindor-Latortue Miami Dade College Medical Campus Sunday, September 10, 2023

Becoming a Dental Hygienist Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3 History ........................................................................................................................ 5 Education ................................................................................................................... 7 Job Description .......................................................................................................... 8 Interview ................................................................................................................... 9 Interview Analysis ..................................................................................................... 11 Job Salary ................................................................................................................... 12 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 13 References .................................................................................................................... 14

Becoming a Dental Hygienist Introduction My name is Jessy Hernandez. I am 24 years old and I’m married woman. Also, I recently became a proud mother. I was born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida, but my parents are from Honduras. Just like many people who grew up in Miami I learned Spanish at home. When I started school, I learned English as a second language. I graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 2017 and obtained my high school diploma. I didn’t go directly to college since I decided I wanted to work a bit. After a few months I ended up going to Miami Dade College. I ended up choosing Business Administration as my major but didn’t enjoy it. I needed about two semesters more to obtain my associate degree in business administration, but I didn’t finish it. I decided to switch to something else. Ever since I was a teenager, I always said I wanted to do something in the dentistry field. I realized I should switch to something that I was passionate about. This was the time that I decided to switch to the dental hygiene major. Ever since I graduated high school I started working full-time as a server. Amidst having a full-time night job, I would only attend two or three classes each semester. This delayed my graduation date since I ended up missing so many courses. One day in 2019 my boyfriend and I were driving back home from a dinner date. This was a horrible day that I will never forget. We got pulled over and he got arrested for driving without a license. I never felt so much fear of losing someone, until that day. Due to his immigration status we decided to get married. We moved out of my parents’ place and got our own place. We knew that we wanted to start our own little family someday. Eventually, we saved up enough money to start a family. On November 14, 2022, I found out that I was pregnant. I was very excited to hear this! The first four months were horrible, though. I vomited and had nausea every single day. As soon as I woke up, I had to rush to the restroom because I had to vomit. The

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Becoming a Dental Hygienist first trimester was terrible, and I was glad when it ended. The second trimester wasn’t that bad, but the third trimester was worse than I could imagine. At that point in time my whole body became swollen. I had to stop working when I was seven months pregnant. My due date arrived, and I got induced. Everything was going fine until my baby’s heart rate was falling, Due to this I had to get an emergency c-section, and I was not mentally prepared for it. It all happened quickly. They took me to the surgery room, and my son was out like in 10 minutes. All I heard the doctor say was “umbilical cord wrapped twice around his neck”, this caused my heart to stop. A few seconds later I heard a cry and I came back to life. This cry came from my baby boy! July 10th, 2023 was the day that my life gained a new meaning. I had finally become a mother!

Becoming a Dental Hygienist History To reduce the germs that caused caries, a Connecticut dentist by the name of Alfred Fones discovered the need for dental hygiene in 1907 (Hakes,H, 2022). After hiring Irene Newman, his cousin, he trained her to provide dental prophylaxis to his patients. Irene Newman was the first "dental hygienist" to introduce the duties of dental hygiene in a clinical setting. As a result, in 1913, Dr. Fones was the first to establish a dental hygiene program in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This was also the first dental hygiene program in the country. Students of Connecticut's first dental hygiene graduating class of 1914 were employed in an educational setting to communicate to children the need of oral hygiene. These early dental hygienists were known as "dental nurses" in hospitals and school-based programs before Dr. Fones changed the term. The title for “dental nurse” is now known as “dental hygienist.” Irene Newman obtained her dental hygienist license in 1917 from Connecticut. After this occurred, six more states started their own dental hygienist programs over the next three years. The ADHA was established in 1923 with 46 members, and the dental hygienist profession grew from there (Hakes,H, 2022). By 1952, there were licensed dental hygienists in each of the fifty states. As dental hygienist training programs spread across the globe, the ADHA created standards for admission. In 1935, accreditation needed a high school certificate. By 1940, a dental hygienist license also required accomplishment of a two-year academic course of study. The ADHA subsequently authorized the name "Registered Dental Hygienist" in 1940 (Hakes,H, 2022). The very first regional examination for boards was ultimately issued in 1968. Finally, around the 1970s, the ADHA established guidelines for continuing education in dental hygiene. The 1980s saw a shift in the hygiene industry when Washington became the first state to allow the uncontrolled performing of dental hygiene in authorized venues. As a result, Colorado

Becoming a Dental Hygienist and other states adopted Washington’s path throughout the course of the next 20 years. The 1990s saw a substantial improvement in dental hygiene as a result of the fourteen states' decision to allow qualified dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia (Hakes,H, 2022). By the year 2000, a registered dental hygienist could provide local anesthesia in more than half of the states.

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Becoming a Dental Hygienist Education What are the standards for becoming a Dental Hygienist? To begin with a high school diploma is necessary. Also, a license is required to practice dental hygiene professionally. Dental hygienists are granted licenses by each state independently and must practice in compliance with the rules specified by their own practicing statutes. While the steps leading to licensure may differ depending on where you live, every state follows a similar set of rules. This includes graduating from a recognized dental hygiene program, and successfully completing the National Board Dental Hygiene Written Examination (NBDHE). One must also succeed in a regional or state clinical board examination (Florida Dental Hygienist Association, 2023). In order to matriculate into the program, you must complete 14 courses. Those courses include Introduction to Psychology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II/Lab, English Composition I, and Mathematics for Liberal Arts 2. Also included are Chemistry for Health Sciences, Microbiology/Lab, Humanities, History of the US Since 1877, and Introduction of Health Care/Lab. You need to earn a "C" or above in each of the prerequisite courses mentioned below. You can also be currently enrolled in them, but keep in mind that the program is competitive. The number of students who can enroll in the discipline courses for the program is limited, so it’s in your best interest to successfully finish as many courses as possible.

Becoming a Dental Hygienist Job Description Dental hygienists provide patients with preventive care. This includes tasks such as oral hygiene instruction and, examinations for early signs of oral conditions like gingivitis. This also includes educating patients about general oral health. A dental hygienist has several duties. They should clean the patient’s teeth of plaque, tartar, and discoloration, and also use sealants and fluorides to protect teeth. They should also make sure dental X-rays are taken and recorded. Furthermore, they should check the dental health of patients and let dentists know about their concerns. Lastly, they should document a patient's health plan, and educate them on correct brushing, flossing, and other oral hygiene techniques. Hygienists in the dental field use a range of tools in their work, including hand, power, and ultrasonic tools. They use lasers on occasion as well. Hygienists use an air-polishing device to remove stains by spraying a mixture of air, water, and baking soda. To polish teeth, they employ a power instrument that works similarly to an automated toothbrush. Hygienists also take pictures with X-ray devices to check for tooth or jaw problems (U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Dental hygienists give patients advice on how to keep their gums and teeth healthy. They might talk about, for instance, how diet affects oral health. They could also provide patients recommendations on toothbrushes and other oral hygiene supplies.

Becoming a Dental Hygienist Interview What is your name? - Kendra Romanick How long did it take you to complete the course? - The Dental hygiene program took 3 years to complete at the college I attended. Are you continuing education? - Yes! I will be going back to get my bachelor's degree in dental hygiene in May of 2024. How many days and hours do you work a week? - My days currently differ; I am working with a new company and have recently started at their new office they opened. As of right now, I am Tuesday- Friday from either 8/9-5 or 8/9-6 (only 1 day a week) and Fridays I work 8-4. I’ve been picking up Mondays recently. Job description? - I am a registered dental hygienist who does preventive work, oral education, oral cancer screenings (extra and intra oral), periodontal probing, hard tissue charting, intra and extra oral exams, periodontal scaling and root planning, prophy, fluoride application, updating/ taking X- rays, working in sterile bay and assisting with front desk. I’m usually the first face the patient sees being introduced to the office so having social skills is incredibly important! What are your strengths and weaknesses? - Strengths: I’m an incredibly dedicated worked who ensures rules and standards are followed. I work incredibly well with others and love to teach! I do as asked and stay on time with appointments/ never arrive late to work. I am extremely motivated and am a team leader.

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Becoming a Dental Hygienist Weaknesses: I sometimes can be hard with self-criticism, focus too much on details, have trouble asking for help and can sometimes stress easily if something gets off track. Any advice you would like to share? - I could go on about advice forever! The number one thing I would say when you’re in school, is to just be confident, tell yourself you can do this. You get yourself where you need to be and you can do anything you put your mind to- if you want it you can achieve it. As of for work related, is to just take it day by day. I’m only a year in and I’m still learning! Taking baby steps and adjusting to appointment times/ all the things they don’t teach you in school is normal and you will get there! Don’t lose sleep over it!!

Becoming a Dental Hygienist Interview Analysis Kendra is a Canadian dental hygienist and social media influencer. Her platforms typically focus on a day in the life of her employment routine and college adventure. I have followed her journey since she first launched her platform. I sent emails to about six different dental hygienists, including influencer Kendra. The only one to reply in under 24 hours was Kendra. She answered all my concerns in a satisfactory manner. I was pleased to see that a professional in the field was prepared to elucidate my concerns despite the fact that I was a stranger. My questions were answered by Kendra in a way that encouraged me to keep concentrating on my goals. Kendra was precise and detailed in her comments, including her job responsibilities, her daily schedule, and her dedication to her work as a professional. She also discussed her job- related strengths and flaws. Furthermore, she also gave some uplifting suggestions about jobs and education.

Becoming a Dental Hygienist Job Salary According to the Dental Post (2023), the average dental hygienist salary in Florida is $73,180 as of 2021 ($35.18 per hour). The reported range is frequently between $63,350 and $77,830. Dental hygienist pay ranges can vary widely depending on a variety of crucial factors, including education, credentials, supplemental skills, and years of experience. In Miami, there are 2,160 employed dental hygienists with an hourly average rate of $35.27 and yearly average rate of $73,360. A state like Tennessee pays less than Florida according to the Dental Post (2023). The range was typically between $60,910 and $77,400. The average dental hygienist wage in Tennessee as of 2021 was $68,770 ($33.06 per hour). Just like in every state, the pay of dental hygienists can vary depending on such as their education, credentials, ancillary skills, and years of experience. There are 1,150 dental hygienists working in Nashville, and their average hourly wage is $31.73. Based on this information their average yearly wage is about $66,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022) projects that employment of dental hygienists will grow by 9% between 2021 and 2031, outpacing the average for all occupations. There will, on average, be 16,300 openings for dental hygienists over the next ten years. The need to fill workers who change careers or leave the workforce due to retirement is expected to create many of those vacancies. The majority of dental offices require a dental license or registered dental hygienist certification, and some also ask for one year of experience. There are now 42 open positions in my local area listed on Indeed.

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Becoming a Dental Hygienist Conclusion In conclusion, writing this report has greatly increased my understanding of the dental hygienist profession. I discovered the history of the dental hygiene world and who the first dental hygienist was. I also learned how the sector has changed over the previous century, and not to mention the academic requirements for becoming a hygienist today and in the past. Furthermore, I learned how competitive the degree program is and the range of salaries. Along with that, I discovered what a dental hygienist actually does. They do many things which includes cleaning the patient’s teeth of plaque, tartar, and discoloration. Some of the other things they do is recording the patient's treatment strategy. It’s also important to note that dental hygienists also help give patients home care instructions. Finally, I interviewed someone who is in the industry. Kendra, one of the women I spoke with, described her working days and hours to me. She continued by describing her job responsibilities and her professionalism in the workplace. She also urged me to persevere in my studies, saying that it would be challenging but that I should never give up.

Becoming a Dental Hygienist References U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, September 8). Dental hygienists : Occupational outlook handbook . U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Dental- hygienists.htm Hakes, H. (2022, October 13). The history of Dental Hygiene: Development through the years . Today’s RDH. https://www.todaysrdh.com/the-history-of-dental-hygiene-development- through-the-years/ Florida Dental Hygienist Association (Ed.). (2023, August 1). CE requirements . FDHA. https://fdha.org/ce-requirements/ American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7 th ed). Idaho State University Writing Center. (2020).APA heading [Handout}. http://www.isu.edu/success/writing/handouts/apa-headings.pdf Lee, C. (2019, October 31). Welcome, singular “they.” American Psychological Association. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/singular-they

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