Certified dental assistant wants to be hygienist>how?

im a licensed dental assistant practising in BC, i would lilke upgrade and study dental hygiene. Which way would be faster, and easier? Where and how do i start? any help?

Certified dental assistant wants to be hygienist%26gt;how?
I was a CDA and decided to pursue DH. There is no easy road in DH, but if you like dentistry, you'll survive DH. It was the greatest challenge in my life, but the rewards are multitudinous and endless, even 25 years later. DH has been very good to me. Ask any DH and they will tell you they suffered in DH school. The one thing that motivated me most while struggling through school was the thought that I could always go back to assisting [the dds]:(. I love DH. I worked as a clinician, instructor, and public health servant and loved everything this profession has offerred me. Go for it-you'll never know until you tried it--"you can always go back to assisting.


P.S. here are a few positives and comparisons to assisting:;


more independence instead of working side by side


flexible schedules i.e.: FT vs PT, multiple offices, etc.


change peoples' lives through dental education


focus on preventive vs. reparative


more income than assisting


license vs. cerificate


decision making vs. shadowing


fine skills and technique, esp if you like working with your hands vs. mixing and gross motor skills (assisting)


people (patient) oriented vs. dr. oriented


your results vs. dr's results


more opportunities, ie a Masters degree in DH, research, etc.


Personally, I feel I am contributing to the office as an expert on DH, vs. feeling like a piece of the equipment (sorry, but I worked for a very quiet DDS and did the traditional suction and mixing all day)


Assistants are essential, and the DDS will probably keep the assistant in time of economic crisis, but I am a better person today because of DH.
Reply:I am also looking into being a Dental Hygienist and wanted to know a little bit more about it and you answered almost every question I had. Thank you very much! Report It