Healthcare

A Career in Dental Hygiene Offers Many Reasons to Smile

HealthcareFebruary 24, 2015

The best way to put a smile on someone’s face might be by cleaning one. Dental hygienists, an integral part of a dental team, are the advocates of bright smiles and healthy gums. Education, prevention, and dental therapy are just a few of the many hats a dental hygienist may wear on the job. Fortis College offers Dental Hygiene programs at many campuses including Landover, MD, Smyrna, GA, Salt Lake City, UT, Birmingham, AL, and Scranton, PA.

The Fortis Dental Hygienist program teaches students to control oral disease symptoms and promote good oral health. “Students in the dental hygiene program will achieve competency in the delivery of the most current dental procedures and educate others on the importance of dental health,” said Suzanne Peters, National Dean of Programmatic Education for Fortis. Through its ongoing research, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, reports that oral and general health will continue to spur the demand for preventive dental services. 

The employment of dental hygienists is expected to increase by 38 percent nationally from now through 2020. Working in such close quarters, dental hygienists must be precise and detail-oriented. The mouth is a small part of the body and requires accuracy in movement. A toothbrush might seem like their tool of choice, but the dental hygienist must be able to operate complex machinery like x-ray machines and powered instruments. 

In the industry of smiles, it’s also important for dental hygienists to wear one. Interpersonal skills are necessary when working with dentists and patients. At times patients may experience some discomfort and should be treated with understanding compassion. 

Want to work in a field that will keep people smiling? Learn more about the Dental Hygiene program at a campus near you by visiting www.fortis.edu.

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