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Dental Hygiene Technology
If
you are interested in a health career oriented toward preventing disease
and helping patients maintain good oral health, dental hygiene may be the
career for you.
If
you would like
-
the responsibility
of direct patient care
-
the opportunity
to work in pleasant surroundings
-
the satisfaction
of helping others
-
the chance
to work with people on an individual basis
-
the convenience
of flexible work hours
-
the opportunity
to practice nationwide and abroad
and
-
a career
with many job opportunities,
Then dental
hygiene may be right for you.
Dental
hygiene functions vary somewhat from state to state. Functions routinely
performed by dental hygienists in Mississippi include, but are not limited
to:
-
scaling
and polishing teeth
-
applying
fluoride treatments and dental sealants
-
taking
and processing x-rays
-
examining
teeth and surrounding tissues
-
screening
for hypertension and oral cancer
-
educating
patients regarding dental diseases, plaque control, and proper home care
-
providing
dental health education in the community
and
-
providing
nutritional information and advice
Dental
hygienists can work in private dental offices; dental clinics and hospitals,
public health facilities, and product research centers. Hygienists
can also work in health education and product sales and marketing.
Credentials
All
states require licensure to practice this profession. A license is
issued by the State Board of Dental Examiners after successful completion
of both clinical and written examination. The National Board of Dental
Hygiene Examination must also be passed to qualify for licensure.
Admission
to the dental hygiene program is selective and competitive. It is
limited to fifteen (16) freshmen each August. Applications are accepted
through March 2nd of each year. Selection is based on a formula with
components of ACT score, college GPA (using only those classes needed for
admission), and an interview. After notification of acceptance, a
college health form must be submitted before final acceptance and registration. |
