Attributes a MALE dental hygenist can bring to the office?

Im 27 years old and have unsuccessfully tried to get into dental school the past 4 years. This year will be the first time in applying to dental hygiene programs as a back up. I see it as a very stable and well paid job. And I love the interaction with patients and catering to their oral health. Any thoughts? Advice?

I speak as a patient. There were only two hygienists that I really liked. They were personable and explained step-by-step what they were doing to my teeth. They were careful with my sensitive teeth. I didn't like the third hygienist. She was rough using the hook thingy and my gums bled. I complained about her along with the other patients. Having a great personality helps and call your patients by their names. They like that kind of stuff. Don't practice on your family. My sister went through DA school and I was her guinea pig.

Many schools are trying to get males into their program. Not many apply. You will probably have a better chance at getting into RDH. There are many guys and gals that after RDH school, get into dental school.

Doogie in Glendale, Arizona said: I speak as a patient. There were only two hygienists that I really liked. They were personable and explained step-by-step what they were doing to my teeth. They were careful with my sensitive teeth. I didn't like the third hygienist. She was rough using the hook thingy and my gums bled. I complained about her along with the other patients. Having a great personality helps and call your patients by their names. They like that kind of stuff. Don't practice on your family. My sister went through DA school and I was her guinea pig.

As an R.D.H. : What is your homecare quality? Are you a perio patient that builds up quickly? The hygienist that scaled you teeth, was she new or did you inform her that you have sensitive teeth or tissue? I have performed prophy's on patients who's last hygienist didn't do very much and so when that actually had the tarter removed it was a different experience for them ( ? how many years of tarter I had to remove in the visit I had with them). Inform the hygienist of medical conditions and/or med's these may contribute to you tarter level from visit to visit (also over the counter cold med's and inhaler's can increase the amount of plaque and tarter). There is a topical called "Oraquix" that can be applied prior to scaling if you have sens. teeth and/or tissue.

Soap in Orlando, Florida said: Im 27 years old and have unsuccessfully tried to get into dental school the past 4 years. This year will be the first time in applying to dental hygiene programs as a back up. I see it as a very stable and well paid job. And I love the interaction with patients and catering to their oral health. Any thoughts? Advice?

Get training in Dental Assisting instead of Hygiene. There seems to be many jobs available for the assistant and with possible benefits which most Hygienist DON'T receive due to their position being P.T. and the D.A. needing to be on the job F.T. more room for negotiating medical, etc....
The HGYIENE FIELD IS OVERCROWDED, REPEAT OVERCROWDED!!!!!!

BM in Fremont, New Hampshire said: Get training in Dental Assisting instead of Hygiene. There seems to be many jobs available for the assistant and with possible benefits which most Hygienist DON'T receive due to their position being P.T. and the D.A. needing to be on the job F.T. more room for negotiating medical, etc....
The HGYIENE FIELD IS OVERCROWDED, REPEAT OVERCROWDED!!!!!!

Thats a load of Bull. You must be a dentist. All one has to do is look in the classifides and observe 2 to 3 new listings every week for a dental hygienist. Furthermore rural populations are increasingly underserved relative to dental needs, which has started legislation to create a ADHP or advanced dental hygiene practitioner which will more closely aproximate a dentist in duties preformed. I am a male hygienist, practicing since 1995, make 90Gs + per year, and have a zero balance on student loans. The profession is not overcrowded, repeat, not overcrowded.

perio in Houston, Texas said: Thats a load of Bull. You must be a dentist. All one has to do is look in the classifides and observe 2 to 3 new listings every week for a dental hygienist. Furthermore rural populations are increasingly underserved relative to dental needs, which has started legislation to create a ADHP or advanced dental hygiene practitioner which will more closely aproximate a dentist in duties preformed. I am a male hygienist, practicing since 1995, make 90Gs + per year, and have a zero balance on student loans. The profession is not overcrowded, repeat, not overcrowded.

It is not a bunch of Bull. The field is overcrowded. The listings online or in a daily paper have many responses. Also, as an R.D.H., many graduates and R.D.H.'s that have been practicing for years, find that whether they go into an office, through an agency, word of mouth of their credentials by Dr.'s they have worked for, etc.... there still are many R.D.H.'s presently seeking employment and the availability is not there. Maybe in Texas a Hygienist can find employment, but the market in the Northeast is very competitive and the positions listed easily receive many applicants.

A 2007 issue of Time magizine listed Hygiene within the top ten jobs to have given the pay scale relative to time spent in school. The average salery for a hygienist is 78,000 per year. They can command 35-50$ per hour in given locals. Our conversation is based on a guy who has spend countles hours studying for the DAT exam, taken advanced chemistry, physics and math. Would you really suggest to him that he downgrade his career to become a dental assistant making 10$ an hour. Dental Assistants can go no farther and are at the mercy of their employer. Loose your job for some reason, sorry: start all over, back to 10.00 per hour. Hygienist have a much greater opportunity for career advancement in and out of the dental spectrum.
It would be like me telling you " sorry you didn't get in to med school, but guess what, we've got a got a great job as a janitor in the hospital.

Who knows, our guy may move to California, start his own Hygiene business.

perio in Houston, Texas said: A 2007 issue of Time magizine listed Hygiene within the top ten jobs to have given the pay scale relative to time spent in school. The average salery for a hygienist is 78,000 per year. They can command 35-50$ per hour in given locals. Our conversation is based on a guy who has spend countles hours studying for the DAT exam, taken advanced chemistry, physics and math. Would you really suggest to him that he downgrade his career to become a dental assistant making 10$ an hour. Dental Assistants can go no farther and are at the mercy of their employer. Loose your job for some reason, sorry: start all over, back to 10.00 per hour. Hygienist have a much greater opportunity for career advancement in and out of the dental spectrum.
It would be like me telling you " sorry you didn't get in to med school, but guess what, we've got a got a great job as a janitor in the hospital.

Who knows, our guy may move to California, start his own Hygiene business.

D.A.'s tend to be on a F.T. basis. They are more likely to receive,if they are non-expendable (which is in most cases if their skills are above and beyond and organized)a good salary, which in the N.E. can be as high as $20 an hour (this is with benefits). The R.D.H. at present is not as fortunate and the schools with programs have increased as is the number they accept into their programs. On other blogs, I have noticed many other states in the same predicament. Many graduating may find that the time and money spent on their training will not be what they expected as far as their future is concerned. If the above person wants to pursue a Dental Hygiene career, good luck. Please don't go by articles in Time , BLS info, etc.... this information is not accurate and the money you have spent on your education, well, may not give you a secure future. If you plan to practice as an ADHP, in a rural area you may have more success, but look into what is available in the state

BM in Raymond, New Hampshire said: D.A.'s tend to be on a F.T. basis. They are more likely to receive,if they are non-expendable (which is in most cases if their skills are above and beyond and organized)a good salary, which in the N.E. can be as high as $20 an hour (this is with benefits). The R.D.H. at present is not as fortunate and the schools with programs have increased as is the number they accept into their programs. On other blogs, I have noticed many other states in the same predicament. Many graduating may find that the time and money spent on their training will not be what they expected as far as their future is concerned. If the above person wants to pursue a Dental Hygiene career, good luck. Please don't go by articles in Time , BLS info, etc.... this information is not accurate and the money you have spent on your education, well, may not give you a secure future. If you plan to practice as an ADHP, in a rural area you may have more success, but look into what is available in the state

To the student in Limbo
So you didn't get into dental school, well neither did I, and that was after I graduated Hygiene school. But the more I think about it, I'm grateful. Why? I only make about 30G less per year and I don't have the crushing burden of 400Gs of student loans. If you settle to become an assistant. thats all your ever be. As a hygienist with a bachelors degree you can teach, get a masters in public health, work abroad, and have the option to travel the world. Make sure you go to an acredited school get the full degree, not the certificate. I'm sure things are tough in the NE, but its like that all over right now. Don't listen to these guys who are only thinking next year. Think long term and you can't go wrong. I,ve never been unemployed for more than three days.

perio in Houston, Texas said: To the student in Limbo
So you didn't get into dental school, well neither did I, and that was after I graduated Hygiene school. But the more I think about it, I'm grateful. Why? I only make about 30G less per year and I don't have the crushing burden of 400Gs of student loans. If you settle to become an assistant. thats all your ever be. As a hygienist with a bachelors degree you can teach, get a masters in public health, work abroad, and have the option to travel the world. Make sure you go to an acredited school get the full degree, not the certificate. I'm sure things are tough in the NE, but its like that all over right now. Don't listen to these guys who are only thinking next year. Think long term and you can't go wrong. I,ve never been unemployed for more than three days.

I am not a student. I am an R.D.H. If the person above is unable to become a Dentist, giving him advice about becoming an R.D.H. might not be the best either. Yes, continuing an education :Master's program would be a better alternative than trying to find work in this economy that doesn't seem to be getting better. If you choose to continue your education you may find employment. P.S. I am not thinking next year Perio in Houston, many schools are accepting too many applicants and thus new graduates and those of us with many years in the field have a harder time with finding an office that won't undercut you in pay because they have a very large selection of resumes on hand now. Also, I'm sure the student, knows about the options we've both mentioned.

BM in Fremont, New Hampshire said: As an R.D.H. : What is your homecare quality? Are you a perio patient that builds up quickly? The hygienist that scaled you teeth, was she new or did you inform her that you have sensitive teeth or tissue? I have performed prophy's on patients who's last hygienist didn't do very much and so when that actually had the tarter removed it was a different experience for them ( ? how many years of tarter I had to remove in the visit I had with them). Inform the hygienist of medical conditions and/or med's these may contribute to you tarter level from visit to visit (also over the counter cold med's and inhaler's can increase the amount of plaque and tarter). There is a topical called "Oraquix" that can be applied prior to scaling if you have sens. teeth and/or tissue.

I'm a RDH too and I agree with the first reply to your comment! I have pt.'s that were previously seen by another RDH and at times tartar/calculus was left behind, making it harder on me because it is uncomfortable for the pt. It's not that we are trying to be rough, but if you are compliant with homecare (brushing and flossing regularly) then there shouldn't be that much of a need to scale below the gums. Unfortunately, it is rare for a pt. in my office to say that they floss regularly and if you don't then of course your gums will bleed and be sensitive. Look at it this way: Let's say that you begin working out and the next day your muscles are sore. Well, the more you keep working out the less soreness you will have. The more you floss the less tenderness and bleeding you will have, but you have to keep this up. Maybe the "rough" hygienist was actually giving you the cleaning that you should have been getting before!

BM in Raymond, New Hampshire said: It is not a bunch of Bull. The field is overcrowded. The listings online or in a daily paper have many responses. Also, as an R.D.H., many graduates and R.D.H.'s that have been practicing for years, find that whether they go into an office, through an agency, word of mouth of their credentials by Dr.'s they have worked for, etc.... there still are many R.D.H.'s presently seeking employment and the availability is not there. Maybe in Texas a Hygienist can find employment, but the market in the Northeast is very competitive and the positions listed easily receive many applicants.

In NC and SC it is overcrowded! The local hygiene schools in these areas are warning the students that are applying to the program that there aren't many jobs available and that several students from the previous graduating class are having a hard time finding perm. employment. The profession is not as demanding as it once was.

Soap in Orlando, Florida said: Im 27 years old and have unsuccessfully tried to get into dental school the past 4 years. This year will be the first time in applying to dental hygiene programs as a back up. I see it as a very stable and well paid job. And I love the interaction with patients and catering to their oral health. Any thoughts? Advice?

I advise you to do nursing. Prior to becoming a RDH, I worked as a dental assistant and it's rare to find a good office where benefits go along with "good" pay. I feel that there are many more options in the nursing field such as: you can travel and do fill-in work, hospitals offer decent health benefits, you can work in private practices as well as hospitals. I know a lot of people in the dental profession and it is becoming hard to find a good job, good pay, and decent benefits in dental private practice. Many dentists don't offer benefits such as health insurance and I feel that is something very important. We as dental employees make these dentists a lot of money and it seems the more money they make, the greedier they become (not all, I know). If you work in a hospital, you are not working for those doctors and it's easy to change departments if problems arise with other co-workers. I always wanted to be a RDH, but I really wished I would have weighed out the pros and cons. I could go back to school and I may oneday.

Heather in Greenville, South Carolina said: In NC and SC it is overcrowded! The local hygiene schools in these areas are warning the students that are applying to the program that there aren't many jobs available and that several students from the previous graduating class are having a hard time finding perm. employment. The profession is not as demanding as it once was.

Hi Heather, In the Northeast I don't believe they give that advice to incoming students, because they don't want to lose their jobs, funding, and/or their hygiene programs. Unfortunately, those who REALLY want to be an R.D.H. in these times of recession and OVERCROWDING in our field don't believe what we say online. But when they complete their education and have spent quite a bit of money and go into the real world they will understand that the MEDICAL field would have been a better choice. The benefits are not there and we are at the will of the Dentist as to our pay now.
Thank you for being nice in your response, their are many who have quite a nasty way of responding to others online.

In OKC they only except 12 D.H. per year, we do have a need here.

Lynn in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma said: In OKC they only except 12 D.H. per year, we do have a need here.

How much a RDH gets paid in OKC?

To Perio in Houston -
Yes, it used to be that one could teach w/ a Bachelors Degree, in Clinic only.
However now DH programs in the NE coridor require either a Masters or matriculated masters student for clinic aa well as the academic course instruction.
I believe this is related to the ADHA push for minumum ed requirement of the BS degree.

To all other RDHs - what is the current standards in your region? For comparison

Soap in Fla ( original thread )
I believe that more testosterone in an office helps reduce the negative effects of too much estrogen in an office = cattiness, gossip, cliques and competition for preferential treatment by the male dentist.
We need more male RDHs for this reason, but THE most important reason I think is this...the ADHA needs more male membership if we are ever to become a self regulating entity within the arena of dentistry.

Some of ya fell and bumped your head. If somenone wants to be a hyg then let them. Yeah work is hard to come by. I know people in other fields that can't find jobs. Duh we are in a recession. I know a hyg in Dallas that can't find work. She did find somw temp work but can't get an interview. And of course if you are in a good office you gonna brag about it. So would I. For those that said that jobs are plentiful quit yours and see if you could find another. Probably won't happen cus you got to remember there are new grads you got to compete with. In Va they just passed the law to do nitrous and needles and I've been a hyg for 10 yrs. I need to take the class but it's always booked. Most DDs want that now. I do agree there should be more males in hyg and there should also be more female DDS.