future job outlook for Dental Hygienists in Canada

I realize the problem with private schools in Ontario with overflowing numbers of new graduates. Will that effect the job market in BC or Alberta a few years from now?

Im a senior in high school right now. I am hoping to enroll in a 4 year dental hygiene program in the fall. However I am a little concerned about how the job market will be like 4 years from now. Will it be worse? Will I have a hard time finding a job?

It'd be great if some people in this field can give me some advice. Thank you.

Can anyone tell me if they have had a working interview and how it went. Were you nervous? Did you get the job? I had an interview last week and will have my working interview soon. Even though I have experience, every office is different and a dentist can't expect that everything is going to go as smoothly as it would if this wasn't your first time in the office, right?

Ontario private schools are already causing problems in Alberta and BC. Job availability has declined substantially in the last year. I have a few RDH friends who are only working part-time (1-3 days per week), as they are not able to secure more hours. So make your decision wisely, as no one can predict what the future will hold.

Have fun doing DH and earn a lot of money. . . .its cool. . .

student in Surrey, British Columbia said: I realize the problem with private schools in Ontario with overflowing numbers of new graduates. Will that effect the job market in BC or Alberta a few years from now?

Im a senior in high school right now. I am hoping to enroll in a 4 year dental hygiene program in the fall. However I am a little concerned about how the job market will be like 4 years from now. Will it be worse? Will I have a hard time finding a job?

It'd be great if some people in this field can give me some advice. Thank you.

Choose a different profession. The DENTAL HYGIENE FIELD IS SATURATED, OVERCROWDED AND IT LOOKS THAT WAY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, DUE TO THE SCHOOLS ACCEPTING TOO MANY APPLICANTS. DUE TO THE RECESSION , THOSE OF US PRESENTLY IN THE FIELD WILL HAVE TO STAY IN IT LONGER AND THE NEW GRADUATES WILL ALSO BE IN FOR AN AWAKENING AFTER SPENDING HARD EARNED MONEY AND TIME ON A PROGRAM THAT = 100 APPICANTS EASILY FOR 1 JOB LISTING ONLINE AND IN ANY DAILY PAPER. PLEASE, FOR A CAREER CHOOSE THE NURSING FIELD OR GO TO DENTAL, NOT HYGIENE SCHOOL.

BM in Fremont, New Hampshire said: Choose a different profession. The DENTAL HYGIENE FIELD IS SATURATED, OVERCROWDED AND IT LOOKS THAT WAY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, DUE TO THE SCHOOLS ACCEPTING TOO MANY APPLICANTS. DUE TO THE RECESSION , THOSE OF US PRESENTLY IN THE FIELD WILL HAVE TO STAY IN IT LONGER AND THE NEW GRADUATES WILL ALSO BE IN FOR AN AWAKENING AFTER SPENDING HARD EARNED MONEY AND TIME ON A PROGRAM THAT = 100 APPICANTS EASILY FOR 1 JOB LISTING ONLINE AND IN ANY DAILY PAPER. PLEASE, FOR A CAREER CHOOSE THE NURSING FIELD OR GO TO DENTAL, NOT HYGIENE SCHOOL.

Thanks alot for the advice I was actually confused and was debating between taking RN DEGREE COURSE or do to DENTAL HYGIENE your comments has helped me out to make a decision

thanks

student in Surrey, British Columbia said: I realize the problem with private schools in Ontario with overflowing numbers of new graduates. Will that effect the job market in BC or Alberta a few years from now?

Im a senior in high school right now. I am hoping to enroll in a 4 year dental hygiene program in the fall. However I am a little concerned about how the job market will be like 4 years from now. Will it be worse? Will I have a hard time finding a job?

It'd be great if some people in this field can give me some advice. Thank you.

I graduated two years ago, and can tell you that in those two years the job market in BC has already been affected. When I graduated I emailed out six resumes and got six job offers, with no requests for working interviews - basically I went and talked to them and was offered a job. Now, there are still jobs available in the smaller/more rural areas, but in Vancouver the job market has plummeted. Friends of mine in the area tell me that where a couple of years ago people were making around $45/hour or more temping, now offices are able to get people to temp for around $38/hr. Plus there just aren't the job openings that there were. Bad timing for me, as I'm trying to move back to Vancouver! It seems to be a combination of a few things - three new hygiene schools are now open in BC, so we have a more graduates here, and there are a lot of people going back east to do the short programs and then coming back to BC to work.

Then again, if it's four years until you graduate the job market may have changed again. I'm guessing you will have a degree rather than a diploma too, which if the job market is soft may make you more competitive. My hope is that with the saturation of the market employers will start looking more closely at the education of applicants, but only time will tell.

I think the ability for dental hygienists to work independently will be a big factor in the job futures for this industry. In Ontario, this option has only been available for a few months, but hundreds of hygienists are in the process of becoming 'self-initiating'.

I foresee a system developing where dental hygiene graduates are going to have to work for 2-3 years for a dentist, and then open their own business. I think very few jobs for younger hygienists will exist in urban locations like Toronto or Vancouver, but they will exist in rural locations. You might want to think of it as doing an apprenticeship away from home. After you get enough experience, then you settle where you want, and start up your own service.

Their downsides to this - many people would prefer working for someone else and taking a wage rather than take the risk and extra work of running their own business. Also, I think you will have to be prepared to move around a lot, especially in your first few years of your profession. It would be unrealistic to believe you can graduate and go out and get work in Toronto. The goals of government and the dental hygiene community in the idea of self practicing is to bring oral health care to communities that are underserved.

Hey guys,

I just finished taking my national boards here in Houston and I want to take the boards in Canada in September so I can move to Toronto. Any suggestions what study guide I should study and should buy to study off of? Is there a preferred Canadian study guide?

Because I studied the Dallas review and it was VERY helpful. I didnt even open up the Mosby review or the wilkins because it was too much!! Please let me know soon thanks!

Jay-r from Houston

Independent practice is a non-starter. We've had it for 13 years in BC, and these hygiene clinics are rare as hens teeth - not more than a handful or so province-wide. Dentists squashed them out by manipulating the fee guide - dentists control the fees, thereby hygiene clinics have no successful business model. You might make as much as you make working for a dentist, but that means you lose - 0% Return on investment, which is financially unwise.

Peter in Toronto, Ontario said: I think the ability for dental hygienists to work independently will be a big factor in the job futures for this industry. In Ontario, this option has only been available for a few months, but hundreds of hygienists are in the process of becoming 'self-initiating'.

I foresee a system developing where dental hygiene graduates are going to have to work for 2-3 years for a dentist, and then open their own business. I think very few jobs for younger hygienists will exist in urban locations like Toronto or Vancouver, but they will exist in rural locations. You might want to think of it as doing an apprenticeship away from home. After you get enough experience, then you settle where you want, and start up your own service.

Their downsides to this - many people would prefer working for someone else and taking a wage rather than take the risk and extra work of running their own business. Also, I think you will have to be prepared to move around a lot, especially in your first few years of your profession. It would be unrealistic to believe you can graduate and go out and get work in Toronto. The goals of government and the dental hygiene community in the idea of self practicing is to bring oral health care to communities that are underserved.

hey peter, what study guide did you use to study for your boards? im wondering bc i want to move to canada, toronto specifically. thanks

I would strongly advise you to reconsider your decision. If dental hygiene is what you REALLY want to do just because you love the profession and cleaning teeth (not just for the pay) , then go ahead and do it. However, if your primary reasons are pay and job security, both of these factors are steadily declining for hygienists due to oversaturation of the job market and a continued appearance of private schools and new grads. Many of the girls im in school with are extremely worried about being able to find a job after they graduate and how they will pay off their massive student loans. If I wasnt already in the program I wouldnt make the decision to go into this field at such an unstable time. The future for hygienists in urban locations (vancouver, calgary etc.) does not look very bright. However if you are willing to relocate to a smaller community in the northern parts of canada then there will definitely be job opportunities. Hope that helped. Good luck with your decision and future studies!

ssssskr in Sidney, British Columbia said: Independent practice is a non-starter. We've had it for 13 years in BC, and these hygiene clinics are rare as hens teeth - not more than a handful or so province-wide. Dentists squashed them out by manipulating the fee guide - dentists control the fees, thereby hygiene clinics have no successful business model. You might make as much as you make working for a dentist, but that means you lose - 0% Return on investment, which is financially unwise.[/QUOT\\

I can say from personal experience practising in AB it's great! Dentists do not control our fee guide, we are paid on the same guide as a dentist and there is no 365 day rule where our patients have to see a dentist within a year of seeing us (like in BC). We have a very successful business model, great wages, and very happy patients with a nice new patient flow. Best of all-great job satisfaction!

Independent Practice is NOT the end all or B all for our profession. It was a distraction, in a sense, to get us off track of "watching our other interests in our profession" being manipulated by the powers that be. Focusing on 'our right to independent practice' took our attention OFF the fact that TOO MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS of Dental Hygiene were being opened across the country. NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION to this VERY significant issue put us AT RISK of allowing our profession to be saturated with graduates from not necessarily the most REGULATED Educational institutions. Conflicts of interests by parties involved set this situation in motion. Over saturation of graduates across the country is diminishing our demand, squashing our job security, and decreasing our hourly rates.
It's time ALL DENTAL HYGIENISTS get involved in this discussion and voice their concerns to the CDHA and to our Provincial Dental Hygiene Associations.

I agree. We should definitely do something. But I don't think that the CDHO or the Colleges will do anything to stop these schools from continuing to operate, and each year there will be an additional thousand or so new grads.

Sorry, I meant the CDHA (not CDHO) and the respective provincial Colleges.

dental hygienist in Thornhill, Ontario said: I agree. We should definitely do something. But I don't think that the CDHO or the Colleges will do anything to stop these schools from continuing to operate, and each year there will be an additional thousand or so new grads.

Can you tell me how many schools you have in Ontario who are doing this....? Who 'owns them'.....and who is involved in 'running them'.....? Does your Ontario Dental Hygiene Association have any say in the number of graduates coming out....? or is it the Ontario Dental Association who is allowing for the number of RDH to skyrocket....? If so, this is definately a conflict of interest..... My desire is to really understand how this is happening right under our noses....??

30 year vet in Edmonton, Alberta said: Independent Practice is NOT the end all or B all for our profession. It was a distraction, in a sense, to get us off track of "watching our other interests in our profession" being manipulated by the powers that be. Focusing on 'our right to independent practice' took our attention OFF the fact that TOO MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS of Dental Hygiene were being opened across the country. NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION to this VERY significant issue put us AT RISK of allowing our profession to be saturated with graduates from not necessarily the most REGULATED Educational institutions. Conflicts of interests by parties involved set this situation in motion. Over saturation of graduates across the country is diminishing our demand, squashing our job security, and decreasing our hourly rates.
It's time ALL DENTAL HYGIENISTS get involved in this discussion and voice their concerns to the CDHA and to our Provincial Dental Hygiene Associations.

she knows what she is talking about.

ditto

awgosh darn i was going to be a dental hygenist but not anymore.. :(

abscess in barrie, Ontario said: she knows what she is talking about.

Thank you in Barrie....We really DO need to discuss these issues with our colleagues and start getting people ON BOARD with WHY this DOES AFFECT them....some of my colleagues who have full time work and job security say why worry about it....but I DO concern myself with a watering down of the profession....I do worry about passing on my perio patients to someone who had to write the Board Exams FOUR times to pass....I am concerned about the CONFLICTS of interest with the parties involved. More than you know, I UNDERSTAND those conflicts and the basis of them. We do need to educate to our patients and to the public what is going on with 'fast track schools' and lowered requirements for entry.

30 year vet in Edmonton, Alberta said: Can you tell me how many schools you have in Ontario who are doing this....? Who 'owns them'.....and who is involved in 'running them'.....? Does your Ontario Dental Hygiene Association have any say in the number of graduates coming out....? or is it the Ontario Dental Association who is allowing for the number of RDH to skyrocket....? If so, this is definately a conflict of interest..... My desire is to really understand how this is happening right under our noses....??

The private schools I know about were started by individual dentists and hygienists and by some matchbook college corporations. I don't know if the dental associations were directly involved, though I think it is a safe bet they cheered it on from the sidelines and did what they could to help encourage the boards to accredit them. We have to keep in mind that these colleges could not function without instructors recruited from the profession of dental hygiene for the most part, so if you are looking for a group worthy of blame, there you go.

I don't think what the involved dentists did was out of line, and I don't think anyone knew how out of control the spread of private colleges turned out to be. The national shortage of hygienists was wiped out in one year, around late 2008. Now there are about 1000 too many graduates coming out every year. Crazy and unfair to everyone.

It's unacceptable to allow 'the potential employer to be in charge of the education of a potential employee'. There is too much opportunity of the 'abuse of power' situation. The 'owner of the school' gets the tuition money (at times in excess of $42,000) , as well as creating a surplus of a 'subordinate professional' who may rely on them for the opportunity of a job. This surplus translates into a pile of resumes in the employer's drawer, where they can set the pay as they want, due to the huge supply of DH. Who is really benefiting in the long run....? MOSTLY, it's the owner of the quickie DH school....it's NOT the quality and standard of care that benefits.....it's certainly NOT the RDHs who worked their tails off to compete for a position in a public school with competitive entry and a preprofessional year..... etc etc....
Who benefits....? the owner.....the dentist who employs the dh.....alas, the conflict of interest..... Beyond crazy and unfair.....it's unethical and inappropriate....and rather sickening as it affects the standard of care the public receives.

Lastly, yes I would discourage RDHs from teaching in these schools....but I've heard that some of the instructors in these schools have only recently graduated from a fast track school themselves.

30 year vet in Edmonton, Alberta said: It's unacceptable to allow 'the potential employer to be in charge of the education of a potential employee'. There is too much opportunity of the 'abuse of power' situation. The 'owner of the school' gets the tuition money (at times in excess of $42,000) , as well as creating a surplus of a 'subordinate professional' who may rely on them for the opportunity of a job. This surplus translates into a pile of resumes in the employer's drawer, where they can set the pay as they want, due to the huge supply of DH. Who is really benefiting in the long run....? MOSTLY, it's the owner of the quickie DH school....it's NOT the quality and standard of care that benefits.....it's certainly NOT the RDHs who worked their tails off to compete for a position in a public school with competitive entry and a preprofessional year..... etc etc....
Who benefits....? the owner.....the dentist who employs the dh.....alas, the conflict of interest..... Beyond crazy and unfair.....it's unethical and inappropriate....and rather sickening as it affects the standard of care the public receives.

Lastly, yes I would discourage RDHs from teaching in these schools....but I've heard that some of the instructors in these schools have only recently graduated from a fast track school themselves.

30 yr vet, it is like a monopoly. Remember Dupont once owned everything from phase one and up. The american
governement put a stop on the monopoly, and that is what ontario dentists are doing. They control the school, education and then control the pay. They probably teach what will benefit them the most, perio recalls, whitening
and promoting various procedures such as crowns bridges etc...all in the disguise of educating the patient...when in
fact it is bringing income into the office. Sell vs Educate...what a SCAM

30 yr vet, I do agree that there are too many schools spitting out too many hygienists, but some of us new grads chose this profession probably for the same reason you chose it 30 years ago. I only wrote the exam once and I passed...I also graduated class valedictorian, and I do like the profession, and I do think I am capable of caring for perio patients. don't forget you were a new grad once too. We, the new grads, are suffering the most because we spent tons of money to become professionals and now we can't get jobs

30 year vet in Edmonton, Alberta said: It's unacceptable to allow 'the potential employer to be in charge of the education of a potential employee'. There is too much opportunity of the 'abuse of power' situation. The 'owner of the school' gets the tuition money (at times in excess of $42,000) , as well as creating a surplus of a 'subordinate professional' who may rely on them for the opportunity of a job. This surplus translates into a pile of resumes in the employer's drawer, where they can set the pay as they want, due to the huge supply of DH. Who is really benefiting in the long run....? MOSTLY, it's the owner of the quickie DH school....it's NOT the quality and standard of care that benefits.....it's certainly NOT the RDHs who worked their tails off to compete for a position in a public school with competitive entry and a preprofessional year..... etc etc....
Who benefits....? the owner.....the dentist who employs the dh.....alas, the conflict of interest..... Beyond crazy and unfair.....it's unethical and inappropriate....and rather sickening as it affects the standard of care the public receives.

Lastly, yes I would discourage RDHs from teaching in these schools....but I've heard that some of the instructors in these schools have only recently graduated from a fast track school themselves.

Yes, dentists funded opening of private clinics, but what else is there to do? Pay higher than 40$ for manual labor? People also want benefits with this. This is nonsense.

Frankly, dental hygiene is not that important of a care in view of both public and government, so there is not going to be any drastic changes to the way things are being run, dentistry will always be in control of what is happening with dental hygiene, a simple truth that just needs to be accepted.

Peter in Toronto, Ontario said: I think the ability for dental hygienists to work independently will be a big factor in the job futures for this industry. In Ontario, this option has only been available for a few months, but hundreds of hygienists are in the process of becoming 'self-initiating'.

I foresee a system developing where dental hygiene graduates are going to have to work for 2-3 years for a dentist, and then open their own business. I think very few jobs for younger hygienists will exist in urban locations like Toronto or Vancouver, but they will exist in rural locations. You might want to think of it as doing an apprenticeship away from home. After you get enough experience, then you settle where you want, and start up your own service.

Their downsides to this - many people would prefer working for someone else and taking a wage rather than take the risk and extra work of running their own business. Also, I think you will have to be prepared to move around a lot, especially in your first few years of your profession. It would be unrealistic to believe you can graduate and go out and get work in Toronto. The goals of government and the dental hygiene community in the idea of self practicing is to bring oral health care to communities that are underserved.

I'm looking forward to seeing how successful these clinics will be once advertisements from dental association hit air. There is more than one way to put these clinics out of business, it is hardly a victory. There is a reason why there are so few of them across Canada.

Dentist in Burnaby, British Columbia said: Yes, dentists funded opening of private clinics, but what else is there to do? Pay higher than 40$ for manual labor? People also want benefits with this. This is nonsense.

Frankly, dental hygiene is not that important of a care in view of both public and government, so there is not going to be any drastic changes to the way things are being run, dentistry will always be in control of what is happening with dental hygiene, a simple truth that just needs to be accepted.

Sorry, I just want you to clarify something---you said "yes dentists funded opening of private clinics"..... are you not referring to they funded private Dental Hygiene s c h o o l s ......?? Do you not yourself see the conflict of interest there....?? Honestly....as a dentist, would you not admit to their being a "potential conflict of interest".....??

I'd appreciate your comments. I do not want any sort of battle here, I have alot of respect for the dentists I work for and with over the years, so do not want any sort of 'trashing' going on with this Forum.

Dentist in Burnaby, British Columbia said: I'm looking forward to seeing how successful these clinics will be once advertisements from dental association hit air. There is more than one way to put these clinics out of business, it is hardly a victory. There is a reason why there are so few of them across Canada.

Dentist in Burnaby says: " I'm looking forward to seeing how successful these clinics will be ONCE ADVERTISEMENTS FROM DENTAL ASSOCIATION HIT THE AIR"........hummmmm...?

Then, he says " There is more than ONE WAY TO PUT THESE CLINICS OUT OF BUSINESS"....... hummmmm.....?

Everyone, read these comments clearly for what they are......They need to go to the BCDA and to the CRDHBC.

30 year vet in Edmonton, Alberta said: Sorry, I just want you to clarify something---you said "yes dentists funded opening of private clinics"..... are you not referring to they funded private Dental Hygiene s c h o o l s ......?? Do you not yourself see the conflict of interest there....?? Honestly....as a dentist, would you not admit to their being a "potential conflict of interest".....??

I'd appreciate your comments. I do not want any sort of battle here, I have alot of respect for the dentists I work for and with over the years, so do not want any sort of 'trashing' going on with this Forum.

Yes, funding of the private colleges, you are, indeed, correct - that's what I meant to say.

Dentist in Burnaby, British Columbia said: Yes, funding of the private colleges, you are, indeed, correct - that's what I meant to say.

DO you not agree that there is a conflict of interest or, at best, a perceived conflict of interest, in Dentists owning 'dental hygiene schools'....? What would you feel if Doctors (physicians) decided to set up nursing schools in little strip malls, fast track sort of an "RN" so they could hire them for their private clinics....? Tell their RNs they don't need to do the 'whole public school thing for nursing', but rather they can do a 'quickie' course and flood the markets with these 'little 'r.n.s'......?? Do you think that the standard of care could be diminished....watered down....?

If you suggest that Hygiene is not important enough, I would suggest you really take a look at the market of baby boomers keeping their teeth and needing lots of perio maintenance over the next few years'.....

30 year vet in Edmonton, Alberta said: DO you not agree that there is a conflict of interest or, at best, a perceived conflict of interest, in Dentists owning 'dental hygiene schools'....? What would you feel if Doctors (physicians) decided to set up nursing schools in little strip malls, fast track sort of an "RN" so they could hire them for their private clinics....? Tell their RNs they don't need to do the 'whole public school thing for nursing', but rather they can do a 'quickie' course and flood the markets with these 'little 'r.n.s'......?? Do you think that the standard of care could be diminished....watered down....?

If you suggest that Hygiene is not important enough, I would suggest you really take a look at the market of baby boomers keeping their teeth and needing lots of perio maintenance over the next few years'.....

First, RN and Dental Hygienist can not be compared, RNs have way more important job to do, I can hardly see how you can treat the two as equals. These two professions bared completely different levels of responsibility.

Second, though I agree that there is a conflict of interest, but I also recognize that this profession was created by dentists, hence, their complete control over dental hygiene profession. Dentists allowed dental hygienists to control their own actions for some time, and you see what it lead to? Their wages are through the roof, which is hurting the business. Doctors and dentists are two different things, dentists are businessmen, doctors employees of the government, two completely opposite perspectives.

Baby boomers will have their teeth taken care of, there are going to be enough dental hygienists for every and each of them, with the way dental hygienists market is doing. Just in the last few days, I received over 6 resumes, with cover letters, people offering to work for anything, just give them a job.

Dentist in Burnaby, British Columbia said: First, RN and Dental Hygienist can not be compared, RNs have way more important job to do, I can hardly see how you can treat the two as equals. These two professions bared completely different levels of responsibility. Second, though I agree that there is a conflict of interest, but I also recognize that this profession was created by dentists, hence, their complete control over dental hygiene profession. Dentists allowed dental hygienists to control their own actions for some time, and you see what it lead to? Their wages are through the roof, which is hurting the business. Doctors and dentists are two different things, dentists are businessmen, doctors employees of the government, two completely opposite perspectives.

Baby boomers will have their teeth taken care of, there are going to be enough dental hygienists for every and each of them, with the way dental hygienists market is doing. Just in the last few days, I received over 6 resumes, with cover letters, people offering to work for anything, just give them a job.

Sounds like you are waiting for the senior hygienists to retire, so
that the jr's can work for less. Perhaps, you are waiting for your
hygienist to leave so you can hire one of these new grads.
Is that frustrating for you? Knowing you have to pay more for the
same "manual labor", that you can hire less? I think you value all
hygienists the same. There would be no convincing you otherwise.
I also think that you have the mindset of not giving raises because
there are cheaper hygienists out there. What would be an acceptable fee/billing rate for hygiene care that would motivate
you to give a raise?

Dentist in Burnaby, British Columbia said: First, RN and Dental Hygienist can not be compared, RNs have way more important job to do, I can hardly see how you can treat the two as equals. These two professions bared completely different levels of responsibility.

Second, though I agree that there is a conflict of interest, but I also recognize that this profession was created by dentists, hence, their complete control over dental hygiene profession. Dentists allowed dental hygienists to control their own actions for some time, and you see what it lead to? Their wages are through the roof, which is hurting the business. Doctors and dentists are two different things, dentists are businessmen, doctors employees of the government, two completely opposite perspectives.

Baby boomers will have their teeth taken care of, there are going to be enough dental hygienists for every and each of them, with the way dental hygienists market is doing. Just in the last few days, I received over 6 resumes, with cover letters, people offering to work for anything, just give them a job.

This is exactly what the dentists wanted....set up their own DH schools, train fast-track DH, flood the market with 18 month grads.....have 50 resumes in the drawer....and pay them whatever you want as they are all scrambling for jobs in a saturated market.....

And yes, you are so right----Physicians are DOCTORS, and dentists are businessmen. Well said.....
unfortunately, the public interest and quality of education and care is not necessarily on the top on their list of concerns....

Fortunately, the Dentists I work with do care about the standard of education, the quality of care and do appreciate the love I have for my profession.

here's what i think about private colleges, with my own personal experience. i live in hamilton,ontario and yes i did dh program a a private college nearby the program was 18months i struggled in the beginning since i just came out of highschool and now 21. i graduated dh program jan 08, and now where in aug 09 still not working yet. i written my board exam 3times and unable to be successful i was a good student worked hard graduated with extra clients passed all my courses but cannot pass the board exam, im pissed i workd so hard 18months in hell but i still went thru with the whole program. private colleges i dont recommend to anyone. theres too much information not enough time to study i had to work and study at the same time to pay for my living. i thought writting the board exam the second time i would pass i felt confident but obviously didnt help. im pissed i worked hard i studied my ass off, i wish i went to a regular college when things arent so crammed together not so pushy and not so stressful. ppl 35,000 dollars in a private college not worth it go to a regular college ull get more experience and more hands on work. out of my class of 08' 13 girls 6 passed, 7failed. 1 passed the secnd time and 1 passed the third time so there are 4 us still sitting at home wondering what do with our careers and if writting for the fourth time could change our lives.

Wow...Melissa, thanks for your willingness to be truthful. To graduate in January of 08 and here it is August of 09 and still NOT have a job....that has got to be so frustrating. If there were only 13 girls in your class, what private DH school did you attend? Is it one in which they tell you they'll devote time to 'passing the test during the course' ??

Melissa, just to let you know, having graduated from a public community college, the program was very intense, very demanding,and extremely stressful. The board exam tested us on our application of the material, very little to do with memorizing things. I remember there being a lot of case studies and I remember it being a very easy exam. Perhaps you are right in that your private school did not prepare you properly. I wish you luck. Would you be able to work as a dental assistant until you pass your board exam?

30 year vet in Edmonton, Alberta said: Wow...Melissa, thanks for your willingness to be truthful. To graduate in January of 08 and here it is August of 09 and still NOT have a job....that has got to be so frustrating. If there were only 13 girls in your class, what private DH school did you attend? Is it one in which they tell you they'll devote time to 'passing the test during the course' ??

If I read Melissa's post correctly, the reason she is not working is because she can't. She hasn't passed her board exam yet.

30 year vet in Edmonton, Alberta said: Wow...Melissa, thanks for your willingness to be truthful. To graduate in January of 08 and here it is August of 09 and still NOT have a job....that has got to be so frustrating. If there were only 13 girls in your class, what private DH school did you attend? Is it one in which they tell you they'll devote time to 'passing the test during the course' ??

just for safety purposes i dont really think its a good idea to let everyone know which private college i went too but there isn't many in the area of hamilton.ontario. school was a bit supportive gave some work sheets with case studies but none of the girls that i went to school with found that it didnt help so much, ive contacted the school for questions and answer still no answer

hello in Thornhill, Ontario said: Melissa, just to let you know, having graduated from a public community college, the program was very intense, very demanding,and extremely stressful. The board exam tested us on our application of the material, very little to do with memorizing things. I remember there being a lot of case studies and I remember it being a very easy exam. Perhaps you are right in that your private school did not prepare you properly. I wish you luck. Would you be able to work as a dental assistant until you pass your board exam?

yes of course i would work as an assistant and i have just for a mat leave for 6months but no one will hire an assistant with no harp certification which i dont have. when i work with the dentist he would take all the xrays ive tried everywhere to finding a job in the dental field to stay on the same route until i get my license, but no luck no hamilton, burlington,oakville or mississauga, jobs down here are horrible or i just have no luck. i even took a dental receptionist course which i paid alot for received my certificate and still nothing no jobs offers no work no nothing.

here in ontario if u get ur dental hygiene diploma and do not pass the ndhcb exam guess what ur unemployed, u cant work anywhere here without ur license all dentist always ask for proof of certification.

That's right. Professions require that you take and pass a national certification exam. A doctor cannot practice or call himself a doctor until he passes his licensing exam. It's the same for dental hygienists. Maybe you should contact someone from the dental hygiene national board exam and get a list of the textbooks to study from, do a lot of practice exams, and hopefully you will pass. Is there a limit on the amount of times you can write the exam?

hello in Thornhill, Ontario said: If I read Melissa's post correctly, the reason she is not working is because she can't. She hasn't passed her board exam yet.

Thanks Thornhill. I read it again. Tough to graduate so long ago though, and still not be able to practice yet as haven't passed the Board exam yet.

hello in Thornhill, Ontario said: That's right. Professions require that you take and pass a national certification exam. A doctor cannot practice or call himself a doctor until he passes his licensing exam. It's the same for dental hygienists. Maybe you should contact someone from the dental hygiene national board exam and get a list of the textbooks to study from, do a lot of practice exams, and hopefully you will pass. Is there a limit on the amount of times you can write the exam?

Yes, see if you can get a list of textbooks to review to help in the next time you write the exam. Is there a limit as to how many times you can write it?

agreed

Dentist in Burnaby, British Columbia said: Yes, dentists funded opening of private clinics, but what else is there to do? Pay higher than 40$ for manual labor? People also want benefits with this. This is nonsense.

Frankly, dental hygiene is not that important of a care in view of both public and government, so there is not going to be any drastic changes to the way things are being run, dentistry will always be in control of what is happening with dental hygiene, a simple truth that just needs to be accepted.

Wow, i am offended! I am a dental hygienist and take pride in the treatment I provide for my patients! I am insulted with your comment that "dental hygiene is not that important" I also can't believe that you think paying 40$ an hour to a hygienist that sees most patients every six months and keeps them coming back to the practice as unimportant! How would you ever develope treament plans for your patients. In the office I work in hygienists work with the dentist to provide the best possible care/treatment plan options for our patients. And for a dentist to think hygiene is not important...I believe hygiene is about maintaining healthy periodontal structures that support the teeth that you fill and crown.

Dentist in Burnaby, British Columbia said: Yes, dentists funded opening of private clinics, but what else is there to do? Pay higher than 40$ for manual labor? People also want benefits with this. This is nonsense.

Frankly, dental hygiene is not that important of a care in view of both public and government, so there is not going to be any drastic changes to the way things are being run, dentistry will always be in control of what is happening with dental hygiene, a simple truth that just needs to be accepted.

Also about dental staff having benefits I think we all should! hygienist, assistants, and receptionists! I know people who are waiters ant smitty's restaurant, tim horton's, etc that have benefits. We are in the healthcare profession maybe not the "goverment" healthcare, but we are considered professionals. Many patients of mine are uterly suprised that we don't have benefits. That is part of being a buisness owner is providing staff with benefits so that they have incentives to stay. I love what I do as a hygienist and am always pushing myself to motivate my patients! I was not going to join this forum but when I saw some of the comments made about Hygiene being unimportant I had to put in my two bits! Lets hope that a majority of dentists don't feel this way. Just think if you didn't have hygienists that keep patients comming back every 6mths what kind of practice would you have? I think your profit margins would decrease! In my office we have 5 full time hygienists and we are always full and booked 3-4mth in advance. As of now if you wanted to get in to see a hygienist you would have to wait until JAN 2010 unless cancelation. We bring in a considerable amount of money for the dentist as well as providing time for the dentist to regular exams to detect cavities, etc. So really I don't understand how you can think we are invaluable to the practice! Hygienists are the ones that build a relationship with the patients!

shanic in Regina, Saskatchewan said: Also about dental staff having benefits I think we all should! hygienist, assistants, and receptionists! I know people who are waiters ant smitty's restaurant, tim horton's, etc that have benefits. We are in the healthcare profession maybe not the "goverment" healthcare, but we are considered professionals. Many patients of mine are uterly suprised that we don't have benefits. That is part of being a buisness owner is providing staff with benefits so that they have incentives to stay. I love what I do as a hygienist and am always pushing myself to motivate my patients! I was not going to join this forum but when I saw some of the comments made about Hygiene being unimportant I had to put in my two bits! Lets hope that a majority of dentists don't feel this way. Just think if you didn't have hygienists that keep patients comming back every 6mths what kind of practice would you have? I think your profit margins would decrease! In my office we have 5 full time hygienists and we are always full and booked 3-4mth in advance. As of now if you wanted to get in to see a hygienist you would have to wait until JAN 2010 unless cancelation. We bring in a considerable amount of money for the dentist as well as providing time for the dentist to regular exams to detect cavities, etc. So really I don't understand how you can think we are invaluable to the practice! Hygienists are the ones that build a relationship with the patients!

hmmm, I had an interesting thought about this post. With so many
new grads now a dentist can hire a lot of hygienists and not make
patients wait until 2010. So, if thereare lots of us then there will be less of a chance that patients will switch to another dentist because they want an office with a more flexible schedule.
Which in turn makes it harder for new dental offices starting our.
(I wonder if anyone can follow what I am saying)

I m an Indian dental hygienist staying with my hubby in Maldives.My husband is dentist,he is working here,but i cann't find any job anybody help me?

I think dentists should stop rammbling and really think about how vital a dental hygienist is to their practice. Dentists would never be able to cater to patients' needs without a hygienist. and most patients prefere to see the hygienist over the dentist anyway.
I'm going to be quite forward, but I think some dentists (I wont say all!) are very greedy and are taking advantage of the hygiene profession, more specifically in accordance to what's happening with the job market and hygienists. Do you think that the dentist knowing hygienists are becoming desperate for work makes it right for them to then say, well, ok now, I can finally start paying them less and they'll take the job anyhow because they're desperate is okay? If dentists were true to the profession they wouldn't change a hygienists fees from $40 to $30 - they of course are not charging the patient less - thats for sure!