Dental Hygiene

A dental hygiene major involves the study of dentistry and serving as a dentist’s right-hand man or woman. Students in a dental hygiene program will learn about dental care, specifically cavities, tooth decay, gum care, mouth diseases and injuries, as well as oral hygiene and dental work. A major part of a dental hygiene program is dental health and awareness, because dental hygienists spend a great deal of their time teaching patients how to properly clean and care for their teeth. While dental hygienists don’t perform surgeries or do invasive procedures, they do assist in treating decay, diseases and injuries by conducting teeth cleanings and other necessary treatments. Dental hygiene majors can expect to take classes in dental anatomy, dental hygiene techniques, dental materials, histology, microbiology, pathology, nutrition, as well as preventative dentistry, pharmacology and periodontology.

Dental hygiene graduates typically go on to work as a dental hygienist, dental laboratory technician, dentist, registered nurse or health educator. As a dental hygienist, you will get to utilize your technical dentistry training and health education skills while working with patients of all ages, so they can properly care for their teeth. Those who have good people skills and want to help people feel better about their health and appearance will thrive in a dental hygiene major.