Dental Hygienist

Write only in third person
Use three part thesis and five paragraph
Essay
5-8 sentences and no less than 100 words per paragraph

Why I want to be a Dental Hygienist:
A dental hygienist, also referred to as an oral hygienist, is a licensed dental professional
who provides preventive oral care services while also teaching their clients on how to maintain
good oral health. The state governments and other regulatory bodies determine their scope of
practice in different states; often, they include the offering of remedies that provide tooth
protection, removal of plaque, stains and tartar from teeth, examining the oral health status of
patients (for signs of diseases, such as gingivitis or periodontal disease) and ensuring proper
documentation of treatments and care plans offered to their clients. It is an auspicious career line,
for which this essay will discuss the reasons behind the assertion.
The opportunities offered in the career are wide, with the demand for oral hygienists
largely unmet. Employment opportunities are projected to grow by an estimated 20% in the next
10 years (from 2016 to 2026) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is largely driven
by the increase in the aging population, which is comprised mostly of the baby boomers, who
prefer retaining their original teeth than the previous generations. These natural teeth require
more check-up and proper care so as to maintain their usefulness, and as such the demand for
services by the dental hygienist will keep rising. Recent findings of studies that show a relation
between oral health and general health further increase the attention and need to access these
services for better well-being. State legislations have allowed further training and development
of the oral hygienists, to improve their productivity as well as improve the job satisfaction and
self-accomplishment of the practitioners. Employed practitioners also enjoy significant job
security, with retirement age set at 60 years.
The career allows the direct contribution of the practitioners’ effort to the well-being of
their clients. Preventive oral services improve the quality of life, particularly for the older
generations, while saving on costs that would be required in treatment of preventable oral
conditions. It allows the creation of positive relationships with the community members, through
which medical information is passed on to have direct impact on their livelihoods. Individuals
with good communications skills are able to easily create rapport with different people, and end
up having more clients in the long run. As such they are recognized as important practitioners in
dental health, because of their direct impact on those they serve. This creates a form of
professional esteem and “pride”.

Working as a dental hygienist also allows for significant flexibility in work schedules
which is another factor that makes it an attractive career line. Employment opportunities provide
for both full-time and part-time working, depending on the other commitments the practitioner
may have. It is reported that only about 47% of dental hygienists work between 30 to 40 hours a
week. This has allowed the practitioners to create a perfect work-life balance, by having
adequate family time and time to handle other commitments. Flexibility in the work schedules is
a main factor that has made a significant number of practitioners to remain active in their careers
for many years.