Working as a Registered Dental Hygienist
Dentistry is a common and important branch of health care in the United States today, and many American adults are very conscious about the health and the appearance of their teeth. Tooth issues such as cavities, a cracked crown, or tooth rot can be painful and expensive to deal with at the dentist’s office, but if a person takes good care of their teeth and gets checkups at their dentist, then their teeth may be healthy and strong for a long time to come. For those interested in working in dental health, many possible careers exist, and registered dental hygienist jobs, or RDH jobs, exist for those who want to enter this branch of the medical industry. What other positions are there? A person can find dental hygiene jobs at a dentist’s office, working for a doctor, or find dental assistant jobs and get hands-on training, and a person could even look for dental front office jobs if so desired. Working as a dental lab technician is another route that one can take. After all, there are more jobs surrounding dental health than just the dentistry doctor who works directly on the patient’s teeth; many other support jobs exist, and qualified medical professionals must fill them. How strong is this industry, and what are some ways a person can take care of their teeth?
Why RDH Jobs?
The general field of RDH jobs is a broad one, and its future is looking strong. In the recent past, there has already been some growth where dentistry is concerned; between the years 2005 and 2015, women came to represent a bigger share of the dental field, going from 20% of the workforce to 29%. What is more, employment of dental laboratory technicians is expected to grow around 13% from 2016 to 2026, which is faster than the average occupation. The future of RDH jobs like dental hygienists is even more positive; growth of 20% is expected from the year 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than average. How well do RDH jobs pay? As one example, as of the year 2017, the median salary for dental hygienists stood at $74,040, and this shows that RDH jobs are always in demand and are critical for today’s health among Americans. Working in an office, a lab, or directly in the dentist’s office can all be lucrative and help support the vital dental industry so that Americans can have healthy teeth for their whole lives.
Basic Dental Care
What do RDH jobs entail for taking care of a patient? If Americans (kids and adults alike) take good care of their teeth, not a whole lot. Basic tooth care can easily be taken so that rates of tooth loss and cavities can be minimized. Brushing one’s teeth after meals with a good toothbrush and quality toothpaste (fluoride is preferred) is a staple for clearing the teeth and mouth of plaque, bacteria, and the sugars that they feed on, and this can greatly reduce the chances of cavities or damaged crowns. Flossing can clear out food debris from between the teeth where toothbrushes cannot reach, and mouthwash can help clear out any remaining bacteria and also freshen the breath. What is more, chipped or cracked teeth can be avoided by not chewing on hard objects such as ice cubes, and when playing sports, a person is encouraged to use a mouth guard to help prevent the teeth from suffering trauma.
RDH jobs may also involve the cosmetic process of tooth whitening. American adults work hard on their appearance, both for social prowess and for professional work, and if a person has discolored or crooked teeth, this can negatively impact their image, such as at a mixer or a job interview. For this reason, customers may get their teeth whitened and straightened out, so that they can have a better smile or look better when they talk. Many American adults are in fact embarrassed by the current poor appearance of their teeth, and a solution is to visit a dentist’s office for teeth whitening services. Some types of tooth whitening toothpastes are also available to help with this. Avoiding tobacco can also help, since cigarettes or chewing tobacco can quickly discolor the teeth.
