Becoming a dental hygienist is a great choice!
The latest Money-U.S. News & World Report ranking places dental hygienist at #2 for Best Health Care Support Jobs and in the top third of the “100 Best Jobs” in America. The profession gets top marks for work life balance and job market, and ranks above average for salary, future growth and stress.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for dental hygienists is booming – the occupation is projected to grow by nearly 20 percent over the next eight years, possibly because of growing awareness about the link between oral care and overall health.
As demand continues increasing, the need for Dental Hygiene programs, such as those offered at select Fortis campuses, also is expected to grow.
Why become a dental hygienist?
Kelli Swanson Jaecks, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, believes some of the profession’s growth may be due to people considering dental hygienists as a form insurance agent.
“You see dentists when you have a problem, but you see dental hygienists for preventative care,” she says.
In addition to preventative care, Swanson Jaecks says more physicians’ offices, medical clinics and ERs are hiring dental hygienists to provide holistic care options for patients. Plus, most hygienists make comfortable salaries, especially when you consider roughly half of them only work part-time.
Also, it’s important that prospective Dental Hygiene candidates should know how to “read” patients and comfortably relate to them on a one-on-one basis.
How to become a dental hygienist?
Fortis offers Dental Hygiene education and training at campuses in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Utah. To learn more and to see whether dental hygiene may be a good career choice for you, contact Fortis today!
