Working as a dental hygienist requires a unique combination of skills. In this role, you will be providing a service by cleaning patient’s teeth, and you’ll also educate them on taking proper care of their teeth and gums.
If you’re thinking of enrolling in a dental hygienist training program, it may be helpful to learn more about the daily tasks of the job, as well as the skills you’ll need to carry them out. Here’s a closer look at some of the skills you’ll develop over the course of your dental hygienist training.
You’ll Pick up Technical Skills from Dental Hygienist Courses
Since you’ll be cleaning patient’s teeth once you become a dental hygienist, part of your dental hygienist training will focus on learning how to use the tools in the trade. Some of the tools, like picks and dental mirrors, are inanimate and others are mechanical.
As you learn to use tools like motorized brushes and ultrasonic instruments to remove plaque and polish teeth, you’ll develop the technical skills needed to do an effective job. With entire courses dedicated to radiography, you’ll also learn your way around using dental x-ray machines in order to detect dental problems that are more difficult to spot with the naked eye.
Dental Hygienist School will Teach You All About Oral Health
It goes without saying that dental hygienists know all about maintaining a healthy smile, but did you know that they have in-depth knowledge about dental anatomy, oral pathology, periodontics and more?
In fact, knowing the background of everything that goes on in the human mouth is what makes hygienists true oral health professionals. The broad training you’ll get from dental hygienist school will provide you with the skills youa��ll need to recognize a wide range of dental issues, so you can discuss corrective possibilities with any number of patients.
Knowing all about teeth will make you a proficient hygienist.
Dental Hygienist Courses will Boost your People Skills
Communication skills are some of the most important skills that will come into play once you become a dental hygienist.A� As a hygienist, you’ll often meet with people before they see the dentist, and you’ll spend most of this time talking. Understanding the basic principles of good communication with patients is the focus of several courses you’ll take in your dental hygienist training. With courses like communication techniques and psychology for the dental health professional, you’ll learn about the importance of things like listening and proving feedback.
Listening is a skill that once developed, can really help you pick up on patient’s dietary and lifestyle habits as they relate to their dental health. Dental phobia is also very common amongst Canadians, and so by listening, you also provide patients with the chance to vent their fear and frustration before the dentist performs any procedures.
Providing feedback can be a powerful way to help patients make and maintain healthy dental habits. At first, feedback might involve educating patients of a few dental care habits that might be beneficial to them. When patients return for their next visit, you can let them know of any positive changes you’ll notice as a result of their efforts. Feedback can be extremely encouraging in this sense, which motivates people to maintain healthy dental care habits on their own.
Hygienists can encourage patients to build better dental health habits.
Sign-up for dental hygiene courses that will earn you national accreditation.
Visit CADH for detailed info on our dental hygiene diploma program, or to speak with an advisor.
