Career in Dental Hygienist Course in India: A Dental Hygienist plays a vital role in preventing dental-related problems from arising, and it is usual for most of us to visit a Dental Hygienist at least once a month. The word Dental Hygienist may be uncommon to some of you, but this article will give you an inside review of the career of a Dental Hygienist and various Dental Hygienist courses in India.
From the name Dental Hygienist itself, it is understandable that they are trained people to keep their teeth hygienic. They look after children and senior citizens to help them keep smiling beautifully and without any trouble. In today’s society, Dental Hygienists are considered as the most respected and valued members of the oral health care community.
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Who is a Dental Hygienist?
A Dental Hygienist is a dental professional who studies a Dental Hygienist course and is trained to cure and prevent oral-related diseases. They help treat patients suffering from oral diseases completely with the help of therapeutic methods. Periodontal therapy is the most common and widely used treatment method among Dental Hygienists to help patients with periodontal diseases. The major duties of a Dental Hygienist can be categorized as follows.
- Removing deposits from teeth
- Educating patients about oral hygiene.
- Patient screening procedures
- Taking and examining dental x-rays
- Applying materials like fissure sealants and topical fluorides to the teeth
- Polishing and scaling teeth
- Keeping patients’ records etc.
What is it like being a Dental Hygienist?
Being a Dental Hygienist, one would get to interact with a variety of people and get to know them well, hence, good interpersonal skill is a must. Since Dental hygienists are devoted and contribute a part of themselves to the well-being of society, they are considered the most respected members. Chances to educate or counsel a group of elder people or children are much higher for a Dental Hygienist, and sometimes they end up as an oral instructor in universities and primary schools. Unlike other doctors, Dental Hygiene is not a career full of stress as the working time is flexible and chances for emergencies are less.
Various Dental Hygienist Courses in India
To work as a Dental Hygienist or to make a career as a Dental Hygienist, one can earn a degree by following a Dental Hygienist course.
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Dental Hygienist | 2 years |
| Certificate Courses in Dental Hygienist | 6 to 12 months |
Eligibility Criteria
The following are the eligibility criteria for the dental hygienist:
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Qualification | 10+2 with science stream |
| Qualifying Marks | Candidates should have scored a minimum of 50% aggregate marks |
Top 10 Colleges for Dental Hygienist Courses
Here is the list of top 10 dental colleges in India as per the NIRF ranking that offer Dental Hygienist Courses.
| Top Colleges Name | NIRF Ranking | NIRF Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saveetha Dental College | 1 | 81.83 |
| Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal | 2 | 76.03 |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences | 3 | 74.39 |
| King George`s Medical University | 4 | 72.36 |
| Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth | 5 | 72.25 |
| A.B.Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences | 6 | 70.14 |
| SRM Dental College | 7 | 69.18 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | 8 | 64.38 |
| Siksha `O` Anusandhan | 9 | 63.26 |
| Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research | 10 | 62.40 |
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Job Opportunities for a Dental Hygienist
A large percentage of the world’s population is in great need of the service of a Dental Hygienist, and thus, the chances for a Dental Hygienist to find a job are much higher. Most Dental Hygienists work together with a Dentist or a Dental Specialist. In accordance with their expertise and experience, one can choose where to work.
One can opt for independent practice, private practice, specialists practice, or a public practice like residential aged care. Orthodontic or Periodontal clinics, nursing homes, or hospitals are the other job options for a Dental Hygienist. Those who have a grasp of teaching and counselling can go for giving education to the needed ones or can work as oral instructors in schools and colleges.
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Roles of a Dental Hygienist
- Provide dental advice on dental hygiene care and oral health education to patients of all ages
- Work closely with the dental team to treat and help patients in preventing gum disease
- Use a range of dental instruments to clean, polish, and scale teeth
- Apply treatments to reduce decay
- Ensure that dental instruments are sterilised appropriately
- Give local anaesthetic
- Apply fissure sealants to protect teeth
- Apply temporary dressings to protect a broken tooth or replace a lost filling
- Encourage and demonstrate tooth brushing and cleaning in between teeth
- Sterilise dental equipment
- Show care and compassion for patients and put them at the centre of care
- Collected medical and dental histories and maintained patients’ health records
- Work to a professional code of ethics and keep up to date with new developments within the profession.
Skills of a Dental Hygienist
- Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Effective listening and motivational skills
- Team-work
- Manual dexterity and confidence in handling dental equipment
- good eyesight and steady hands for carrying out precise dental work
- The ability to maintain concentration for long periods of time
- A friendly, confident, and professional manner that will help you interact with patients and colleagues effectively.
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