Starting dental hygiene school is an exciting step toward a rewarding career, but it does come with rigorous coursework and high expectations. That said, preparing early can make your transition to dental hygienist smoother and set you up for resounding success—and you can use much of what you’ve learned in your role as a dental assistant to help! Here’s more about how dental assisting school directly benefits your journey toward dental hygiene.
1. Build Confidence Through Extensive Hands-On Experience
Dental hygiene programs are rigorous and highly clinical; students are expected to step into patient care roles almost immediately. However, this is no reason to feel nervous; hands-on experience is incredibly valuable, and the more you get early on while dental assisting, the better off you’ll be when in the swing of dental assisting.
Time spent at the chairside interacting with patients, practicing infection control and sterilization, and simply becoming more familiar with different procedures will all pay huge dividends as a dental hygienist. Fortunately, these are areas of focus for dental assisting programs!
2. Strengthen Your Understanding of Key Terms & Concepts
Dental assisting programs introduce you to the foundational concepts you’ll need to succeed in the dental field. You’ll learn about things like the oral anatomy and all of its specific components, radiography, or the art of using X-rays, and all kinds of dental terminology that you’ll hear frequently.
These are the same concepts that you’ll delve deeper into when in dental hygiene school, and it’s unlikely that they’re things you’re familiar with if you haven’t spent any time in the profession. Starting with a strong understanding makes advanced coursework feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
3. Stand Out When Applying to Dental Hygiene Programs
As is the usual case with higher education, dental hygiene programs are competitive. Admissions committees often look for applicants who show dedication, experience, and knowledge of the profession.
Completing dental assisting school and working in the field can make your application stand out as promising, as you’ll be demonstrating a commitment to dentistry, as well as highlighting relevant experience and an underlying understanding of what the career involves. Many hygiene students even say dental assisting gave them an advantage when interviewing and completing coursework!
If you’re planning a future in dental hygiene, dental assisting school is a logical and strategic first step. It prepares you with the skills, confidence, and knowledge you need to thrive in more advanced education—which directly translates into long-term career success.
About the Green Country School of Dental Assisting
Our team here at the Green Country School of Dental Assisting has proudly served the Claremore, OK community for several years, offering aspiring dental assistants a clear path toward kickstarting their new careers—especially those who are also considering the field of dental hygiene! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to request additional enrollment information, please reach out online or call today. Telephone: (918) 343-7188.