Research
- List your dream job or jobs. In a perfect world, one day you will be a Dental Hygienist . Briefly describe what you’ll do in this role. What knowledge, skills, or abilities do you think you will need for this job?
I will welcome patients and bring them back to their assigned room and will check what they need done for the day. There might be x-rays, cleanings, testing for gingivitis, or doing screenings for oral cancer. I will need to be very fit for this job because I will have to sit in a chair in a comfortable, non destructive sitting position for most of the work day. I might need to go to a chiropractor. My hands will probably cramp a lot because of the constant position they will be in while I am cleaning the patient’s teeth. I will need to be friendly because you never know what someone is going through during their day. I will need to know how to handle difficult situations if a patient has a conflict or if there is a problem when I am cleaning, x-raying, etc.
Job Posting Number 1: Dental Hygienist at Konikoff Dental Little Neck – link
- Identify the salary range: $45.00-$49.00 an hour which is about $94,619 per year.
- How much experience would be required to apply for that job, what degrees, certifications or training is required? Dental Hygienist License in the state of Virginia is required.
- What skills are and tasks are involved in performing the job you have found?
Be able to perform cleanings, examining oral areas and performing oral screenings, teach patients, take x-rays, and apply fluoride.
Job Posting Number 2: Dental Hygienist at Smile Brands Inc. – link
- Identify the salary range: $55-$65 an hour which is about $114,400 per year.
- How much experience would be required to apply for that job, what degrees, certifications or training is required? CPR certification and active state hygiene license.
- What skills are and tasks are involved in performing the job you have found?
Perform cleanings, periodontal treatments, perform oral screenings, and educate patients on proper dental hygiene.
Job Posting Number 3: Dental Hygienist with Aspen Dental – link
1. Identify the salary range: $93.6K-$104K a year
2. How much experience would be required to apply for that job, what degrees, certifications or training is required? Associates degree or higher education, active hygiene license, and communication skills.
3. What skills are and tasks are involved in performing the job you have found?
Make sure patients receive amazing health and dental care, treat periodontal patients while filling out their perio chart, and perform oral screenings.
Part 2: Apply to your Dream Job
- Think about the job postings you submitted for Part 1, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities you’ll need. Did these jobs match what you had in mind for your dream job? Did you find your dream job? Describe the similarities and differences. Yes, this is exactly what I am looking forward to doing once I get my degree and am qualified. I did find my dream job, but also my dental office in my hometown is something I am interested in as well. They are Costa Dentistry.
- From the 3 job postings you found, choose one job you want the most, and use the list of skills required for the job of interest. Identify skills you already have and identify skills you are still building or need more experience performing. Discuss options to sharpen or learn the skills you will need to gain. I think that I would want to work for Smile Brands because they seem like they prioritize their patients and make sure they are being taken care of properly. I would like to say that I know a lot about Dental Hygiene, obviously not everything, but quite a bit. I think I would excel in educating the patients on dental hygiene and how they can have good hygiene at home. I would need to learn the physical parts of this job, including cleanings, oral screenings, x-rays, etc.