The profile of the dental industry is changing, with the number of dental hygiene programs and graduates steadily increasing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental hygienist is one of the 30 fastest-growing occupations. In support of this growth trend and in keeping with our mission of assisting educational projects devoted to the enhancement of oral health, the Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation awards annual scholarships to New Jersey residents interested in studying to become a hygienist.
There are 260 nationally accredited programs and more than 140,000 registered dental hygienists nationwide, 98.3 percent of which are female. According to the New Jersey Department of Labor, the number of dental hygienists in New Jersey is expected to increase from an estimated 4,100 in 2000 to a projected 6,500 in 2010, which reflects a 60.4 percent growth rate.
"Hygienists play a valuable role, supporting dentists and providing patient care," said Dr. Gene Napoliello, President, Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation, Inc. "By assisting with their education through our scholarship program, we help deserving students pursue a rewarding career. Moreover, to help more people enter the field of dental hygiene, Delta Dental is partnering with Burlington County College to create a dental hygiene program at their school."
Who is the Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist is a prevention specialist, oral health educator and clinician who, as a co-therapist with the dentist, provides preventive, educational, and therapeutic services. The hygienist is often the first face patients encounter when they recline in the dental chair. As technology and preventive treatments continue to develop and expand, dental hygienists are assuming more duties and spending increasing amounts of time with patients during checkups.
Hygienist Responsibilities
According to Dorothy Tsavlis, a recent Delta Dental scholarship recipient, "The most important aspect of the dental hygienist's job is education. It's important to continuously reinforce the message that there is a connection between oral health and overall health. People tend to isolate issues in the mouth from the rest of the body. It's important that they understand the two are very closely linked."
The day-to-day responsibilities and clinical services a hygienist can perform vary according to individual state regulations. Duties may include:
- Expose, process, and interpret x-rays;
- Apply fluorides and sealants to the teeth;
- Teach patients proper brushing and flossing techniques;
- Clean and remove stains, plaque, and tartar from teeth;
- Counsel patients about proper nutrition;
- Review patient's health history and dental charting;
- Make impressions of patients' teeth for models of teeth used by dentists to evaluate patient treatment needs.
Where Do Hygienists Work
Although about 70 percent of dental hygienists work in private dental offices, state licensing enables them to provide direct clinical service to patients or apply oral health knowledge in a number of settings including public health clinics, nursing homes, correctional institutions, and other long-term or managed-care facilities.
"The profession offers options and flexibility, which is one of the reasons why it continues to be a popular career path for those interested in the field of dentistry," said Napoliello. For more information about the Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey hygienist scholarship program, contact
foundation@deltadentalnj.com.
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