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This program teaches students the principles of preventive oral care. They will learn how to teach self care to patients and how to examine a patient's head and neck area for abnormal health status. Other areas will include nutritional counseling, application of sealants on grooves of patients' teeth, producing diagnostically acceptable intraoral radiographs (x-rays) and scaling procedures to remove deposits from patients' teeth.
Duties
Graduates in this field may be required to:
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provide patient education: design preventive strategies; set goals to motivate patients
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perform patient care: scaling, polishing, processing x-rays
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refer patient to dentist for further examination
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assist dentist in treatment of patient:
prepare solutions and mixtures
sterilize and set up equipment
Working Conditions
Graduates in this field commonly experience:
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work in dentists' offices (usually pleasant surroundings)
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work in cooperation with others
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work under little direct supervision
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overtime sometimes required
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work on a schedule
Physical Demands
Characteristics & Temperament
Graduates in this field should have:
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ability to work in very close proximity with a variety of people
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good social skills
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ability to be a "team player"
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patience, sensitivity, pleasantness
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excellent oral communication skills
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good written communication skills
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ability to adapt and "catch on" quickly
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ability to reason and make judgments
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ability to understand machines - how they work
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good motor coordination (hand/eye coordination, accurate and swift movement, finger/manual dexterity)
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self-discipline/self-motivation
Employment Outlook
Graduates in this field can expect the following developments:
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possible to earn $25,000 - $30,000 per year
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100% placement rate for 2002-2007 graduates
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full- or part-time available
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bachelor's degree allows advancement into teaching
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employment in cities and towns of all sizes
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