Some people don’t have a job. Most have one job. But not Victoria Green, no sir. She has two jobs.
Ms. Victoria Green is a dental hygienist at the University of Pittsburgh and the Chair of Admissions to Pitt’s dental hygiene program.
As part of the Counseling Department’s ongoing Career Spotlight series, Bethel Park brought in Ms. Green to discuss dental hygiene.
On a day-to-day basis, Ms. Green is a full-time dental hygiene educator.
She discussed the responsibilities of a dental hygienist. They provide care based on the uniqueness of the patient and provide preventative treatments.
As for the skills required of a dental hygienist, one must have manual dexterity, a strong work ethic, and good communication skills for the most part.
A dental hygienist must also be a team player, ethical, caring, positive, and outgoing.
This job has a very positive and clean atmosphere. “It’s a dental office, so how dirty could it be?” Ms. Green said.
The hours of a dental hygienist will vary. Since not all dental offices have the same hours, shifts vary.
Compensation can be very broad, more regionally based. Depending on the area, wages can range from $23 per hour to $43 per hour. The latter of the two can be found around the Washington, DC area.
According to Ms. Green, there are quite a few opportunities to travel in this field, but it is not necessarily required to do so. She volunteered at a primary school in South Africa this past May. “It was a great experience and opportunity for me.”
The outlook for a dental hygienist is pretty good. There are many opportunities, various locations, and different fields within it. According to the U.S. News Report, dental hygiene is one of the top ten fastest growing careers in the country.
The training and education needed to be a dental hygienist varies also. The person could go to community college for an Associate’s degree, get a Bachelor’s degree and a certificate from a four-year institution, or earn a Master’s degree.
With a certificate, a dental office is the main career choice. With a Bachelor’s degree, one can work in education, research, management, or sales. A Master’s degree limits the options to education or research.
Someone who wishes to pursue dental hygiene will have some expectations. He or she must dress clean and professionally, be responsible, and work with others.
Ms. Green stressed the numerous rewards that outweigh the stresses of this profession as well. “Once you’ve gone through the training, that’s the stressful part, you’re in a positive environment.”
Dental hygiene looks to be headed in the right direction. It’s a friendly environment with nice compensation. There are even opportunities to travel. And, hey, Ms. Green said, “You can even dress up like a big tooth.”
