Enter a Dental Hygienist Program
If you want to be a dental hygienist, the initial step is to attend Dental hygiene programs in Toronto. You should just go to a dental assistant school Chandler AZ that is affiliated to the Dental Accreditation Commission of Canada (DAC) services. If the school’s programs are not approved by DAC, you may not be able to sit on the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board, and it means you have wasted your school time.
Get CDHO Licensing
You must seek to license from the relevant provincial regulatory authority after your training is finished. If you are in Ontario, you can apply here in the College of Dental Sanitation of Ontario (CDHO). Before registration, you have to take and pass the entry-to-practice examinations. The test is divided into two components: a writing exam conducted by the NDHCB and if you pass this test a clinical examination administered by the CDHO. If you pass this test, the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario then conducts the Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH) that assesses your clinical skills.
Join Trade/Professional Bodies
It is a good idea to obtain membership with the Canadian Dental Hygienist Association (CDHA), Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association (ODHA), and membership with other profession/trade organizations. They are formed to protect the interests of dental hygienists. You will get the best job when you have a membership in any one of these organizations as they know you live by the strict rules set by the organization.
Gather the Relevant Skills
You need to master a couple of tough and soft skills while in school or an internship. You need to be able to do x-rays, to administer fluoride, to clean/whiten the teeth, use stitches, applying sealants and to provide guidance in oral health. You are going to use your hands much in your career, so you need to focus on your motor skills, your strength, and endurance. You need to improve your communication and interpersonal skills, time management skills, professional behavior, and analytical, logical, and cognitive skills.
Seek a Job
As a dental hygienist, now you can find a job. According to Market & Career Survey 2017, 92 percent of the participants (all dental hygienists) work in clinical dental hygiene. 37% of participants work in periodontics and 34% work in orthodontics. The report showed that 30% of applicants want to move to Community health, 24% want to work in schools and 13% want to establish independent practices.
