Hygienist or Dentist - Which career is right for you?

Hey everyone! In this video I talk about the difference between a career as a hygienist and that of a dentist. This is a question I get asked all the time by patients and those interested in a career in the field of dentistry. Watch to learn more about which career might be right for you! I go over the basic differences between the day-to-day job description, differences in schooling and training, student debt, salary and pay, and just some of my thoughts on the topic :)
All salary/income information found at:
money.usnews.c...
money.usnews.c...
policyadvice.n...
Music by:
@yongla (instagram)
Hope you like this video!! and good luck on your dental journey :)
xoxo
Jasmine

[@shawnb8364]

My two friends left dental school after year 1, to pursue a career in dental hygiene. Glad they did this sooner than later. Would've racked up lots of debt for something they lost interest in :)

[@Bballin8103]

MRI/CT technologist here but I was tempted to be a dentist or a hygienist. It took me about 6 years so I probably should have opted for a Dentist.

[@ayyyitsemilyyy]

Love how dental hygienists can at least get an associates!

[@Khanm248]

Hey Jasmineeee!!! you have inspired me to pursue a career in dental as well as many inspirational people, keep going you got this and are going to be an awesome dentist.

[@jasmineahrar]

That makes me so happy!! Good luck on your journey 💜

[@onemissiondmd]

Great video on comparing the 2 careers Jasmine!

[@jasmineahrar]

Thanks Tehaum!! 💜

[@ilona7900]

That was so interesting for a french dental student ! Thanks !

[@unknown_7148]

Great video, I need to make a dentist appointment it's been a while since I last went

[@honor1833]

You are so good.... you answered all my questions in just 6 minutes..... oooooh thank you so much 💓 💖

[@MS31468]

Somebody guide me should I study dentistry or dentil hygienist??

[@ilonashevliakov4451]

Before entering the Dental Hygiene school, as you said, you need to get prerequisites classes, or a general associate degree, which is around 2 years, then 2 years of Dental Hygiene Program, and then if a person wants a bachelor degree additionally 1-2 years of studying. In total, it can take up to 6 years to become a Registered Dental Hygienist, so it is not just 2 years of training :)

[@jazz691]

Hi, I'm currently a dental hygiene student and it only takes 2 years. You need to take prerequisites which for me were only four classes. It was super quick, then you apply to a dental/assosiates degree program (almost every community/state colege offers this) and in two years you're a registered hygenist manking pretty good money if you ask me! And if you want a bachlors later on you just transfer your credits to whatever college your attending and it wil only take two years to complete since you have an associate's degree. Hope this helps!

[@ilonashevliakov4451]

@@jazz691 Hi:) I am also a Dental Hygiene student now. I am from Washington state. Maybe in different states are different requirements. For my prerequisites, I needed to get around 70-80 credits (a lot of classes) which is equal to 2 years of study, and it took me 2 and a half years. And now I am at a College that affords Bachelors's degree for 2 and a half years (not every state afford that). In total, I would spend to get my DH Bachelor degree 5-5 and a half years.

[@jazz691]

@@ilonashevliakov4451 70-80 credits for prerequisites!? That is dedication! I have never heard of anything like that. But like you said it could be because of different states, I'm in Florida so that might be why it's so different. My prerequisites were only 15 credits and my program/degree in total is 88 credits. Most people finish in 1 and a half years to 2 years but I took an overload of classes to get it over with so it will have taken me only a year to get my license and degree. I have been considering getting my bachelor's but I'm thinking of waiting and just working for now to gain experience.

[@ilonashevliakov4451]

@@jazz691 I see, in total, after graduation, I will have around 160-180 credits, and Bachelors's degree. I agree that it is a lot, but that was what I needed to do for applying to the program

[@jasmineahrar]

Love this thread! Thank you all for clarifying ♥️🙏

[@mattiverson4654]

What made you decide to be a dentist?

[@jasmineahrar]

Great question! I was actually not even considering the medical/dental field my first 2 years of college but I became acquainted with a dentist and everything changed… I realized that the profession had so much to offer and it truly makes a difference in peoples lives, then I changed my major and just went for it!

[@mattiverson4654]

@@jasmineahrar thank you for the reply I really enjoy your video so I'm getting to know more about dental than I first knew and I'm not even a dentist

[@jasmineahrar]

@@mattiverson4654 Thats amazing!! And these days there is so much content out there you can really see what it would be like. Check out Jack Han, Stephen P Ray, OneMissionDMD for some more dental content on YT, these guys are awesome.

[@mattiverson4654]

Will do enjoy your Thanksgiving

[@hitco847]

Thank you. Very informative.

[@jadaahnya]

Question: If I wanted to get a bachelors in dental hygiene.. after i work in that area for awhile and decide to go to school for denistry, would I just apply to dental school or would i need to take more classes?

[@jasmineahrar]

Hi! Great question. A lot of the pre-requisites for hygiene are the same as dental school so you might have all the requirements done for many dental schools. The best way to check if you would need to take more classes is to go to the websites of the dental schools you are interested in and see what their pre-requisite requirements are. You might just need to take a couple additional classes.

[@jadaahnya]

@@jasmineahrar If I major in dental hygiene is dental hygiene school required?

[@maryammoshref407]

here in sweden u have to take more classes if u want to become a dentist.

[@jasoncheung1754]

Do you know where can I find some good dental interview questions? I have an interview next Friday

[@jasmineahrar]

Hey there! Preparation is definitely key. I just found this website that has really good sample questions (a lot of the questions that I got). Check it out: interviewpenguin.com/dental-school-interview-questions-answers/

[@rossyrivera3757]

dental hygiene DOES NOT TAKE TWO YEARS. Pre- requirements takes almost two years and then the program takes two years. Thats almost 4 years .

[@chickenlittle4014]

So it takes 3 years to become a dental hygienist

[@jasmineahrar]

I think at a minimum! Depending on how quickly the pre-requisites can be finished.

[@Prettyfantacy]

Dental hygiene is not only 2 years that’s the actual program there are many prerequisites you need to take before applying to dental hygiene which could take 1 to 2 years plus the 2 to 3 year of the actual program depending on the program of course some are 2 year some are 3 year

[@jasmineahrar]

Thanks for clarifying!! I thought I had said 2 years after prerequisites but I guess that little sound bite didn’t make it into my final draft 😣 I will make a note in the description.

[@kennygarcia102]

Will you be left in debt like other careers?

[@balsammohammed9140]

@@kennygarcia102 no no on hygeine ,your firdt salary is more than your debt so you can dedicate that unlike dentistry where your in debt for years

[@umangpatel4069]

What can you do if you’re on ASDOH waitlist?

[@jasmineahrar]

Definitely reach out to Azra and let her know that ASDOH is your top choice! Another thing you can do is write an email/letter of continued interest. Here is a good blog article about what would go into the letter www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/letter-of-continued-interest

[@jatinkumar8827]

Can we take Direct admission in BSC dental degree as international students

[@jasmineahrar]

No unfortunately you would need to go to a US dental school for at least 3 years and you will be required to take the INDBE (boards) before applying. Hope that helps!

[@chickenlittle4014]

So right now I’m apply and they applied me to the dental hygiene program I have never been in college this is my first year the dental hygiene program starts this September September do I need to take the hygienist before becoming a dentist ?

[@jordynwillenbring]

My bachelors in dental hygiene has costed me $100,000 in Minnesota 😅

[@jasmineahrar]

😮

[@maceemartinez]

I am currently getting my associates for 62,000

[@aishamuse7038]

Omg that’s crazy! Must be one of them private schools. I’m thinking herzing or something. There’s definitely cheaper ones like century or Normandale and then metropolitan🤗🤗

[@jordynwillenbring]

@@aishamuse7038 yeppp you guessed it. When I was deciding on my path for pursuing a bachelors in DH, I was told my only options were The U of M, Mankato State, and Herzing. At Mankato I didn’t get into the program with a 3.8 gpa so Herzing was my next option and thats where I am now

[@Airtouch67]

You are a little misinformed about the RDH. Although technically you can get an Associate's Degree, there is no way you can do this in 2 years. You have a minimum of at least 1 year (full-time) of pre-req's to complete before you even do the 2-year Hygiene Program. Plus the actual number of hours you spend adding in your clinicals, you are literally putting in the same amount of hours of someone who has a Bachelor's Degree. I've been in dentistry for 20 years, it's a little more complex than you're making it out to be. Oh, a DDS job is more stressful? Really? Try working a dental hygiene schedule when you have 18-25 patient's per day, double and sometimes triple booked columns ("in case a patient does not show"). I would sit there and do a crown or root canal any day. Hygienists will see 4 patients while the DDS is sitting there working on 1 person. I would kill to have a dentists schedule!

[@vindhyavalluturi523]

You mean dental hygienist is so stressful job than the dentist?

[@Airtouch67]

About 3x as stressful @@vindhyavalluturi523

[@aakartikhatri5661]

Hlo , I am in 11th class can you plzz tell bds maths is need in Canada plzz

[@nanavazagkasvili6120]

Hello, can i become a dentist after being dental hygienist?

[@jasmineahrar]

Yes! You would still need to apply and go to dental school :) I know people who have done it!

[@nasirmohammed2810]

Is criminal justice a good major for dental school?

[@jasmineahrar]

If you are passionate about criminal justice! But you would also need to take all of the pre-requisite courses for dental school like chemistry, biology, physics etc…

[@sumaiyamuneer7184]

hes jasmine can you please share what loupes should i use and from where can i buy these :)

[@jasmineahrar]

yesss!! loupes video coming soon! thanks for the comment :)

[@Nad_Eem001]

Can dentist work as a hygienist in starting in US or Australia,Canada?

[@bellabella8363]

Same question

[@usamarafieck1715]

Are they similar to nurses.

[@jasmineahrar]

Definitely different than nurses, but hygienists do have the ability to do local anesthesia injections and some other dental procedures in addition to doing dental cleanings and x-rays.

[@husna2717]

What did you major in

[@jasmineahrar]

I majored in General Science! Very similar to majoring in biology.

[@bellabella8363]

Hi . I am a dentist since 2011 ... i am planning to settle in america... how can i become a dental hyiegenest? I dont want to keep doing dentistry any more ... Plz reply 🙏🙏🙏

[@jasmineahrar]

Hi there, I think you would need to take the pre-requisites at any college/university and then apply to a hygiene program. hope that helps 😊

[@almaartiaga3301]

It does not take 2 years. 4 years w a BS. Dental hygienist job is not relaxed, at least not in California. 10 years experience here. Most offices require you to do everything on your own and many want you to sell. All while you’re working against the clock. Also your body will suffer from same repetitive motions. less liability yes. Relaxed, not even close.

[@nasirmohammed2810]

Do you answer questions on Instagram?

[@jasmineahrar]

I do my best but I do tend to get behind 😅 I try and get caught up on the weekends though!

[@Shubhamyadav-jc2uc]

Can a dental hygienist run a clinic indepdently with a bachelor degree

[@jasmineahrar]

Typically no… but some states do allow some autonomy to hygienists to aid with teledentistry.

[@stephanier2690]

Yes like Colorado

[@md.abdullahalnafi8372]

can i be a dental hygienist even if i use spectacles

[@jasmineahrar]

Yes! A lot of dentists and hygienists I know wear glasses :)

[@sunainashaheen855]

Can we make our own clinic by BS dental hygienist?

[@jasmineahrar]

At this time, that is pretty rare. In most states hygienists must work in a clinic with a dentist. I think there are some states that have special licensing for hygienists so that they can have more independence and practice without a dentist.

[@Neelamdentistry]

👍👍

[@tamb7587]

Neither ! The profession is on the decline with the corporate offices taking over.. They run people thru like cattle , have no respect for quality work and have crappy if any benefits..

[@jasmineahrar]

I’ve actually been finding a lot of job opportunities that aren’t corporate! But yes, I have heard horror stories about some of the DSOs out there 😬

[@ljs17514]

Ahhh, Just what we need, another dentist describing hygiene as a “relaxed” job (or gig!!!) of “scraping plaque” to prevent cavities and takes “just two years”. No amount of creepy smiling can hide the underlying condescension babe 🫶🏼