AIBU to consider retraining as a Dental Hygienist?!

[NellesVilla]

Posting for more traffic, thanks:-

Hello,

I’ve been interested in retraining as a Dental Hygienist for yonks, now, but am still none the wiser on how to go about it, in layman’s terms.

I’ve heard of 2 and 3 year degrees and diplomas, but would like the quickest route possible. I’m a mature student and a graduate in a non-related subject (art) and an ex-teacher, neither of which I wish to work in ever again. Does anyone know if I could do a 2 year training, please?

For full disclosure, I have no experience in this industry, and have mainly teaching, tutoring and plenty of care experience which may be better than nothing at all, when it comes to dealing with patients and showing I have experience with bodily functions and am not as squeamish as some (I am actually quite squeamish really, tbh!).

Financially, only a 2 year training would work for me, so I’d love to know if it were possible. I am a good student- love learning and studying- (and also family-free), so the commitment and level of study would not be an issue for me.

I am aware I may need more A-levels as well (science obviously), so would get to work on that ASAP, with hopes of applying for entry for late 2023 or 2024, if possible.

Thanks for reading, and for any advice, even realistic, sobering words!

www.bangor.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/b751-dental-hygiene

2 year course at Bangor University in Wales. If you commit to working in Wales for 2 years after qualifying then they may also pay your fees and give you a £1000 bursary a year.

Yes, go for it. My hygienist has just put prices up to £95 for 45 mins and you still can't get booked until 2 months ahead!

There are some very good videos on YouTube showing dental hygienists at work. It isn’t for the faint hearted!

@WoodenClock

Where do you live?! Mine charges £60!

@MadameCholetsDirtySecret

I think it would be so satisfying though, I'm a nurse and love cleaning peoples neglected dentures 🤣

What is it about being a hygienist that appeals to you? Sorry I’m to be a Debbie downer here, but I’d seriously consider talking to some hygienists to get an idea of what the job actually entails. I’ve been a hygienist for ten years, was a dental nurse for a couple of years before that and currently in the process of retraining to enter another field as I am miserable.
It’s a very repetitive job, I see 20 patients per day back to back, if I take a couple of minutes between patients to grab a quick drink I’m then left with complaints of “oh I paid for 30 minutes and only got 25”. My neck/back/shoulders/wrists are in constant agony, repetitive stain injuries are really common.
The money I earn is not bad, most hygienists will be on around 35-40% of what is brought in by the patient. However I’ve been doing it 10 years and have built up a loyal patient base, in can take years to build up a busy book. If a patient doesn’t show up for their appointment or cancels last minute you won’t get paid. In addition almost all hygienists are self employed, so no sick pay, maternity pay etc.
I have some wonderful patients that I really look forward to seeing, but I do have days that make me want to cry. I’ve been spat at, called so many offensive names, never happened to me but I have friends who’ve been assaulted by patients… you’re treating people who are often anxious or in pain so unfortunately brings out the worst in many people.
Anyway sorry I could bang on and on about the bad aspects, I’ll try and return later with some more positive info and some answers to your actual question!

Thanks for all the helpful answers- all this info is more than I had earlier. Honestly, thanks everyone and I really appreciate realistic perspectives.

Hi @unhappyhygienist , right, well to start with, I have basically screwed up a lot of previous career options and choices due to mental health issues and ridiculous life choices due to the former issue- a stint at drama school, law school and nearly became a nurse, then Occupational Therapist. I really want a sensible, steady career and have time to invest into it before retirement- nearly 3 decades quote realistically, so:-

1. I’d love to work in healthcare somewhere, but not as a nurse (not for me).
2. Genuinely interested in dental stuff and teeth in general. Squeamish but not around teeth or mouths, thankfully.
3. Again, want a stable career again.
4. Financially, yes please. Am fucked off working in just above minimum wage jobs, when I have 2 degrees and have been accepted onto many post grad courses. As a happily single person, can’t afford to be on poor salary even longer. I want a life, and a home I actually own.
5. My other options was an OT, but I simply can’t live on the salary as a singleton, especially with training costs. I’m not prepared to spend £20k training for 2 years to then earn £23k for a few years, before measly little wage increases. No. My dream job (other than previously being a barrister which I don’t think I’d cope with pressure-wise), was an optician/optometrist, but even more training.

In a nutshell, I want a respectable, interesting, decently-paid job in healthcare. I keep banging on about this, but as a single person who is not on the property ladder and can’t rely on any sort of inheritance or help from family (like many others, I guess), I need to sort myself out. As a perpetual “underachiever “, I trained as an artist and then a teacher, before flaking out a bit and settling for lower paid roles in care.

I have lost count the number of times others have said “you left behind acting, teaching, law and art to take shit from managers with 1 GCSE??” or “why are you here; have you just left prison or something?!” etc etc. I have no issue with having worked in care (I now work in admin for a care company), but I need to progress!

Wow, but of an essay there, but quite therapeutic to have written it. Probably a bit outing, but if any good comes from it’s so be it!

The typos are abysmal!

Apparently, as there are VERY few uni/medical school places for hygienists, it's a very difficult course to get onto and highly over-subscribed. I think you should try speaking to the admissions officer at the Unis you're interested in to see what they say about your chances of gaining a place.

I'm a dental hygienist. Well, I currently don't practice but looking to go back to it.

It was hard to get on the course and hard work completing it. I ended up hating the job after 10 years.

I found the loneliness hard. Although you have a patient in the chair, it's not the same as working next to your friends every day as I do now in an office job.

The money is good and I do still have pride that I'm a dental hygienist.

My dentist quoted £77 for a 40 minute appointment. Go for it!

I cannot overstate the monotony, it’s like working on a production line with the added stress that if you fuck it up you’ll get sued. Same conversation, same treatment ~16 times per day every day for the rest of your career. No scope for progression, I found the lack of anything to work towards soul destroying. As mentioned previously it can also be very lonely as it’s just you and the patient in the room, not the same as having coworkers you can chat to.

Also find it a very difficult balance between telling people what they need to hear and not offending them - your main role is educating patients about oral conditions however (unsurprisingly!) people don’t like being told when their hygiene is poor, which again opens you up to complaints and people being aggressive.

Getting a place at uni is very competitive. When I applied they interviewed 600 people for 25 spaces. I believe demand has increased even further now. Most hygienists have also been dental nurses so you have that to compete with. Your previous teaching experience will work in your favour though I’d imagine as a big part of a hygienist’s role is health promotion and education.

Feel like I should add some positives in for balance… 😂
It’s easy to work part time if that’s what you want to do (actually most hygienists are pt as their backs are destroyed)
You can pick up work anywhere in the country
You can, for the most part, leave work at work

Hi @Jumpjumpjumper ,

Thanks for your reply. I personally thrive working alone or 1-2-1- my most successful work has been as a private tutor, which I did for over a decade but have moved on from. I’m like that with friends too- get lost in a group and much better 1-2-1!

Hi @unhappyhygienist , can’t really see any negatives so far, other than effing up my back even more!!

Oh, and actually managing to snag one of the coveted training spots!!

And @SaggyBlinders mentioned a 2 yr course in Wales/ somewhere I could actually afford to buy some
sort of property one day (currently living near London!!).

@unhappyhygienist@unhappyhygienist

@unhappyhygienist sorry phone had a moment. Where do you work, if you wouldnt mind telling me / sending pm?

I work in Surrey atm. Worked in a real mix of high end private practices and areas of real deprivation. Some of the worst places I’ve worked in have been the posh Harley st places where the practice owners can’t afford decent equipment as the overheads are so high (dentists are certainly not the ballers most people imagine) so you end up having to do your job with really crappy equipment.

I feel like I’m just ranting now, sorry. It sounds like your heart is set on it in which case best of luck, let us know how you get on (I genuinely mean that, not being sarky). My advice would be to speak to as many hygienists as possible as I honestly don’t know a single one who enjoys the job.

I agree with @unhappyhygienist - as a dental nurse with 10yrs experience in the industry as much as I respect hygienists and the work they do, its hard work, often the difficult patients the dentists don't want to treat themselves for less than a quarter of a dentist salary. I've known hygienists who's hourly rate was equal to the nurses when no holiday, sickness pay and patients who fail to attend/gaps in the diary are taken into account. I know many dental nurses who want to go into hygiene- I for one would NEVER. Its a lot of responsibility, like previously mentioned patients can be very demanding/unpredictable and easily offended which means something innocent can easily snow ball into a complaint and ultimately a case against you that affects your indemnity insurance. I hope you make the right decision for you and it looks like a "nice" job on paper but I second the advice to speak to as many people as you can. I've worked with 7 or 8 different hygienists, people who have to split their days over 3 or 4 different practice's travelling an hour each way and 5 of those are no longer practicing. One is now a very happy nail tech!

Thank you, @Ambii , @Jumpjumpjumper and @unhappyhygienist , a lot of food for thought.

And @Jumpjumpjumper , am in Surrey, fairly near Epsom currently.

South East but not an affluent town at all.

It was £50 before lockdown, £89 last time I went and I'm told my next appointment, which I had to wait 6 weeks for, will be £95. They also take a £30 deposit on booking. I've asked a few friends and they all seem similar locally.

Dentist here. Honestly please train up. There can never be enough hygienists. Jobs will vary from practice to practice but the right one will give you a nurse and develop your skills. Our own hygienist is busy full time and we need at least another. She does whitening, scans as well as cleaning.

Jeeze mine's £120 for 1/2 an hour!

But he is the best ever! 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's so satisfying. There's nothing like the rattle of calculus down the aspirator. Or knowing how amazing that patient is going to feel about their teeth. Not every patient is grateful I'm afraid.

I know two people who have been dental hygienist, both had to quit because of back pain.
Apparently back pain and feet issues are rife in the industry.