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!

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”.

Thats a valid complaint from the customer, but surely you should schedule appropriate breaks?

I should - however I get zero autonomy over how my schedule is run. My book is filled by the practice owners who’d never in a million years allow me to schedule in breaks when I could be earning them money

Also bear in mind that during that 30 minute appointment I’ll be expected to sterilise all instruments, clean the room down and write up detailed notes of all findings/treatment carried out. Some hygienists will be very lucky and have assistance from a nurse (and assistance is more commonplace post covid with all the extra decontamination measures) but most do all this singlehandedly.

Probably worth speaking to your own dentist/hygienist for advice and to arrange some work experience (if even possible since covid, I have no idea). Have you considered pharmacy? You could qualify as a technician without university education, it's on the job training + a college course (think it's paid as band 2 while you train) and you can get to band 5 fairly quickly. I'd advise hospital over community, it's better money and you get the NHS sick pay, annual leave, mat leave etc.

But none of that is the customer's fault.

The working solo is dubious. No dentist would work unchaperoned. What do you do if you have a medical emergency?
Is there always a dentist on the premises?

Not saying it is. Just giving the OP a realistic expectation of what the day to day involves

I agree, unhappyhygienist. I used to not drink all day so I wouldn't need a wee.

Have you looked at becoming a Dental Therapist? The work is varied and interesting.

Yah I am qualified as a dental therapist. Never been able to find work so had to stick to hygiene.

@unhappyhygienist That was my problem too, but the hygiene side doesn't appeal. I like the drilling and filling!

The Therapy diploma alone is longer than 2 years though and there are hardly any Unis still offering that. Most are BSc DT/DH.
I agree it's a far more interesting /varied work. Extended skills like Inhalation Sedation can make Dental Therapy a very satisfying career.

I don't know anything about dental hygienists, but just to say don't discount OT, it's a fantastic, interesting job.

The starting salary is low but you can progress quickly and will likely have more job security in the NHS and benefits of pension/ sick pay etc.

@YayitisfinallySpring makes a good point, dental therapy is great work if you can get it, and there does appear to be more therapy work available now than when I first qualified. Sadly I never got a chance to do it and have completely deskilled.

Hi I'm a dental Therapist who was previously a teacher. I love my job, I find being a therapist gives me more variety than hygiene alone so I dont find the work as repetitive. Having said that lots of Therapists I know prefer to do hygiene alone. From what I am aware many of the 2 year courses are being fazed out for 3 year degrees. (I graduated in 28 months, but this course is now 3 years, however some of the hygiene only courses are 2 years , think Cardif may be one)
I did and access to health science course at collage to get to uni rather than a science A level and felt this prepared me well for my first year, these can be part time evening courses too.
In terms of working day I'm busy, work with nursing support in a lovely practice with a good wage, I'm happy.
Good luck with whatever you choose.

I wouldn't discount OT just because of the starting salary. It's £25655 now, not 23k, and the band 5 salary rises to £31354 after 4 years. Two of my friends are OTs: one became a band 6 a couple of years after qualifying and is now a top band 7, so on about 45k. My other OT friend works part time as a band 5 by choice and tops up her income with bank shifts.

Yes the NHS has rubbish yearly pay rises and most jobs are incredibly stressful, but the job stability, flexibility, sick pay, annual leave and pension are good.

From your description of what sort of job you are looking for, I would suggest being an ODP. Some hospitals offer apprenticeship posts, so you could actually get paid to train. The work is varied: anaesthetics, scrub, recovery, and all the ODPs I know (quite a few) actually quite like their job. It seems harder to progress up the bands in theatre (though not impossible), but overtime is plentiful, and once you have a few years experience you can apply for agencies which pay £20 - £50 per hour. A lot of the ODPs I know work part time in the NHS and pick up a few agency shifts a month.

I've been a hygienist for 15 years and I'm desperate to get out of the profession. I work in London and have never had a nurse so like people above have said I used to do 30 minute appointments back to back all day. No gaps other than lunch as despite being "self employed" the practice owner is in charge of the diary not me. Trying to clean up and write notes in 2-3 minutes is hard going. While having patients say I've paid for 30 minutes but you've only done 28 minutes is just ridiculous. Their teeth are clean. I done a perfect job. My job is not a luxury massage it is a treatment. I don't think any patient would complain if the dentist booked a filling for an hour and did it in half an hour. Yet for some reason people get upset if I cleaned their teeth in what they consider in too quick a time. If I ask them are they happy and is there any area they feel isn't clean they say no they feel and look great. So what is the issue? Yet people constantly complain and ask for money back despite apparently being happy with the completed treatment. Patients need to understand that if practices put breaks in between each patient all that would happen is prices would increase even more. So note writing and cleaning is included in the appointment time. It's always been this way.

And so many people saying oh my hygienist charges £100 for half an hour etc! You do realise we don't get anywhere near that? The wages are pretty good yes if you work at a decent place don't get me wrong. But I'm certainly not on anything like £200 an hour! The average is about 35% of generated income. And at my practice it is £60 for half an hour. And if lots of people cancel or don't turn up 35% of nothing is nothing. Plus I need to factor in money for sick pay and holidays etc as I get zilch as I'm self employed.

I'm also in constant pain with my neck, back and shoulders. It's got so much worse with covid and hand scaling in 2020 for months.

I'm hoping to leave dentistry by 2024 latest.

Just out of curiosity, are all dental hygienists self employed? No sick pay, annual leave, mat leave, pension?

And do you have to pay for your own indemnity insurance, registration, CPD etc?

OT here. Would you consider an OT apprenticeship? You would train on the job and get paid. OT is incredibly varied and there is an OT shortage right now

The majority are self employed yes. There are a few that are employed but I've never seen an employed position advertised near me in 15 years. I'd love to be employed. But it's up to the practice owner to agree to it. So yes I get no sick, holiday, pension or maternity benefits. And I pay for all my own Indemnity, registration, CPD etc.

Yes, dentists too. That's why they opened during the Pandemic as soon as they could. And just as well, many of my patients are suffering with relapses from gum disease despite trying to get back to full productivity which has been hard due to cleaning protocols. Our next appointment for our hygienist is about 4 months time but people are cancelling last minute which means we don't get paid and then we don't have appointments.

Have you thought about podiatry? You might get more job variety?

I once had a patient come in and before he even said hello he said "haven't seen you for ages. You kept cancelling my appointment and I wasn't going to see the locum they had so if my gums are bad then it's your fault for cancelling me". My mother had died and that's why I was off. He was told that by reception when they rang to tell him it would be a locum and not me. But he couldn't care less. Was only bothered that I had dared take time off.

Everything @AnotherUnhappyHyg has said is spot on - I feel your pain!

And yes, probably 99% are SE, there is the odd employed position but these are VERY rare. I even have to pay for my own meal at the Xmas party 😂