Have you ever been asked to think about why you want to be a dental hygienist?
This is a common question that you’ll see among interviewers and employers, but it isn’t the easiest to answer.
How do you give an answer that feels genuine and reflects what you really feel about your work?
A career in dental hygiene isn’t for everyone, but a lot of people find this an immensely fulfilling path.
It often offers major advantages, like a flexible working schedule, a relaxed atmosphere, and plenty of opportunities to interact with patients.
You’ll be doing important work with a lot of variety and making a real difference to the people you are helping.
In this article, we’re going to look at the top reasons that you might want to become a dental hygienist.
This will help you to decide whether this is a good career path for you or whether you should look at other options.
Why Do You Want To Be A Dental Hygienist Answers
There are quite a few things that prompt people to take up this career path, so the answers will differ for everybody.
Here are the top reasons that people tend to take up dental hygiene:
- Variations in the work you do each day
- Helping others to improve their oral health
- A flexible working schedule
- A relaxed atmosphere
- Enjoy plenty of job autonomy
Variations in the work you do each day
If you love your job to change regularly and to be constantly addressing new challenges, a career in dental hygiene could be for you.
When you’re working as a dental hygienist, there are lots of things you’re going to need to master, and you’ll constantly be calling on different skills.
Some of the tasks involve things like doing X-rays, offering treatments to improve oral health, and administering some local anesthetics, including things like nitrous oxide.
You’ll also need to be capable of repairing and cleaning teeth and taking care of gums and teeth roots.
If you’re somebody who enjoys work that is mentally engaging and if you’re good at being on the ball all the time, you’ll thrive in this sort of environment.
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Helping others to improve their oral health
A major payoff of the job is the fact that you get to help other people.
You’ll feel like you are really making a difference when you see how much you can help your patients each day.
Because part of the job involves educating patients on dental hygiene, there’s a good chance you’ll get to see people improving their techniques and enjoying better oral health.
Some people find this enormously rewarding and are very happy to be a part of helping individuals look after their teeth and protect their smiles.
When you’re working on dental hygiene, you know you’re making a difference to the people you’re working with – which a lot of people derive satisfaction from.
A flexible working schedule
On the whole, dental hygienists enjoy flexible schedules.
If you’re looking for part-time work, this is a particularly good career to go into because you can usually obtain part-time hours.
You can also get full-time hours if you prefer, or you may be able to serve as a contractor in some situations.
You can essentially do the job whatever you want it to be.
Some hygienists even work at multiple practices, which gives you more variety and more job security.
If you have other commitments, such as children, studying, or just time-consuming hobbies, you might be keen to find a job that offers you this kind of flexibility.
A relaxed atmosphere
On the whole, dental hygienists enjoy a relaxed atmosphere – especially when compared with other jobs in the medical field.
Most dental practices want to maximize how calm their office feels, and therefore you’ll generally find that people are reasonably laid-back.
This can be a great environment to work in.
Of course, work is still taken seriously, and there are time pressures, which often provide a good balance that most individuals can enjoy.
You’ll also get to know the patients you’re working with, especially in the long term, which most hygienists enjoy.
You may get to the point where you can joke around and chat about patients’ lives with them.
Enjoy plenty of job autonomy
If you’re somebody who likes to be in charge of your own work and you want the power to take the initiative without too much supervision, this is certainly a career field you should look at.
In most cases, you won’t have somebody breathing down your neck or telling you how to manage your hours – you’ll just be able to get on with the task at hand.
You’ll also be given the ability to create care plans for your patients, allowing you a high degree of control and ensuring you can make the changes you think are necessary.
If you find being closely managed is a grating experience, being a dental hygienist could be ideal for you.
How To Answer Why Do You Want To Be A Dental Hygienist?
When you’re interviewing to become a dental hygienist, one of the questions you’re bound to hear is what drew you to this career path and why you want to pursue it.
Knowing how to answer this effectively can give you an edge.
You should answer this question as honestly as you can because this will lend your answer passion.
Think about your first experience with dental hygiene, and consider why this job makes you tick.
Avoid discussing the more self-interested aspects, like flexible hours, and instead, consider what makes you love the job.
Having a passionate answer to this question will help you to stand out among the other candidates.
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Conclusion: Why Do I Want to Be a Dental Hygienist
There are many reasons to want to be a dental hygienist.
Some are more self-interested, like the flexible hours, while others are about helping the people around you and doing meaningful work.
Think about all the different things that draw you to this career path when you are asked why you want to be a dental hygienist.
Best of luck with your upcoming interview!
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