Preparing for dental hygiene school

Anita Donnelly, Katie Cassidy, Kaitlin Crilly and Jowita Pala provide a comprehensive guide to preparing for dental hygiene school.

Entering a dental hygiene course is a significant milestone in the journey towards a rewarding career in oral healthcare. Aspiring dental hygiene students embark on a rigorous educational path that requires dedication, hard work, organisation and preparation.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide for individuals aspiring to pursue dental hygiene education, offering valuable insights and strategies to enhance their readiness for the challenges ahead.

Be prepared

One of the first steps in preparing for dental hygiene school is to familiarise yourself with the educational requirements. Most dental hygiene programmes require applicants to have a leaving certificate or equivalent, along with specific subjects such as biology and chemistry.

It is essential to research the admission requirements of prospective universities and ensure that you meet all of the requirements before applying. It is also important to research on how to apply to each universities as some may differ, for example Trinity University Dublin is through CAO, but University College Cork is a direct application to the university and applying to the United Kingdom can be completed through the UCAS system or by  direct application to the university.

Gaining relevant experience working in a dental environment and obtaining a dental nursing qualification has its advantages when it comes to applying and being in the dental hygiene course. As current students, some of us have previously been dental nurses and worked in general and specialist practices and have found it quite helpful during our course that we had previously worked with a periodontist/implant dentist.

Mature students

As mature students, we also found that continuous education also had its advantages when applying, some of us had completed the dental radiography and the oral health promotion course.

The mature student application process for the dental hygiene course is very competitive, with a limited number of places available in each programme. To increase your chances of acceptance, focus on preparing a good application that highlights your academic achievements, relevant experience, and passion for the field.

Write a compelling personal statement that articulates your motivation for pursuing a career in dental hygiene and demonstrates your commitment to the profession. Obtain letters of recommendation from educators, employers, or dental professionals who can attest to your qualifications and character.

Many dental hygiene programmes conduct an interview process, which can be a crucial part of the application. Our top tips would be:

• Dress professionally
• Speak to previous people who may have gone through the interview process
• Research each university and course along with who may be on the interview panel.

Each programme has different interview style and questions, but the one question that seems to be repeated throughout the different interviews is your understanding of the role and scope of practice of a dental hygienist; know this inside out.

Practice, practice and more practice! This will hugely benefit you and prepare you.

Developing new skills

In addition to academic and clinical competency, dental hygiene students must possess strong communication, interpersonal, and professionalism skills. Practice effective communication techniques, both verbal and written, as effective patient communication is essential in the dental setting.

While the duration of the dental hygiene course you will have to partake in many presentations, we would advise people to gain experience in presenting to reduce nerves when speaking in front of people.

Dexterity skills are vastly important in dental hygiene to carry out procedures and also for the safety of the clinician and patient. Excellent hand-eye coordination would certainly help in order to develop these new dexterity skills for the duration of your studies.

Organisational skills are essential for student dental hygienist to efficiently manage patient appointment, treatment plans, clinical task and clinical rotations. Additionally, good organisational skills enable students to maintain accurate patient records, track treatment progress, and adhere to infection control protocols, ensuring high patient care and safety standards.

Furthermore, organised students are better equipped to balance academic coursework, clinical responsibilities, and extracurricular activities, leading to overall success in their dental hygiene education and future careers.

The dental hygiene school dream

Preparing for dental hygiene school requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses academic preparation, hands-on experience, and professional development. By reading this article we hope aspiring dental hygiene students can enhance their readiness for the challenges of preparing for dental hygiene application and education.

Remember, dedication, perseverance, and a passion for oral health will ultimately pave the way for a fulfilling and rewarding journey in dental hygiene.