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what college class do I need to take to become a dental hygienist I am curtly a high school junior. some high school classes help me in college? .......?

Science is not my strongest subject, but I think that working as a dental hygienist would be a great fit for me professionally. It meets a lot of my job needs in terms of fixability, salary, and work environment. I'm doing research right now and would appreciate your assistance.

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Dr’s Answer

Hey Tanvi,

Okay, so.

For high school, focus on biology and chemistry—you’ll need those to understand the science behind teeth, gums, and bacteria. (You might not be besties with science now, but think of it as building your superhero powers! 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️) You don’t need to stress about advanced stuff like AP classes, just aim for a solid foundation.

When you hit college, you’ll dive into courses like anatomy, microbiology, pharmacology, and radiology. So yes, it’s going to be a science-packed adventure! But hey, you’ll have hands-on experience too—meaning you’ll be working on real patients and learning practical skills, not just reading textbooks.

And don't worry, many programs offer extra help if science is giving you trouble. Plus, you'll have professors available during office hours. You’ve got this! 💪

Also, try shadowing a dental hygienist now or in the future. It'll give you an up-close look at the job—and I promise, it’s much cooler than it sounds. Plus, you’ll get a better idea of how fun and rewarding it can be to help people keep their smiles bright, like really bright! 😁

Keep that curiosity alive, and good luck with your journey. You've got a great future ahead in dental hygiene! 🦷🎉 Stay positive and passionale dont let anything stop you.

Oh and and not to forget,

The curiousty of the ones below, I am gonna give you a break thoight about each one and how they are.

Flexibility:

One of the best things about being a dental hygienist is that it offers flexible work hours. Many hygienists work part-time, and since dental offices often have hours from early morning to late afternoon, you can often find a schedule that works for you. If you prefer a work-life balance, this job is great because you can sometimes even pick shifts that fit around other life commitments, like family, school, or hobbies.

Salary, remember it is differenti depending on region, country, proffesionality like how many hears you have been doing it and has other depending factory.

but all in one dental hygienists make a good salary, especially considering the level of education required (usually a two-year program). In the U.S., dental hygienists can earn anywhere between $55,000 to $85,000 per year, depending on where you work and your experience. In some areas, you could make even more, especially if you're in a higher-demand location. Not bad, right? Plus, the job can sometimes offer benefits, bonuses, and opportunities for advancement always look into that in the future ofcourse.

Work Environment:

The work environment in dental hygiene is usually clean, quiet, and comfortable, as you’ll be in a dental office or clinic. It’s a professional setting, and you’ll be interacting with a variety of people—from patients to the rest of the dental team. It’s a great fit for those who like interacting with people and want a job that’s not behind a desk all day.

here is a few tips to Get Started which I recommend you can do and seems most do recommend this as well.

Start by focusing on science in high school.

Take biology and chemistry as they’ll help you build the foundation for your future studies in dental hygiene. So yea now I know science might not be your strong suit, but don't worry—you'll get lots of support in college. Plus, these subjects will make anatomy and microbiology feel a little less intimidating down the road!
So here is a tip, the brain learns by practice and learning over and over again because the region, temporary, keeps the information for a while but with practice over time it will hift to the perminant region where you will save it forever and dont need to practice anymore becuase you will have the answer right away. Just like learning the Alphabets you do them so uch that over time without thinking you get the letter right.

Consider volunteering or shadowing a dental hygienist to get a feel for the job just again as i mentioned above too. This is because You’ll see firsthand what the day-to-day looks like and get an idea of how much you’ll enjoy it, then you will ready more than ever.

Get organized and stay curious. Since you’re already researching, keep it up! You’ll have a good idea of what courses you need in college and what career paths lie ahead. Research is always good. I have been doing it myself too.

Practice good study habits. If science isn’t your favorite, get into the habit of breaking down the material into bite-sized pieces or find a fun way to learn, believe me I was so bad at the anatomy terminologia that still i often miss up the disarcionare of bidy region but if you have passion and believe you can do it. You can do it!

Being a dental hygienist can definitely give you the flexibility, salary, and work environment you’re looking for. With some dedication, you’ll be well on your way to a rewarding career in the dental field. Keep that excitement alive, and you’ve got this I know u do.😁
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Mohammed’s Answer

Hi Tanvi !
To become a dental hygieniest you shuold be focus in the high school subject like , Biology, Chemistry, and physics that will help you in subjects you will study in first year for collage of dentistry like Anatomy, Organic Chemistry, Phisiology, Histology, .... and you should be reading it before study of collage to make knowledge about dentistry.

Wish you all the best in your study🌹
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Grecia’s Answer

Hello,
Well, you must develop a love for science and take any AP science classes in high school if they are available to you. Dental Hygiene is demanding, and getting accepted into the program depends a lot on your science GPA.
If you begin to prepare in high school, you will surely succeed. As a hygienist myself, I am happy with my career choice.
You can do it.
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Sneha’s Answer

Hi Tanvi! To prepare for a dental hygiene program in college, focus on high school classes like biology, chemistry, and health, as these will give you a solid foundation. Once in college, you'll typically need to complete courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and nutrition as part of your dental hygiene program. Its okay if science isn't your strongest subject. Many programs offer resources to help you succeed and office hours with professors. Keep your enthusiasm and determination, and consider shadowing a dental hygienist to gain firsthand experience in the field. Good luck!
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Bright’s Answer

To become a dental hygienist, you’ll need to complete an accredited dental hygiene program, usually at a community college or university. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. **High School Classes**: Focus on subjects like biology, chemistry, and health, as these will give you a foundation in science and anatomy.

2. **College Courses**: In college, you’ll take courses in dental anatomy, microbiology, oral health, and radiography. Some programs also include hands-on clinical training.

3. **Licensing**: After graduating, you'll need to pass a licensing exam to practice as a dental hygienist.

**Summary**: To become a dental hygienist, focus on science and health classes in high school. In college, complete a dental hygiene program with courses in dental anatomy, health, and clinical training. You’ll also need to get licensed to practice.
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Michelle’s Answer

Hello, Tanvi !

It's great that you want to know which classes to take in high school.

In your state of Illinois, to get into a Dental Hygiene Program, you just need to take one year of High School Algebra, and one year of science with a Lab like Biology or Chemistry, obtaining a grade of "C" or higher. That's about it. Dental Hygiene Programs in your state want you to have these courses so that you will hone your critical thinking, evidence-based decision making, and communication skills. The classes do not have to be AP. I know you do not like science very much, but it will be expected when you apply to a Dental Hygiene Program after high school.

Flexibility, salary and environment of the job you obtain after the program is not guaranteed. It's not able to be determined yet. You'd have to see who is hiring and apply to the jobs that you feel are acceptable. Although these elements of working are important, to foster dedication and gain knowledge, the actual work is the important thing. No one can tailor make their job or career. It's okay not to know these things right now because you have to make room for developing skills and knowledge in high school.

About Science not being your strong subject, you will have lots of it in the Dental Hygiene Program. The courses in your state for the program are: Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Radiology, Community Health, Ethics and Law (for dental hygiene), and hands on Clinical Practice. It is indeed mostly all science. Although it's not expected of you to take any of these in high school, you will have to take them with passing grades in the Dental Hygiene Program.

Getting a well-informed look at this career can be helpful. It's not the type of career one chooses for the hours or flexibility as you do not know where you'd be working. You can choose employment notices that have a salary to your liking,, but this is really not a productive approach to any career. I hope that the information I have provided to you is helpful and that you will verify it and consult with your Guidance Counselor.

Best wishes to you in all you do !
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Aimee’s Answer

In high school, important classes would be maths and sciences. Anything chemistry to body related, such as biology.

English or language classes are also important- If possible, id recommend a medical terminology or even a Latin class, as healthcare terminology can be overwhelming to learn at first.

Anatomy and physiology are definite courses you will need- taking anything related to these in high school, even if it’s just YouTube or TikTok- will make it easier to digest when you see it again in college.


There are also technical hygiene programs that include all classes needed, and streamline everything bc. For these, you’re paying more money than if you did it at a community or 2 year school, but you’re doing it faster and getting into your field/career sooner.

Red flags to look out for here are schools that haven’t been around for very long, aren’t accredited, seem sketchy or pushy…


Good luck! You’re going to do great with whatever you decide 🙌
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