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Gracen
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
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What is dental school like? Is it complicated?
I am a sophomore in high school and have been interested in maybe being a dental hygienist. Currently I am an A's and B's student with an occasional C when a class is hard. I am curious on what schooling would look like If I continued to want to be a Dental hygienist.
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2 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1333
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Gracen, alright so let’s break this down for you to make sure you get it! 🤔
Grades first.
A’s and B’s? You’re solid. A C here and there? Not a disaster, but where it lands matters. If it’s in gym, art, or something random, whatever. But if it’s in science, especially bio or chem, you might wanna put in some extra effort now. Dental hygiene is packed with science—anatomy, microbiology, chemistry—all stuff that helps you understand the human body, bacteria, and why some people’s mouths look like horror movies. If you struggle in those subjects now, it’s better to fix it before you start dental hygiene school.
How you actually get into this?
It’s not like you just walk in, grab some tools, and start scraping plaque off people’s teeth. You gotta go through the process.
First up, school. You need an associate degree in dental hygiene, which usually takes two to three years. Some people go for a bachelor’s, but it’s not necessary unless you’re planning to teach or do research later. The associate degree gets you straight into working with patients.
Then, the science classes. If you ever thought, “Why do I need chemistry and bio?”—this is why. You’re gonna be learning how bacteria messes up teeth, how chemicals in toothpaste work, how saliva actually protects your mouth, and even how to read X-rays to spot cavities before they turn into disasters.
And then, real hands-on training. You’ll actually be working with real people, cleaning teeth, taking X-rays, helping prevent gum disease, and probably dealing with some, uh, very questionable dental hygiene situations. Not everyone flosses. Some people haven’t seen a toothbrush in years. You’re gonna see some things.
But it’s not all scary—you’ll actually be helping people. A lot of folks don’t realize how much oral health affects their overall health, so you’ll be educating them too.
After that? The Big Test. Every dental hygienist has to pass a licensing exam before they can work. It’s tough, but once you’re through, you’re officially in.
What’s the job like?
Honestly? Pretty great—if you like people and don’t mind being super up-close in their personal space. You’re not stuck at a desk all day, and you actually get to help people avoid painful dental problems. Some days will be smooth, and others… well, let’s just say some teeth have stories to tell.
You need to be patient because a lot of people are terrified of the dentist. You’ll meet the anxious ones, the ones who never floss and know they’re about to get called out, and the ones who talk way too much while you have tools in their mouth.
You also need good hands. This isn’t like brushing your own teeth—you’re working in tiny spaces, trying to be gentle but also get rid of gunk that’s been stuck there for months (or years… ew).
And yeah, people skills are huge. Some patients will straight-up lie to your face about flossing, and you’ll have to pretend to believe them while knowing full well they haven’t flossed since 2015. You’re also gonna be explaining things a lot, so being able to make someone actually care about their teeth is a big deal.
What’s good about it?
You get paid really well, even with just an associate degree. The hours are flexible—a lot of dental hygienists work part-time and still make great money. It’s always in demand because, well, people will always have teeth (hopefully).
What’s not-so-great?
It can get super repetitive—cleaning teeth all day, every day. It’s also physically demanding—you’re on your feet, bending over, using your hands a ton, and working with tiny, detailed movements. And yeah, not everyone has fresh breath, so if that’s a dealbreaker, maybe rethink this.
Things to do now if this sounds good:
If you really wanna know if this is for you, shadow a dental hygienist. Spend a day or two in a dental office and just see what it’s actually like. School is one thing, but real-world experience is different.
If science isn’t your strong suit, start brushing up on it now. Even just watching YouTube videos on anatomy, microbiology, and chemistry basics will help.
And if you’re not super comfortable talking to people, work on that too. You’ll be chatting with patients all day, so getting better at small talk and making people feel comfortable is a major skill.
If all of this sounds cool, go for it. If not, no worries—there are plenty of other awesome healthcare careers. Either way, keep your options open and keep your grades up. You got this, good luck Gracen!
Grades first.
A’s and B’s? You’re solid. A C here and there? Not a disaster, but where it lands matters. If it’s in gym, art, or something random, whatever. But if it’s in science, especially bio or chem, you might wanna put in some extra effort now. Dental hygiene is packed with science—anatomy, microbiology, chemistry—all stuff that helps you understand the human body, bacteria, and why some people’s mouths look like horror movies. If you struggle in those subjects now, it’s better to fix it before you start dental hygiene school.
How you actually get into this?
It’s not like you just walk in, grab some tools, and start scraping plaque off people’s teeth. You gotta go through the process.
First up, school. You need an associate degree in dental hygiene, which usually takes two to three years. Some people go for a bachelor’s, but it’s not necessary unless you’re planning to teach or do research later. The associate degree gets you straight into working with patients.
Then, the science classes. If you ever thought, “Why do I need chemistry and bio?”—this is why. You’re gonna be learning how bacteria messes up teeth, how chemicals in toothpaste work, how saliva actually protects your mouth, and even how to read X-rays to spot cavities before they turn into disasters.
And then, real hands-on training. You’ll actually be working with real people, cleaning teeth, taking X-rays, helping prevent gum disease, and probably dealing with some, uh, very questionable dental hygiene situations. Not everyone flosses. Some people haven’t seen a toothbrush in years. You’re gonna see some things.
But it’s not all scary—you’ll actually be helping people. A lot of folks don’t realize how much oral health affects their overall health, so you’ll be educating them too.
After that? The Big Test. Every dental hygienist has to pass a licensing exam before they can work. It’s tough, but once you’re through, you’re officially in.
What’s the job like?
Honestly? Pretty great—if you like people and don’t mind being super up-close in their personal space. You’re not stuck at a desk all day, and you actually get to help people avoid painful dental problems. Some days will be smooth, and others… well, let’s just say some teeth have stories to tell.
You need to be patient because a lot of people are terrified of the dentist. You’ll meet the anxious ones, the ones who never floss and know they’re about to get called out, and the ones who talk way too much while you have tools in their mouth.
You also need good hands. This isn’t like brushing your own teeth—you’re working in tiny spaces, trying to be gentle but also get rid of gunk that’s been stuck there for months (or years… ew).
And yeah, people skills are huge. Some patients will straight-up lie to your face about flossing, and you’ll have to pretend to believe them while knowing full well they haven’t flossed since 2015. You’re also gonna be explaining things a lot, so being able to make someone actually care about their teeth is a big deal.
What’s good about it?
You get paid really well, even with just an associate degree. The hours are flexible—a lot of dental hygienists work part-time and still make great money. It’s always in demand because, well, people will always have teeth (hopefully).
What’s not-so-great?
It can get super repetitive—cleaning teeth all day, every day. It’s also physically demanding—you’re on your feet, bending over, using your hands a ton, and working with tiny, detailed movements. And yeah, not everyone has fresh breath, so if that’s a dealbreaker, maybe rethink this.
Things to do now if this sounds good:
If you really wanna know if this is for you, shadow a dental hygienist. Spend a day or two in a dental office and just see what it’s actually like. School is one thing, but real-world experience is different.
If science isn’t your strong suit, start brushing up on it now. Even just watching YouTube videos on anatomy, microbiology, and chemistry basics will help.
And if you’re not super comfortable talking to people, work on that too. You’ll be chatting with patients all day, so getting better at small talk and making people feel comfortable is a major skill.
If all of this sounds cool, go for it. If not, no worries—there are plenty of other awesome healthcare careers. Either way, keep your options open and keep your grades up. You got this, good luck Gracen!
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Doc Frick
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Dr H
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1824
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Although the specific requirements vary by state Gracen, to work as a hygienist, dental education is definitely the important first step. Check with your state’s dental board or the dental board in the state in which you hope to work. This will ensure that you start out on the right path and that you choose a program and a school that meet the qualifications.
All states require that you receive some degree and type of education before working in this career. To do it well and to help patients, you need to have a foundation of knowledge and certain skills. On-the-job training isn’t generally an option. In most states, a two-year associate’s degree in dental hygiene is recommended after you've finished and graduated high school.
There are many dental hygiene programs across the U.S., some which may be partially online. Check with community colleges, vocational and technical schools, and also universities that have dental schools. To gain admittance to a dental hygiene program, you will need to check with the specific requirements of a program. They typically include completion of basic science classes and a minimum grade point average. Some programs are highly competitive and may require that you first complete a year of college general education classes before being accepted.
All states require that you receive some degree and type of education before working in this career. To do it well and to help patients, you need to have a foundation of knowledge and certain skills. On-the-job training isn’t generally an option. In most states, a two-year associate’s degree in dental hygiene is recommended after you've finished and graduated high school.
There are many dental hygiene programs across the U.S., some which may be partially online. Check with community colleges, vocational and technical schools, and also universities that have dental schools. To gain admittance to a dental hygiene program, you will need to check with the specific requirements of a program. They typically include completion of basic science classes and a minimum grade point average. Some programs are highly competitive and may require that you first complete a year of college general education classes before being accepted.