CE online courses for dental hygiene enable these professionals to keep abreast concerning the latest trends and innovations in the health industry. Continuing education classes are also needed so they can maintain or renew their license. The web makes studying more convenient than traditional classes however.
Overview
The role of hygienists is to take out soft and hard deposits from the teeth of patients and instruct patients how to take care of them. Some of these units also focus on gum care and how to prevent tooth damage.
Coursework Contents
The contents will vary depending on the program. Among the most commonly covered topics are dental radiology, dental hygiene theory and dental materials used today. Additional topics include how to use dental equipment properly and what mistakes to avoid. CE courses also include dental pharmacology, periodontics and oral pathology. The number of courses you have to study to maintain your license varies.
You can specialize in different courses and take as many as you like. More advanced courses center on management roles and health care. The latest in dental hygiene services are also discussed as well as fluoride treatments, fissure and pit sealant processes. These courses also explore X-ray procedures and different types of cleansing.
Requirements
Every licensed dental hygienist in the US is required to take CPR classes every year or every three years. In some states there will be separate classes for nitrous oxide administration and local anesthetic complications.
Almost all states require at least a couple of hours of infectious control training. Every state in the US allows 4 to 12 hours of study for renewing their license. There are also credits given for teaching dental hygiene and volunteer work.
Job Prospects
Graduates can look forward to a good career as the demand for these personnel are expected to remain high up to 2018. The average annual salary is $80,000.
Other Information
You can also study other courses like medical emergencies, anatomy of the head and neck and tooth anatomy. There are also continuing education programs that focus on dental office procedure and how to conduct different research methodologies.
Some states also allow them to take miscellaneous courses. You can take up dental law, jurisprudence, ethics and risk management. You can also study courses which focus on specific diseases.
Before taking CE online courses for dental hygiene, review the state requirements for licensing. The number of CE hours required will vary.