A dental hygiene educator in a school or public health setting provides oral health assessments, preventive services and referrals. These professionals deliver presentations and training programs on preventive dentistry as well as create strategies and educational materials to change oral health behaviors. In the higher education environment, dental hygiene educators provide classroom and clinical instruction as faculty members in the dental and dental hygiene programs of colleges and universities. They arm future dental professionals with the knowledge and hands-on experience they need to perform oral health care services. Educators can advance to management roles in these institutions, according to DimensionsOfDentalHygiene.com.
In the industry setting, dental hygiene educators design and create product training materials that patients, dentists and dental hygienists need. They also consult on product development and deliver presentations about new products offered by oral care and dental products companies. In addition, they market new dental technologies. Toothbrush companies are among those that offer career opportunities to dental hygiene educators.
To work as a dental hygiene educator, an individual must have strong presentation and leadership skills. They must be able to communicate well both orally and in writing, and must be capable of analyzing and simplifying complex information for other individuals. In addition, these professionals must be able to solve problems, understand research methods and understand community-based practice and policy associated with oral health promotion. They additionally must be able to use technology to access, store and exchange information electronically. Most importantly, they must have strong, credible clinical experience as dental hygienists.
Dental hygiene educators should be licensed by their state as dental hygienists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To do this, these professionals must graduate from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and pass a written and clinical exam. The written exam comes from the American Dental Association's Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
To become a dental hygiene educator, individuals can pursue a bachelor's or master's degree in dental hygiene. A bachelor's or master's degree typically is necessary for research, teaching or clinical practice in public or school health programs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bachelor's degree programs can prepare individuals to teach at the community college level. Master's degrees in dental hygiene education are available at colleges such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and can lead to university assistant professor positions.