Dental Hygienist And Dental Assistant Careers, Training, Education
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I need to buy dental insurance. My work doesn’t offer it. What are some good dental insurance providers that I can sign up with online?
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For those looking at becoming a Dental Hygienist, it is an excellent field to be in, as being a hygienist or even a Dental Assistant can be very rewarding. It offers flexibility and good pay. In many cases you can work part time, full time and create a schedule that works both for you and for the dental office that you are a staff member of.
Each dental hygienist training program differs but most require you to have completed high school and some college. Some programs insist that the applicant wait a full year after college graduation to enroll as a dental hygienist student.
Dental hygienists, not dentists, are often the ones who will clean a patient's teeth during a routine cleaning and they remove deposits of soft material and plaque, which can cause tooth problems as well as gum disease. They often assist the dentist in preparing lab tests and do X-rays of a patient's mouth.
It is the job of the dental hygienist to talk with and educate the dental patient about the proper ways of brushing and using dental floss as preventative measures against tooth decay, tooth disease and gum problems. They may also recommend certain types of toothbrushes or an electric toothbrush or suggest using sensodyne toothpaste.
As with any lucrative and exciting career, there is a lot of work and study before you enter the profession. When you become eligible, you must begin by enrolling at a dental hygienist school, or, in some cases, you may begin your studies online, via the internet. There are some good online programs but they do not have the training necessary to train you in how to perform the procedures that you must do in a clinical exam. There are several hundred of approved courses throughout the US and those are approved and accredited by the American Dental Association. There are written and clinical exams which you must take and pass.
Another requirement is that you must get your dental hygienist license in the state you intend to practice in. But first you must get your certification.
There are many two year programs but there are also those that get a bachelor's degree with a four year program. Both are fine but sometimes it may be an advantage to have the four year degree over those who have come from a two year program.
In general a good dental hygienist can earn about $30.00 an hour or around $60,000 a year full time. Most tend to work part time with flexible hours and they also usually have very good dental and medical benefits as well.
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You have five options with dental.
1. Go without insurance. If you have good teeth and just want the basics you probably don’t need any plan. A yearly cleaning and exam and even an occasional filling will cost you less without insurance.
2. Visit a local dental school. You can get many procedures done for a reduced price if you’re willing to let them practice on you.
3. Insurance – Depending upon the policy: cost $30-$60 per month. You pay a $50 deductible first, they have an annual maximum that they’ll pay per year of $750 – $1500, they have a waiting period up to 18 months for major work and then you’re paying 50% of the charges. Example – average cost for a root canal in my area is $919. With insurance you pay $460 after paying 18 months of premium (around $800 or $900). Advantage – you can use any dentist with most plans.
4. Discount plans – Cost – $5-$12 per month. No deductible, no annual maximum and no waiting periods. Also, hardly any dentists will accept the plan and when they do you MIGHT get a 10% discount, which is about the same discount you can get by paying cash. Example – average cost for a root canal in my area is $919. With discount plans you pay around $827. Be very wary of these plans because most are scams. The people that sell these plans have little or no knowledge about health & dental insurance and do not need a license to sell them. The plans are not regulated by the state so you have no recourse when you have problems. Some states are starting to ban these plans from being sold. Here is an informative link http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2006/11/22/74554.htm concerning these plans.
5. Fee for Service discount plans – Cost $7-$15 per month. No deductible, no annual maximum and no waiting periods. Many dentist will accept the plan (check providers first before signing up with any plan). When you use the plan there is a set fee that the dentist will charge you. Example – average cost for a root canal in my area is $919. With fee for service plans you pay as little as $404.
I’m an insurance agent and my personal plan is the fee for service plan. I got mine here http://www.dpbrokers.com/default.aspx?locationid=20349 specifically the Aetna Dental Access plan but which one you get depends upon your area and comparing the fee schedule to find the best for what you need covered.
I would encourage you to visit this website: http://www.healthsavings.ourperfectcard.com I signed up online over 3 years ago now for all my dental needs and they have saved me thousands of dollars throughout the years. From Root canals, crowns, exams, xrays…etc. All services are included in this very affordable plan. They even had my benefits active in 2 hours and able to use it the same day. Good Luck and Hope this Helps.