Dental Hygienist Jobs in Canada

Dental Hygienist Jobs Overview

Do you want to work closely with patients without the long hours of nurses or the extensive education requirements of doctors? Then a job as a dental hygienist may be right for you. Dental hygienist jobs exist to support a dental practice. Dental hygienists perform patient care, both independently and while assisting dentists. Their responsibilities include:

• polishing teeth and performing teeth cleanings
• applying treatments like fluoride
• taking X-rays
• educating patients about oral care
• documenting medical history and treatments

How to Find Dental Hygienist Jobs That Fit You

Dental hygienists typically work normal office hours, although some dental practices may be open for a few hours during the weekend. Taking a look at the hours of the dental practice you want to work for should give you a general idea of what your schedule will be like.

A good fit with the staff in the office, and especially the dentist, is key because you’ll be working closely together much of the time. It’s therefore important that you get to have at least one interview in person to see if the work culture and team will be a good match for you. Consider whether you want to work with children, adolescents, adults, or seniors, since some dentists will specialize in a specific age group.

Get a Customized Dental Hygienist Resume and Cover Letter

If you need to brush up on your resume writing skills, get help fromMonster’s Resume Writing Services. A job-hunting expert familiar with your industry will create a customized resume tailored to your unique experience. You can also get help writing your cover letter and finding a unique value proposition that will make your letter stand out.

Submit Your Application on Monster

Once you have polished resume and cover letter, team up with Monster to boost your job search. Get regular emails with career advice in your inbox and updates on new job opportunities bycreating a free profile. You’ll also be able to send your applications directly through Monster to dental hygienist jobs that you find on the site, as well as add your resume to the database for recruiters.

How to Follow up With an Employer

If it’s been at least a week and you haven’t heard anything regarding your job application, don’t hesitate to reach out. Just be aware that the contact person in the email or the person picking up the phone in the front office may not be responsible for hiring decisions.

For best results, ask who’s interviewing for this position and see if you can get in touch with them directly. Often, this is the dentist, but it could also be an office manager or the owner of the practice. If you can reach the person in charge, don’t miss the opportunity to deliver a brief pitch about yourself.

Interviewing Tips for Dental Hygienist Jobs

Whether your first interview is virtual or in person, come prepared by dressing professionally and conservatively. If you’re visiting the clinic, think about some brief small talk as you meet the rest of the staff and the dentist. Refresh your knowledge of common dental office lingo as well.

Most importantly, make sure to come well-prepared to answer a variety of interview questions. Questions for a dental hygienist job will likely include clinical questions, administrative details, and hypothetical scenarios. Here are some examples of interview questions you might be asked:

• Are you familiar with HIPAA?
• How do you handle difficult patients?
• What techniques do you use to calm a nervous patient?

What to Do When You Get an Offer

With a well-written resume and well-rehearsed interview questions, a job offer could be right around the corner. Before you accept it, make sure to give it a detailed check-up. Do the salary and benefits measure up to what you expected?

Don’t hesitate to negotiate if the offer isn’t quite up to par-just make sure to express your gratitude and excitement first. Keep in mind that a good salary negotiation is based on fair compensation for your experience level and education, as well as additional factors you have to offer as a candidate, not how much you need or would like to earn. Always approach a negotiation reminding the employer of what you can offer.

The offer should also include details such as the hours and title of the position, the expected start date, job description, and other essential information.

Similar Occupations to Dental Hygienist Jobs

There are many other similar jobs in healthcare technology you might be interested in. Take a look at these related job titles:

• dental technician jobs
• dental ceramist jobs