Choosing a major is on the minds of many BYU students. With the job market as competitive as it is, many students are looking for the job market's next big thing.

Dental hygiene may be a viable option for many students. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2006, dental hygienists made an average of $30.19 an hour.

A degree in dental hygiene can be earned in as little as three years. Many programs require a year of prerequisite courses that can be taken at other colleges or universities, including BYU. Required courses include microbiology, chemistry, physiology and English. After being accepted into an accredited program, a degree can be earned in as little as two years.

"[Dental hygiene] is a well paying job in a relatively short period of time," said Ken Molen, founder, president and CEO of the Utah College of Dental Hygiene. "We have dental hygienists out in the community working one day a week making $250 to $350."

UCDH is one of four accredited schools in Utah currently offering a bachelor of science in dental hygiene. Utah Valley University, Salt Lake Community College, Weber State University and Dixie State College are the other Utah schools currently offering a degree in dental hygiene.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site, bls.gov, prospective dental hygienists must become licensed in the state in which they wish to practice. Both UCDH and UVU dental hygiene graduates fare well on the licensing boards. It is not rare for 100 percent of the graduating class to pass the boards.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked a career in dental hygiene as the 18th fastest growing occupation for the years from 2006 to 2016. The BLS predicts a growth of 50,000 more dental hygienists in the next eight years, an increase of just over 30 percent.

Janelle Jex, a first-year student at UCDH, said dental hygienist's flexibility really attracted her to the profession.

Jex said she has always been interested in a profession in health but was intimidated by the crazy hours doctors and nurses have to put in.

"Since my plan is to be a mother, if I had to go into work once a week or once a month, I could," Jex said.

Even though a hygienist's schedule is flexible, Jex said, the pay is good.

One of the things that attracted her to the profession was the security it could offer.

"If I had to, I could support the family," she said.

Females are predominantly the students found in dental hygiene programs. Jex said that this might be due to what dental hygienists used to be called: dental nurses. This might have cast a female shadow over the profession.

Katie Sterling graduated from UVU in 2007 and has been working as a dental hygienist at Ashman Dental in Provo for the past nine months.

"The part that I like best is that [although] the work you do is repetitive ... it's different because you have new people every hour," Sterling said. "You can get really good at it."

Not everything that Sterling has been asked to do in the past nine months has been easy or fun.

She said the hardest part of being a dental hygienist was working with people who hate going to the dentist.

"You're supposed to give them the best treatment, but you can't if they won't keep their mouth open," Sterling said.

Although not every patient, cooperates, the work has its rewards.

"If people can stand working in someone's mouth, there's really not a better job as far as flexibility and options," Sterling said. "I think hygiene's really rewarding.

Lauren Murray is a student from Wyoming at UCDH. A career in dental hygiene sparked Murray's interest during a three month service trip to Mexico. Among other things on this trip, Murray helped with dental Hygiene.

"I fell in love with the fact that they were making a difference in other's lives," Murray said. "I want that feeling every day."

UCDH is the largest dental hygiene facility in the state of Utah. They accept an average of 50 students a year. Detailed application requirements can be found at http://ucdh.edu/prerequisites_.

UVU accepts 14 students a year into their dental hygiene program. Detailed requirements to apply for admission can be found at www.uvsc.edu/ssh/dent/studentmanual/applicationBulletin.html#require.

Copyright Brigham Young University 29 Jan 2008