Even during these uncertain times, one thing’s for sure — dentistry is never going to be the same again. After the coronavirus severely impacted countries throughout the world, it became clearer than ever the importance of having strict safety protocols in the healthcare industry and making sure they’re enforced.

Due to the nationwide economic collapse caused by the coronavirus, many people throughout the US are currently receiving more money through unemployment benefits than they were from their jobs. According to Business Insider, around 50% of workers in the US can currently earn more money by collecting unemployment benefits than working their regular jobs.

The minimum qualification you need to become a dental hygienist is an associate degree in dental hygiene. There are other qualifications you can obtain to be eligible for the role, but an associate degree is the fastest way to become an RDH. To help you decide which degree is best suited to your future goals, here’s a detailed overview of the different qualifications you need to become a registered dental hygienist and how to get them. 

Many dental hygienists and dental assistants are currently finding themselves out of work due to the coronavirus. Whether you’ve been fired from your position to cut down on your employer’s costs or you’re in self-isolation to help reduce the spread of the virus, now is a fantastic time to reflect on your career, assess where you want to be in the future and create a plan to get you there.

Regardless of the levels of success, competency, or experience, at one time or another, almost every dental staff experiences professional fears and moments of doubt. For instance, currently, the novel Coronavirus is a case study of uncertainty. No dental staff can predict how long the pandemic, or fear of the pandemic will ultimately affect their job or the economy.

One of the best ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus and protect your dental practice is to determine whether patients are possibly carrying the virus before you treat them. Until a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, the most effective method of reducing your risk of developing the disease is to avoid coming into contact with anyone already infected.

Dental professionals are at a much higher risk of catching respiratory infections, such as COVID-19, than people in other professions. Because of this, it’s important you take extra precautions to keep yourself safe and limit the spread of the coronavirus within your practice. Here are some steps you can put into action right away to protect yourself against infections in the dental office.

With the staggering rate at which COVID-19 is spreading across the United States, it’s likely dental professionals are going to start coming into contact with patients carrying the virus. To help protect your practice against infection, it’s important you know how to spot symptoms of the coronavirus.

With the coronavirus spreading so rapidly, it’s only a matter of time before your area is affected. When it is, have you thought about how your dental practice is going to deal with it? Are you better off continuing to run your business and treat patients? Or is it best to close your doors and wait until the outbreak is under control?

With coronavirus cases and deaths rising by the hour, it’s only natural that patients will be extremely concerned about having dental work done at this time. While we recommend delaying non-urgent treatments, some patients might consider postponing treatment they really need until the pandemic is under control. This could result in your patients suffering intense pain and ultimately creating bigger problems for themselves in the future.