I am thinking about Dental Hygiene school, how difficult is it?!

I am thinking about Dental Hygiene school, how difficult is it?

I am 27 years old and am considering going back to school but I am also going to have to work because I have a family. I have always been interested in this field. I am not going to be able to get financial aid because I am married and the combined incomes are too much,so I will have to take out student loans. I am scared that I will not be able to do it with a full schedule and then i will be stuck with the loans. Do you think this is something that I can do? And how difficult are the classes. I would love to hear someone's school experience who is a dental hygenist.

Hi! If you put your mind to it and want to become a hygienist badly enough, you can do it :)
It takes 2 - 3 years to finish school depending on how many prerequisites you have completed. Here are some advantages and disadvantages, if you will, of hygiene:
Starting with the disadvantages:
- Anatomy, Perio, Pathology, and Pharmacology can be difficult. There is a lot of information packed into these classes that you need to know for the national board exam and some of which you will use when practicing as a hygienist. Lots of your time will be spent studying. Once you know the words cusp of Carabelli, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans "AA", esters vs. amides, and who Mosby is, you'll be well on your way!
- Tuition and instrument expenses are expensive... remember that you will make $27-32 per hour...
- Be prepared to feel like you are on a dental version of Survivor for the first semester. It is hard. You will feel like all you do is study about teeth. If you fall behind you risk leaving. It does get better after the 1st semester of clinicals.

And some of the many advantages:
- You make tons of friends, all in the same boat as you.
- After a semester of working on your classmates, you will develop "a rapport" with your patients. Most of these patients will get to know you and continue to see you throughout your schooling. Being able to teach someone about the importance of their dental health and watching them change (usually improving!) is quite amazing. You really can make a difference in someone's life.
- In school you will know by the end of your first semester if this is the right career path for you. If you feel that it is not, then save yourself the time and money and find something else to do.

I really can go on and on. The school part is difficult. You will need support from your family and lots of it! Once you make it through school, have passed the national and local boards, and have your license in hand the career in dental hygiene is amazing.
You have many options as a hygienist, whether it be working in a general practice or a specialty practice such as pediatrics or periodontology. Some areas have more job openings than others, but hopefully you can be picky and find a dentist that you like working with... as that really makes work a happier place! Part time or full time; pay is excellent; benefits, etc. If you like to work helping people, like schedules, and can also work as a team, then this career may be for you. I recommend that you go and shadow a hygienist and a student clinic. I love being a hygienist. Hope this works out for you!