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Dental Hygiene Education And Hiring Practices Of Dentists In Ohio, James A. Lalumandier, Catherine A. Demko, Kate J. Burke

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: As education and clinical preparation affect employment opportunities for entry-level dental hygienists, dentists’ perceptions of recent graduates should be considered when reforming education requirements. The purpose of this study is to examine general dentists’ preferences for employing entry-level dental hygienists from two-year versus four-year degree programs by surveying the opinions of dentists in Ohio. Method: A survey was distributed from June to September 2004, to a sample of 700 general dentists practicing in Ohio, all alumni of Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. The survey included questions on hiring preference, salary, value of work experience, and applicable …