For that dazzling smile

Q:I have passed Plus Two (physics-chemistry-biology) and want to become a dental hygienist. What is the nature of the job? Please let me know where courses on the subject are offered.

Javed Alam

A: Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits and stains from teeth, teach patients how to practise good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. They examine patients’ teeth and gums and record the presence of disease or abnormalities. Hygienists also take and develop dental X-rays, and apply cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and sealants. In the West, they also administer anaesthetics, place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings, remove sutures, and smoothen and polish metal capping.

Although hygienists may not diagnose diseases, they prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret. Hygienists sometimes work along with the dentist during treatment.

They may also help patients to develop and maintain good oral health. For instance, they may explain the relationship between diet and oral health or inform patients how to select toothbrushes and show them how to brush and floss their teeth.

As older dentists — who are less likely to employ dental hygienists — leave the occupation, they will be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to employ a hygienist. Moreover, as dentists’ workloads increase, they are expected to hire more hygienists to perform preventive dental care, such as cleaning, so that they may devote their own time to other procedures.

Some universities that offer courses on dental hygiene are Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, and Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi.

Be a master number cruncher

Q: Since I consistently score high marks in maths, my teachers have suggested that I take statistics in college. How does one qualify to become a statistician? What does
the work entail?

Pareena Baxi

A: Statistics is a branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses of numerical data. Statisticians typically study statistics, mathematics, and/or some related field of statistical application.

Statisticians often develop skills in a particular field of study such as economics, medicine, biology, psychology and agriculture. While the extent of study you will require will depend on the type and level of position you seek, most statisticians have a masters degree. Senior faculty appointments usually require a doctorate.

Why you must read your future employer’s website

Q: I have a postgraduate diploma in sales and marketing (correspondence). Where can I find information on future employers?

Jeevan M.

A: “To know the universe, first know yourself”, exhort our Upanishads. However, what really matters to an organisation that is hiring candidates is how well you know them.
The fact that you have taken the time to learn about your prospective employers conveys the intensity of your interest and the keenness of your initiative. It also suggests that you’ll be a good learner, that you’ll hit the ground running and be an immediate asset to the operation.

When you send in your application in response to an advertisement for a job in the newspapers or when you directly call the company, you should make your communication focused and effective. You should present or tailor your presentation in your covering letter in the light of what the company does and what its key requirements are.

If you are called for an interview, try to acquire in-depth information while preparing.

So where can you gather this information?

Even the Central Bureau of Investigation gets the bulk of its information from public sources. If they need to find out about a foreign government, they start out by reading its constitution, its laws, its newspapers, websites and its travel brochures. You can do much the same to learn about your target company.

Start by checking out the following:

Read the company’s annual report, its catalogues, brochures, ads, and other published material very carefully. You could also scan material supplied by the company’s public relations and its customer service department. Scan articles in a few journals and newsletters on the industry in which the company operates. You should try to get hold of journals in which the company has been featured.

The bulk of the information you require can be obtained from the Internet. Most companies have their own website. Browse through it to get an overview of the company’s areas of operation and its marketshare. All this information gleaned from publicly available sources will make you sound like an “insider” from the word go!