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Dental Hygienist
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Dental Hygienist
Job Growth
Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 33 percent from 2012 to 2022,
Education
Expert Interview
Dental hygienists typically need an associate's degree in dental hygiene. Bachelor's degrees in dental hygiene are also available, but are less common. A bachelor's or master's degree usually is required for research, teaching, or clinical practice in public or school health programs.
Daily Tasks
Support Staff
License and Certification
- Dental Assistance
- Dental Laboratory Technician
- Office Manager
- Office Staff
- General Dentist
- Orthodontist
- Periodontist
- Oral Surgeon
- Cosmetic Dentist
To practice dental hygiene, you must obtain state licensure. In most states, this process entails successfully completing an educational program accredited by the American Dental Association's (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation. You'll then have to pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
- Remove tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth
- Apply sealants and fluorides to help protect teeth
- Take and develop dental x rays
- Assess patients’ oral health and report findings to dentists
- Document patient care and treatment plans
- Educate patients about oral hygiene techniques, such as how to brush and floss correctly
Advancement
Salary Range
Hygienists make comfortable salaries, especially considering that half of them work part-time. In 2015, their median salary was $72,330. The best-paid earned about $97,390, and the bottom 10 percent earned $49,190.
Entry-level hygienists will work doing patient examinations and cleaning procedures at a dentist’s office. Many experienced hygienists will do the same work. Because of this, advancement is difficult. The best way to gain more responsibilities is to continue pursing education in dental hygiene, such as gaining a bachelor’s degree. Those who obtain a master’s degree in the subject can be found in many different workplaces, such as educational institutions or corporations.
Job Prospects
This is a field that is experiencing high job growth and therefore prospects are very good. In 2014 there was approximately 200,500 dental hygienist jobs available.