Dental Hygienist Careers Information
Dental hygienists are among the fastest growing occupations today. The role of a hygienist is vast but essentially they assist dentists and provide care & treatment to patients. They often examine the health of patients’ teeth and gums, record abnormalities, and diagnose the severity of problems.
Other activities dental hygienists routinely complete include applying fluoride treatments, removing deposits on teeth, administering local anesthetics, and taking x-rays.
Dental Hygienist Careers & Degrees
- Argosy University: Twin Cities - Undergrad
Concorde Career College: Kansas City
In some offices, dental hygienists are responsible for preparing rooms for an examination or procedure and this typically involves making sure all of the needed tools and materials are in place. During in-depth procedures, hygienists will work alongside dentists to offer assistance when needed.
Patient education also comprises a large percentage of the job and dental hygienists help teach patients how to properly care for their teeth. An unique feature of the position is that it allows for flexible scheduling and hygienists can often choose to work part-time, full-time, days, evenings, or weekends.
Dental Hygienist Careers Path
Dental hygienists must complete an accredited dental hygiene program and pass written and oral examinations to become licensed in the state in which they want to practice.
Dental Hygienist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Solid interpersonal communication skills, strong desire to help others, able to closely follow instructions, good with hands, able to clearly articulate ideas
Dental Hygienist Interview
Read More about a Professional Dental Hygienist…
Dental Hygienist Careers: Salary Expectations
Median earnings are approximately $30 per hour, with the middle 50% earning between $25/hour and $36/hour.
Dental Hygienist Careers: Job Outlook
The demand for dental hygienists is rapidly growing and job opportunities are expected to increase approximately 30 percent through 2016. This growth is largely driven by the expanding population and a stronger push for preventative dental care. As dentists’ offices become increasingly busy, they are expected to hire more hygienists.
Dental Hygienist Associations and Resources
American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA)
Slightly off the Footpath
