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Dental Hygienists use a variety of personal and clinical skills to motivate and instruct patients on ways to prevent oral disease and to maintain oral health.
Hygienists perform oral health assessment and oral health instruction. They examine head, neck, and oral regions for disease, take and process x-rays, perform other diagnostic tests, remove deposits from teeth, and apply sealants and fluoride to prevent decay.
Dental hygienist may work in periodontic or pediatric dentistry.
Hygienists are usually employed in dental offices and clinics. Flexible scheduling is a distinctive feature of this job. Full-time, part-time, evening, and weekend work is widely available. Dentists frequently hire hygienist to work two or three days a week, so hygienists may hold jobs in more than one dental office.
Depending upon the level of education and experience achieved, dental hygienists can also apply their skills and knowledge to other career activities such as teaching hygiene students in dental schools and dental hygiene education programs.
Other workplace settings:
$77,000
Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.
About 15,600 openings for dental hygienists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Dental hygienists receive their education through academic programs at community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools, or universities. The majority of community college programs take two years to complete, with graduates receiving a diploma, certificate, or associate degree.
An associate degree is sufficient for practice in a private dental office. A bachelor’s or master’s degree is usually required for research, teaching, or clinical practice in public or school health programs.
Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. Prerequisite: Connecticut requires successful graduation from an approved dental hygiene school and passing the National Board Examinations and Regional Clinical Performance Examination.
Please visit the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health website for more information.
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-2500
www.ada.org
American Dental Hygienists’ Association
444 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-8900
www.adha.org