Dental Hygienist
Also called: Hygienist, Licensed Dental Hygienist, Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), Pediatric Dental Hygienist
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
What does a Dental Hygienist do?
- Record and review patient medical histories.
- Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
How to become a Dental Hygienist
Training: An associate's degree or other 2-year degree or a professional degree. Employees in these careers need one or two years of training. Both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers may be needed. An apprenticeship program may be a good choice for these careers.
Skills you'll use
Is it a fit for you?
- Empathy
- Social Orientation
- Cooperation
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
Tools and technology
Questions people ask
How much does a Dental Hygienist make?
About $98,100 a year at the U.S. median. Most earn between $74,880 and $126,050. Pay depends on the state, the employer and experience.
How long does it take to become a Dental Hygienist?
Employees in these careers need one or two years of training. Both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers may be needed. An apprenticeship program may be a good choice for these careers.
Do you need a college degree to be a Dental Hygienist?
No four-year degree is needed. An associate's degree or other 2-year degree or a professional degree.
Is Dental Hygienist a good career to get into?
O*NET lists it as a Bright Outlook career: it's expected to grow quickly or have lots of openings in the next few years.
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Build my free kit →National wage figures via O*NET Web Services. This application incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Figures are national estimates and vary by state, employer and experience. Career details from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.