Dental Hygienist: What to Expect

A registered dental hygienist (RDH) is a licensed oral health care professional who focuses on the prevention and treatment of oral diseases, and are part of a dental team. They are graduates and diploma holders of a dental hygiene education from an accredited and reputable school. Each state has its own specific regulations regarding the range of services performed by a dental hygienist. Their functions may also vary depending on the industry that they work in. In general they; clean teeth, examine patients for signs of dental diseases provide preventive care, assessing oral cases, basic dental procedures, and educate patients regarding oral health care. For more information, refer to our article on the official dental Hygienist job description.

How to Become a Dental Hygienist

To become a dental hygienist, one must complete a two to four year degree in dental hygiene, a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). After graduating, prospective dental hygienist must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination in order to become licensed practitioners. They must also complete further requirements such as; background checks, jurisprudence exams, immunizations, CPR certification that vary from state to state that are needed in order for them to practice in that state. States that allow dental hygienist to perform more duties like administrative and anesthetic duties have more requirements. After acquiring a license, the credentials “Registered Dental Hygienist” (RDH) can now be used. The American Dental Hygienist’s Association has estimated the cost of tuition fees for an associate’s degree was $30,155, for a bachelor’s degree to be $40,207 and $23,133 for a master’s degree. Check out dental hygienist schools for more information regarding cost and location. We also have an article dedicated to dental hygienist education requirements.

Dental Hygienist Salary Information

Dental hygienist may be paid hourly, daily, regular yearly salary, or on commission. Some dental hygienist may enjoy certain benefits such as; paid vacation, sick leave, and contributions to their retirement fund, but these benefits vary by employer and may only be available to full-time employees.

On the average, a dental hygienist earns $33.31 hourly wage, $69,280 annually. A dental hygienist with low salary would usually receive $46,020 to $56,950 while the highest paid professional dental hygienist earns $83,310 to $94,850. Some top paying industries to consider are Facilities Support Services, Other Ambulatory Health Care Services, Offices of Dentists, Outpatient Care Centers, and Offices of Other Health Practitioners. The salary will primarily depend on the amount of experience, the industry you work in, the employer, and the state you work at. One way to increase one’s salary is to earn a higher degree of education in dental hygiene such as a master’s degree which emphasizes on dental hygiene research and management. For more information on what can influence a dental hygienist’s salary make sure to check out this article.

Industry-specific mean salary which is in the table below is taken from The Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

State-specific mean salary which is listed in this table is taken from dentalcareerguide.com.

References:

http://www.adha.org/careerinfo/dhfacts.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm#tab-2

http://www.dentalcareerguide.com/dental-hygienist.html

When trying trying to become a dental hygienist you have to realize it’s a path that requires diligence, commitment, hard work, perseverance and intelligence.  You need to do a lot of years of school and then apply to get into accredited dental hygiene education program. Those who want to become a dental hygienist can start to prepare for your future during high school by taking courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics will surely help you on this career choice. Consulting with your school’s guidance counselor can also be done to help you understand the career better and prepare papers for admission to an accredited dental school of your choice.

How long does it take to become a dental hygienist?

To work as a dental hygienist it will only take an associate’s degree but sometimes a certificate can be accepted. However, In order to go into public health, teaching or research, you will require a bachelor’s or master’s degrees.So it can take anywhere from 3 to more years once you enter college.

The following table summarizes the fundamental requirements for dental hygienist taken from Educational-Portal.com.

In order to become a professional dental hygienist, one must complete the first step; a dental hygiene education program at community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools and universities that are accredited by The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Most of these programs take two to four years to complete. There are approximately 270 commission-accredited dental hygiene programs in the United States. See the list below for accredited dental hygiene education programs in the United States taken from the American Dental Association (ada.org). Visit the site for contact details of the school to apply for admission.

• ·         AL
  University of Alabama School of Dentistry at UAB
• ·         AZ
  Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine- Arizona
• ·         AZ
  A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health
• ·         CA
  Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
• ·         CA
  Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
• ·         CA
  University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry
• ·         CA
  Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine
• ·         CA
  University of California at San Francisco School of Dentistry
• ·         CA
  University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
• ·         CO
  University of Colorado Denver
• ·         CT
  University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
• ·         DC
  Howard University College of Dentistry
• ·         FL
  LECOM College of Dental Medicine
• ·         FL
  Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine
• ·         FL
  University of Florida College of Dentistry
• ·         GA
  Georgia Health Sciences University College of Dental Medicine
• ·         IA
  University of Iowa College of Dentistry
• ·         IL
  Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine
• ·         IL
  University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
• ·         IL
  Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine- Illinois
• ·         IN
  Indiana University School of Dentistry
• ·         KY
  University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
• ·         KY
  University of Louisville School of Dentistry
• ·         LA
  Louisiana State University School of Dentistry
• ·         MA
  Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
• ·         MA
  Harvard University School of Dental Medicine
• ·         MA
  Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
• ·         MD
  University of Maryland School of Dentistry
• ·         ME
  University of New England
• ·         MI
  University of Michigan School of Dentistry
• ·         MI
  University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
• ·         MN
  University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
• ·         MO
  University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry
• ·         MS
  University of Mississippi School of Dentistry
• ·         NC
  University of North Carolina School of Dentistry
• ·         NC
  East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine
• ·         NE
  University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
• ·         NE
  Creighton University School of Dentistry
• ·         NJ
  University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey New Jersey Dental School
• ·         NV
  University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine
• ·         NY
  State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
• ·         NY
  Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
• ·         NY
  New York University College of Dentistry
• ·         NY
  State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine
• ·         OH
  Case Western Reserve Univ. School of Dental Medicine
• ·         OH
  Ohio State University College of Dentistry
• ·         OK
  University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
• ·         OR
  Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry
• ·         PA
  Temple University The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry
• ·         PA
  University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
• ·         PA
  University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
• ·         PR
  University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine
• ·         SC
  Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine
• ·         TN
  University of Tennessee College of Dentistry
• ·         TN
  Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
• ·         TX
  Baylor College of Dentistry Component of Texas A & M Health Sci Ctr
• ·         TX
  The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston
• ·         TX
  University of Texas Hlth Science Cnt-San Antonio Dental School
• ·         UT
  University of Utah School of Dentistry
• ·         UT
  Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine
• ·         VA
  Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
• ·         WA
  University of Washington-Health Sciences School of Dentistry
• ·         WI
  Marquette University School of Dentistry
• WV
  West Virginia University School of Dentistry

After earning an associate’s degree in dental hygiene, the next goal is to practice and apply what you’ve learned.  In order to practice, dental hygienists are required to take and must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, a comprehensive written examination given by the American Dental Association, and then a regional or state clinical board exam. Some states might need other requirements such as; CPR certification, school transcripts and/or letters of recommendation. Once prospective dental hygienist pass the board exam, the credentials Registered Dental Hygienist “R.D.H.” can now be used after their names to signify that they are recognized by the state to their career.

The journey does not end here, although registered dental hygienist may now be able to work in any industry of their choosing, a critical choice is to consider an advance degree in dental hygiene. An associate’s degree might be enough for most dental hygienist, earning higher degrees is a way to advance in their career, increase their salary, perform more function and responsibilities, and opens new opportunities to work in different fields other than dental offices and hospitals. Bachelors and master’s degree in dental hygiene may qualify hygienist for job opportunities such as teaching and research.

References:

http://education-portal.com/how_to_become_a_dental_hygienist.html

http://www.ada.org

So you’re thinking about being a dental hygienist but you don’t know what they do. Dental hygiene is a fast growing field that promotes oral health to all patients. This field requires manual dexterity, knowledge of oral health practices, and a willingness to educate the patient.

Dental Hygienist Job Description

To become a dental hygienist, a person must get at least an associate’s degree or a certificate from a licensed school. From there, they have to pass an exam by their state to become licensed practitioners. Each state and industry has specific requirements that a dental hygienist must accomplish to work in the field and different requirements of their day to day work.

However, on average, dental hygienists focus on preventative care. While their job description does include cleaning patient’s teeth of tarter and plague buildup, they also educate their patients on good oral hygiene. They can teach their patients how to use toothbrushes and dental floss, what models they should buy, and how diet impacts their oral health. Depending on the industry and how much training a hygienist has, they can be responsible for handling x-rays, putting in fillings, administering anesthesia, and removing stitches.

Work Environment

Most dental hygienists work in well-lit, clean dentist offices with direct interactions with dentists and sometimes dental assistants. To protect against the spread of diseases, dental hygienists wear masks, gloves and safety glasses when treating patients. If they are required to work with x-ray machines or anesthesia, they have more training and have to abide by different regulatory factors to accurately do those jobs.

Dental hygienists spend a lot of time standing or sitting in front of their patients. In addition, they have to have the manual agility to maneuver multiple instruments within a patient’s mouth.

One of the advantages about the dental hygienist position is the flexible scheduling. Hygienists can choose which days to work and which ones they wish to take off. According to the US Department of Labor, over half of dental hygienists work part time, sometimes working in more than one dentist’s office. Many dentists only require the dental hygienist on certain days.

Trade Tools

Dental hygienists primarily use hand and rotary tools to clean and polish teeth. Furthermore, they can use different sealants, cleaning agents, such as fluoride, and suction tools during the course of a teeth cleaning. If they are required to operate x-ray machines, they will be mandated to cover the patients in protective aprons as well as operating the equipment, and possibly developing the film.

An important aspect of their job is patient education. Dental hygienists use pamphlets and teeth models to demonstrate good oral health, current dental problems, and upcoming surgeries.

Dental Hygienist Careers and You

This article is just a basic overview of the dental hygienist career but it can help you decide if dental hygiene is the job for you. Dental Hygienists positions are projected to increase by 38% by 2020 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This field is considered one of the fastest growing positions in the United States so it is a perfect career to get involved in.

If you are still unsure and would like more information on specific salary information please read the Dental Hygienist Salary article. If you would like to enter the dental field but don’t think a dental hygienist career is for you, read our Dental Assistant Salary article page to find out more information on this similar career.

When you research different careers, one of the questions you ask is, how much would I make? A dental hygienist can make a significant amount compared to the amount of school they need to complete to enter the field. A person only needs an associate degree to enter the field and be currently licensed by their state to practice.

Dental hygienists work with dentists to perform basic tasks such as patient assessment and teeth cleaning. However, their job goes further than remedying the situation. One of their primary focuses is on preventative care. Besides cleaning plague and stains off teeth, they work with the patients to develop good oral hygiene. Their salary can range depending on whether they possess clinical service skills or are only licensed as a general dental hygienist.

How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make?

Dental hygiene salaries are primarily contingent upon geographical location, industry, and to a lesser extent, educational accomplishments. While there is no need to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree in dental hygiene to enter the field, those advanced degrees are needed to work in research, teaching, or clinical practice in school health programs.

The US Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics estimates that as of May 2011, there were 184,110 working dental hygienists making roughly $33.54 an hour or $69,760 per year. However, salary can range from less than $46,020 for the lowest 10% of dental hygienists to upwards of $94,850 for the top 10%.

These figures do not account for the different industries and education. However, most dental hygienists only have an associate’s degree or a certificate, so this figure can give us a pretty accurate account of what the average dental hygienist makes.

Industry Specific Salary

The highest paying industry is facility support services. Dental hygienists in this field make an average of $74,650 per year. However, there are not a lot of employment opportunities in this field. IT averages about 40 jobs in the nation. The industry with the highest employment opportunity is dentist offices. Dentist offices employ an average of 176,670 dental hygienists per year who make an average of $70,070 annually. This industry is the third highest paying field.

Highest and Lowest Salary

The five states with the highest average salary are California ($91,010), the District of Columbia ($90,500), Washington ($90,420), Nevada ($88,620), and Alaska ($86,310). All five states have average hourly rates that are anywhere between $8 and $10 more than the national average. All five states have multiple employment opportunities, ranging from 400 in Alaska and the District of Columbia, to 19,500 in California.

Employment Outlook

The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for dental hygienists will increase by 38% by the year 2020. With the link between good oral care and good overall health, the need for dental hygienists will increase. With their focus on preventive care, they can teach their patients how to keep their teeth healthier for more years.

For more information on the job requirements for a dental hygienist please read the How to Become a Dental Hygienist article or our Dental Hygienist Job Description page.