Dental Hygienist
A dental hygienist is a licensed healthcare professional who plays a critical role in preventive oral care and patient education. They assist dentists by performing patient examinations, cleanings, and taking diagnostic images, all aimed at preventing tooth decay and oral diseases. Dental hygienists work in a variety of settings, including private dental offices, hospitals, and schools, and they typically maintain a clean, well-managed work environment. The profession requires individuals to possess strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and physical stamina, as they work closely with patients and dental teams.
In their daily duties, dental hygienists assess patients' oral health, remove plaque and tartar, apply fluoride treatments, and educate patients on proper dental hygiene practices. They also document treatment details and maintain patient records, ensuring compliance with health privacy regulations. Education for aspiring dental hygienists typically includes earning a certificate or associate's degree in dental hygiene, followed by obtaining a state license. This career offers a blend of patient care and technical skills, making it a fulfilling choice for those interested in promoting oral health.
Dental Hygienist
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Science, communicating with others, caring for patients, working with one's hands, keeping records
Earnings (Yearly Median): $81,400 per year $39.14 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 7% (Faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Associate's degree; licensing
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Dental hygienists assist dentists with patient preventive dental care and treatment. In particular, they take diagnostic images, perform examinations and cleanings, and provide patient instructions to prevent tooth decay, oral disease, and other dental problems. Dental hygienists partner with supervising dentists to support and promote oral health for their patients. In addition to patient care and treatment, dental hygienists update patient records with details of dental services provided and notes for future care.
Work Environment. Dental hygienists spend their workdays in private dental offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, government agencies, schools, prisons, and healthcare centers. These medical settings tend to be clean, well-lit, well-ventilated, and temperature-controlled environments. Dental hygienists generally work thirty-five to forty hours per week in a private dental office. Both full-time and part-time work opportunities are available in this occupation.
Occupation Interest. Individuals drawn to the profession of dental hygienist tend to be detail oriented and caring. Those who succeed as dental hygienists exhibit traits such as good hand-eye coordination, physical stamina, thoroughness, and effective time management. Dental hygienists should enjoy working with people, be interested in oral health, and have a strong background in patient care and dental record keeping.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. A dental hygienist typically spends their workdays in a general or pediatric dentistry practice. At the beginning of a patient appointment, the hygienist greets the patient in the waiting room and brings the patient to the exam or procedure room, where they interview the patient about dental and physical health histories. The hygienist then examines the patient’s teeth, mouth, gums, lymph nodes, and neck for evidence of tooth decay, oral disease, or other abnormalities. They may also take film or digital X-rays of the teeth, mouth, or surrounding jaw structure for diagnostic purposes. During the cleaning, the dental hygienist uses various hand instruments and tools to remove tartar, calcifications, deposits, and plaque from teeth and may polish teeth to remove stains or improve appearance or health. The hygienist may also perform root planing (scraping bacteria from a decaying part of a tooth) and deep gum cleaning, treat teeth with fluoride, and apply sealants to help prevent tooth decay (especially for children). For some patients, a hygienist may need to insert or detach restorative devices or remove oral stitches. Throughout the exam and cleaning, the dental hygienist records the exam findings as well as the current and future treatment plan in the patient’s chart. During or after the visit, the hygienist teaches the patient about proper brushing and flossing techniques to prevent future plaque buildup and gum disease.
To ensure health and safety, dental hygienists must use clean, sterile equipment and they are responsible for sterilizing exam or procedure rooms and dental equipment between patient appointments. In addition, all dental hygienists are responsible for educating themselves about and complying with the administrative, physical, and technical patient privacy safeguards included in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. The immediate physical environment in which dental hygienists work varies based on their employer and specialization. Most dental hygienists spend their workdays in either general family dentist offices or pediatric dentist offices. To minimize potential exposure to infectious diseases, dental hygienists wear safety glasses, surgical masks, and gloves. They also follow strict protocols regarding radiology.
Human Environment. Dental hygienists interact with patients, supervising dentists, dental assistants, and office staff. Dental hygienists must be comfortable working in very close physical proximity to patients and dentists during exams and procedures.
Technological Environment. Dental hygienists use a wide variety of technology, materials, and equipment. Their tools and materials may include mouth mirrors, sterilizers or autoclaves, sealant lights and sealants, tongue forceps, hand instruments, polishers, toothbrushes, dental floss, fluorides, X-ray machines, powdered plaster and cement, curettes, cameras, water sprays, disinfectants, and topical anesthetics. In addition, dental hygienists may also use internet communication tools, smartphones, tablets, spreadsheets, copiers, fax machines, and software programs for dental imaging, patient records, invoices, and scheduling.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing a career as a dental hygienist should prepare themselves by developing good study habits. High school–level study of biology, chemistry, health, communications, computer science, and mathematics will provide a strong foundation for college-level work in the field. Students interested in this career path may benefit from seeking internships or part-time work opportunities that expose the students to dental or medical settings and procedures.
Postsecondary. Postsecondary students interested in becoming dental hygienists should work toward a certificate or an associate’s degree in dental hygiene from a training program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). These programs commonly provide courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, radiography, pharmacology, and pathology. Program trainees also receive hands-on clinical instruction. Postsecondary students can gain work experience and potential advantage in their future job searches by securing internships or part-time employment in dental or medical settings. All states require dental hygienists to obtain a license, though requirements vary by state.
Related Occupations
Bibliography
"Dental Hygienists." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm. Accessed 28 Sept. 2023.