Dental Hygienist Therapy Careers

Dental Hygienists are important members of the dental healthcare profession who specialize in preventing and treating oral diseases.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Dental Hygiene is among the top 5 fastest growing health professions (2002-2012) with an anticipated 43% increase in jobs projected.

Dental Hygienists Career Highlights
People are living longer and keeping their natural teeth longer as well, meaning a greater demand for more and more dental hygienists to provide preventative oral care. A few key points about a career as a Dental Hygienist would include:

• Excellent Job Stability
• Flexible Work Schedule
• Variety of Work Settings
• Career Advancement Options

• Does Not Require Bachelor Degree
• High Earning Capability
• Status as a Medical Professional
• Satisfaction from Helping Patients

Overview of Dental Hygienist's Clinical Duties:
Clinical duties and responsibilities of Dental Hygienists vary according to each state's regulations, but in general dental hygienists:

• Take and review patient's medical and oral history
• Screen for oral cancer and other diseases
• Expose, process, and interpret dental X-rays
• Examine patients' teeth and gums
• Remove of tarter, stains and plaque from above and below the gumline
• Record the presence of diseases or abnormalities
• Apply fluoride and other cavity preventative sealants
• Teach patients plaque and cavity prevention techniques as well as educating patients about good nutrition and oral health.
• Record observations and treatments in patient's dental chart.

In some states, Dental Hygienists administer anesthetics; place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings; remove sutures; perform root-planing as a periodontal therapy; and smooth and polish metal restorations.

Work Environment for Dental Hygienists

Dental Hygienists enjoy their choice of a wide variety of practice settings such as dental offices, schools, public health clinics, hospitals, correctional facilities, assisted living facilities, aboard cruise ships, at VA clinics, on military bases, and as members of the armed forces. In some cases dental hygienists may also accept well paid international work assignments. Additionally, Dental Hygienists who attain advanced degrees may choose to become educators, researchers, administrators, and preventive program developers among other career paths.

Flexible scheduling is a distinctive feature of this job. Full-time, part-time, evening, and weekend schedules are widely available. Dentists frequently hire hygienists to work only 2 or 3 days a week, so hygienists may hold jobs in more than one dental office.

Education and Licensure Requirements for Dental Hygienists

Dental hygienists must be licensed by the State in which they practice. State licensure requirements typically state that a dental hygienist must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene education program, successfully pass a national written examination, and a state or regional clinical examination in order to qualify for licensure.

Most dental hygiene programs grant an associate degree, although some also offer a certificate, a bachelor's degree, or a master's degree. A minimum of an associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene is generally required for practice in a private dental office. A bachelor's or master's degree usually is required for research, teaching, or clinical practice in public or school health programs.

** Admission requirements and prerequisites vary among dental hygiene programs, so be certain to request information from each dental hygiene school that may interest you in order to learn their specific program requirements and application process!

Dental Hygienist Salary Range

"A typical Dental Hygienist working in the United States earns a median base salary of $71,461, according to our analysis of data reported by corporate HR departments. Half of the people in this job earn between $60,832 and $74,074."
*(Source: Salary.com, June 2006.)

Getting Started
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