Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Dental Hygienist
- Hygienist
- Licensed Dental Hygienist
- Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Alternate Job Titles
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Nurse
- Dental Treatment Coordinator
- Hygienist
- Licensed Dental Hygienist
- Oral Hygienist
- Pediatric Dental Hygienist
- Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
- Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
- Expose and develop x-ray film.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Near Vision
- Finger Dexterity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Manual Dexterity
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Cautiousness
- Empathy
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Henry Schein Dentrix
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Air abrasion equipment
- Air-driven dental polishers
- Air/water syringes
- Amalgam carriers
- Angle formers
- Aspirating syringes
- Autoclaves
- Autoscalars
- Bite wings
- Calculus explorers
- Caries detection aids
- Caries explorers
- Cavitron equipment
- Computer scanners
- Cotton pliers
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $66,470 |
| Median | $94,260 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $120,060 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 219,070
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Dental Assistants
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $47,300
Surgical Assistants
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $60,290
Medical Assistants
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $44,200
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,980
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $44,080
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.