collageWhat Does a Dental Hygienist Do?
Never before have dental hygienists had so many opportunities for their education and careers. With training that can be found in person and online, as well as work settings that go beyond the traditional clinic, there are more options than ever for launching your career. If you’re interested in joining this rapidly growing field, read on to learn the steps you need to take to become a licensed dental hygienist.
Working side-by-side with a dentist, a dental hygienist’s primary concern is with the preventative oral healthcare of their patients. They clean teeth, examine gums, collect medical history, and educate their patients on oral care techniques.
Dental Hygienist Duties
Specific job responsibilities of dental hygienists include:
- Using tools such as scrapers and polishers to remove tartar, plaque, and stains
- Applying preventative treatments such as fluoride and sealants
- Taking and developing X-rays of the mouth
- Recording findings during cleanings and reporting information to the dentist
- Assisting the dentist during procedures with tasks like administering anesthesia and removing sutures
Dental Hygienist vs. Dental Assistant
Dental hygienists and dental assistants may sound like the same thing, but their positions aren’t interchangeable. While assistants might take on some of the same tasks as hygienists, their roles are more focused on helping the office run smoothly through administrative and maintenance duties. Daily responsibilities might include:
- Scheduling appointments and keeping records
- Getting patients comfortable in the dental chair
- Sterilizing dental equipment
- Setting up tools and restocking materials
- Handing instruments to the dentist during procedures
- Managing patient billing and payments
In some cases, dental assistants are allowed to take on extra responsibilities, however each state regulates these on their own. You may find that dental assistants have additional duties such as:
- Polishing teeth to remove plaque and stains
- Applying fluoride and sealants to protect against cavities
- Administering topical anesthesia
Dental Hygienist Education Requirements
All states require dental hygienists to be licensed, though the specific requirements vary. That said, the minimum level of education you need to earn your license in any state is an associate’s degree. Depending on your career goals, you might choose to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Accreditation
No matter which degree you choose, becoming a licensed hygienist requires attending a program that’s been approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Accredited dental hygiene programs have demonstrated that they meet the highest quality standards for education and therefore help ensure future patient safety.
What You’ll Study
According to CODA, all accredited programs must cover 4 key content areas—general education, biomedical sciences, dental sciences, and dental hygiene science. These are further broken down into more concentrated topics:
| General education | Oral and written communication, psychology, and sociology |
| Biomedical science | Anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pathology and/or pathophysiology, nutrition, and pharmacology |
| Dental science | Tooth morphology, oral embryology and histology, oral pathology, radiography, periodontology, pain management, and dental materials |
| Dental hygiene science | Oral health education and preventative counseling, health promotion, patient management, community oral health, medical and dental emergencies, infection and hazard control, clinical dental hygiene, provision of services for patients with special needs and bloodborne diseases, and the legal and ethical principles of dental hygiene practice |
Online Dental Hygiene Programs
Online programs do exist, however keep in mind that dental hygiene is a hands-on field. You might be able to enjoy the flexibility of taking basic courses online, but you’ll still need to complete in-person clinical experience to prepare you for the duties of the role.
The exception to this rule could be a degree-completion program. Since you enter this type of program having already completed your clinical experience while earning your associate’s degree, it could be possible to earn your bachelor’s entirely online.
How to Get Your Dental Hygiene License
Dental hygienists must be licensed by the state where they work. After graduation from an accredited program, you’ll need to take and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. The test consists of 350 multiple-choice questions broken into 2 parts: discipline-based and case-based components. The test is scored on a scale of 49–99, with 75 being the minimum score for passing.
Each state also has its own clinical-based exam, which tests your knowledge of basic hygiene procedures, anesthesia, and restorative techniques. Additionally, it’s common to be requited to take a drug and law exam that covers the rules and regulations that are specific to your state. Passing all necessary exams allows you to earn your license as registered dental hygienist (RDH).
Dental Hygiene License Renewal
Dental hygienists are required to renew their license, typically every 1–3 years. You’ll need to pay any necessary fees and provide proof that you’ve completed the required number of continuing education hours as determined by your state. These are often somewhere between 10 and 20 hours for every 1-year cycle, 30–50 hours for 2-cycles, and around 60 for 3-year cycles. The topics you’ll need to cover will vary by state, though most require classes in CPR and infection control.
The American Dental Association (ADA) offers countless ways for you to earn your continuing education. You can search through a database of both live and online courses that cover a variety of topics.
Finding Dental Hygienist Jobs
Along with continuing education, the ADA also offers resources to help you find a job. Through the online ADA CareerCenter, you can search by job title, location, salary, company, and more to find opportunities that meet your unique needs. Jobs are posted directly to the CareerCenter and are also pulled in from outside job listing websites to make it easy to find openings all in 1 place.
The most common workplace for dental hygienists is a private office, though you could find roles in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes public health clinics, dental schools, research facilities, advanced practices, and dental corporations.
Dental Hygienist Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dental hygienist salary is dependent on a number of factors including the exact position, your level of education, amount of experience, and the setting in which you work. Entry-level hygienists in dental offices may earn less, while those in research, teaching, or corporate positions will likely earn more.
Salaries by State
Compare dental hygienist salaries by state and see what you may earn where you live:Dental Hygienists
National data
Median Salary: $77,090
Bottom 10%: $54,200
Top 10%: $104,420
Projected job growth: 11.2%
State data
| State | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,260 | $35,740 | $62,390 |
| Alaska | $118,780 | $79,730 | $151,330 |
| Arizona | $84,930 | $69,410 | $102,120 |
| Arkansas | $69,930 | $33,080 | $95,340 |
| California | $109,520 | $84,960 | $139,780 |
collage