Dental hygienist.

Job Description

Dental hygienists clean teeth and help dental patients to develop and maintain good oral health in the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease. They discuss general health issues with clients and update dental charts. Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth; examine patients' teeth and gums; record the presence of diseases or abnormalities; remove calculus, stains and plaque; perform root planning as a periodontal therapy; take and develop dental x-rays; and apply cavity preventive agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. Dental hygienists use a variety of dental instruments, including x-ray machines, taking great care to position the camera at the proper angle around the head and mouth. They look to see if the gums and lymph nodes under the chin show any swelling or other signs of cancer. Dental hygienists often finish work the dentist does not complete, and play an important role in promoting and maintaining proper dental care.

The Workplace

Dental hygienists are most often employed in dental offices, where they are responsible for some important patient care services. There are, however, other opportunities for employment at hospitals, nursing homes and public health clinics. And, depending upon the level of education and experience achieved, dental hygienists can also apply their skills and knowledge to other career activities such as teaching hygiene students in dental schools and dental hygiene education programs. Other options may be found in the areas of research, office management, business administration and the marketing of dental-related supplies and equipment.

Educational Requirements

Almost half of the dental hygiene programs prefer applicants who have completed at least one year of college, but requirements vary from one school to another. High school students may prepare by taking and successfully passing courses in health, biology, psychology, chemistry, mathematics and speech. All of these courses are very beneficial in a dental hygiene career. Dental hygienists must be licensed by the states in which they practice, and to qualify for licensure, a candidate must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school and pass both a written and clinical examination.

Earnings

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median hourly earnings of dental hygienists were $26.59 in 2002. Earnings vary by geographic location, employment setting, and years of experience. Dental hygienists may be paid on an hourly, daily, salary or commission basis. The American Dental Association reports that almost all fulltime dental hygienists employed by private practitioners received paid vacations and dental coverage. Hygienists earn salaries equal to other health care personnel with similar educational background and experience.

Job Outlook

The dental hygienist field is projected to be one of the 30 fastest growing occupations due to the increasing demand for dental care and the greater utilization of hygienists to perform services previously performed by dentists. The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that job prospects are expected to remain excellent. In fact, the occupation of dental hygienist is expected to continue to be one of the fastest growing through the year 2012. As dentists' workloads increase, they are expected to hire more hygienists to perform preventive dental care, such as cleaning, so that they may devote their own time to more profitable procedures.

Explore More

Here are some places to turn for more information about education and training as a dental hygienist.

American Dental Hygienists' Association

www.adha.org

American Dental Association

www.ada.org

International Federation of Dental Hygienists

www.ifdh.org

Each state also has a dental hygiene association, such as the California Dental Hygienists Association (www.cdha.org) or the New Mexico Dental Hygienists Association (www.nmdha.org).