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Dental Hygienists
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.
Other titles employers use
Dental Hygienist · Hygienist · Licensed Dental Hygienist · Pediatric Dental Hygienist · Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) · Oral Hygienist · RDH · Registered Dental Hygienist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, practical and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Finger Dexterity
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.5 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 2.2 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 5.0 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for an associate degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A two-year degree 75%
- A doctorate or professional degree 13%
- A master's degree 9%
- A four-year degree 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Word processing software
- Billing and invoicing software
- Electronic mail software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 28,800
- Job openings each year
- 2,120
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 15.2%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 28,800 | 2,120 | 15.2% |
| Florida | 15,600 | 1,160 | 16.3% |
| New York | 14,010 | 250 | 22.0% |
| Texas | 13,720 | 1,050 | 20.7% |
| Illinois | 9,030 | 620 | 7.1% |
| Ohio | 8,850 | 600 | 4.4% |
| Washington | 8,830 | 750 | 13.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 8,780 | 590 | 3.5% |
| Michigan | 7,890 | 550 | 7.2% |
| North Carolina | 7,710 | 570 | 14.4% |
| New Jersey | 7,050 | 510 | 11.6% |
| Georgia | 6,650 | 480 | 11.0% |
| Virginia | 6,400 | 480 | 19.0% |
| Arizona | 6,130 | 480 | 25.9% |
| Colorado | 5,840 | 420 | 12.7% |
| Indiana | 5,700 | 400 | 7.3% |
| Tennessee | 5,550 | 420 | 20.7% |
| Minnesota | 5,290 | 370 | 6.4% |
| Wisconsin | 5,250 | 370 | 7.8% |
| Oregon | 4,380 | 320 | 12.6% |
| Alabama | 4,240 | 310 | 13.1% |
| Utah | 4,030 | 320 | 25.2% |
| Maryland | 3,940 | 280 | 9.1% |
| South Carolina | 3,910 | 300 | 20.7% |
| Connecticut | 3,790 | 300 | 25.1% |
| Missouri | 3,630 | 250 | 4.0% |
| Iowa | 2,810 | 210 | 16.1% |
| Idaho | 2,720 | 210 | 20.9% |
| Oklahoma | 2,680 | 180 | 5.1% |
| Kentucky | 2,670 | 190 | 7.2% |
| Arkansas | 1,950 | 150 | 20.4% |
| Kansas | 1,930 | 130 | 6.6% |
| Louisiana | 1,900 | 130 | 4.4% |
| Massachusetts | 1,800 | 130 | 7.8% |
| Mississippi | 1,650 | 110 | 3.8% |
| New Mexico | 1,470 | 120 | 31.3% |
| Nebraska | 1,450 | 100 | 10.7% |
| Nevada | 1,400 | 100 | 7.7% |
| New Hampshire | 1,320 | 90 | 9.1% |
| Montana | 1,220 | 90 | 17.3% |
| West Virginia | 1,220 | 80 | — |
| Maine | 1,130 | 70 | — |
| North Dakota | 1,000 | 70 | 9.9% |
| Rhode Island | 920 | 60 | 3.4% |
| Delaware | 800 | 60 | 9.6% |
| South Dakota | 670 | 50 | 13.6% |
| Vermont | 630 | 40 | — |
| Wyoming | 620 | 40 | 8.8% |
| Alaska | 610 | 40 | 8.9% |
| District of Columbia | 250 | 20 | 8.7% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Oregon Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 64
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
MCPHS University
- Degrees each year
- 62
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $38,000
Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Degrees each year
- 61
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Wichita State University
- Degrees each year
- 56
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Texas Woman's University
- Degrees each year
- 51
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Indiana University-Indianapolis
- Degrees each year
- 47
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Old Dominion University
- Degrees each year
- 47
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Eastern Washington University
- Degrees each year
- 46
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Compare every college offering dental support services and allied professions