Post job

Dental assistant teacher vs dental hygienist

The differences between dental assistant teachers and dental hygienists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dental hygienist has an average salary of $88,432, which is higher than the $39,097 average annual salary of a dental assistant teacher.

The top three skills for a dental assistant teacher include patients, treatment procedures and dental assistants. The most important skills for a dental hygienist are patients, patient care, and CPR.

Dental assistant teacher vs dental hygienist overview

Dental Assistant TeacherDental Hygienist
Yearly salary$39,097$88,432
Hourly rate$18.80$42.52
Growth rate8%11%
Number of jobs122,65024,234
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 27%Associate Degree, 71%
Average age3842
Years of experience2-

What does a dental assistant teacher do?

A dental assistant teacher develops and implements training programs for students learning to become certified dental assistants. Besides teaching, they are also responsible for creating training plans, producing learning materials such as visual aids and presentations, arranging group or individual activities, monitoring the students' progress, and assisting them as necessary. They must also monitor and secure supplies, facilitate seminars, and solve issues when any arise. Moreover, a dental assistant teacher empowers students towards their goals and maintains a safe and productive training environment for everyone.

What does a dental hygienist do?

Dental hygienists are professionals who provide preventative oral care under a dentist's supervision. They are concerned mostly in treating minor oral health conditions. They clean teeth, examine any signs of damage and oral diseases and provide dental recommendations and after-care treatment. They educate patients with proper oral hygiene and counseling about how good nutrition impacts oral health. They also teach them ways to improve and maintain good oral health.

Dental assistant teacher vs dental hygienist salary

Dental assistant teachers and dental hygienists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Dental Assistant TeacherDental Hygienist
Average salary$39,097$88,432
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $53,000Between $56,000 And $137,000
Highest paying City-Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state-Rhode Island
Best paying company-Bonita
Best paying industry--

Differences between dental assistant teacher and dental hygienist education

There are a few differences between a dental assistant teacher and a dental hygienist in terms of educational background:

Dental Assistant TeacherDental Hygienist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 27%Associate Degree, 71%
Most common majorDental AssistingDental Assisting
Most common college-University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Dental assistant teacher vs dental hygienist demographics

Here are the differences between dental assistant teachers' and dental hygienists' demographics:

Dental Assistant TeacherDental Hygienist
Average age3842
Gender ratioMale, 19.1% Female, 80.9%Male, 6.9% Female, 93.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 10.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage4%7%

Differences between dental assistant teacher and dental hygienist duties and responsibilities

Dental assistant teacher example responsibilities.

  • Help dentist to manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply.
  • Work with patients by assisting dentists and supporting hygiene students in restoration procedures along with several other dental procedures.
  • Provide direct customer service daily; greet and prepare patients for dental examinations, build charts, and document preliminary information.
  • Assist in oral surgery under local and twilight anesthesia in a private practice setting.Primary IV starter and administer anesthetics on command.
  • Obtain impressions for partial and permanent dentures.
  • Enter clinical notes, demographics, and insurance information utilizing Dentrix software.

Dental hygienist example responsibilities.

  • Assist dentist to manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification.
  • Assist front office with eligibility interviews and inputting information of future patients into Dentrix computer system.
  • Perform all the same duties as a dental hygienist under the supervision of a RDH.
  • Enter all services render, treatment plan and suggest into DENTRIX computer system; including clinical charting.
  • Develop a course plan, instruction materials, and curriculum goals for students as a didactic instructor for radiology.
  • Sterilize surgical instrument trays, set up and operate ultrasonice cleaners, maintain and operate autoclaves, assemble surgical trays.
  • Show more

Dental assistant teacher vs dental hygienist skills

Common dental assistant teacher skills
  • Patients, 49%
  • Treatment Procedures, 14%
  • Dental Assistants, 10%
  • Oral Health, 10%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Radiology, 2%
Common dental hygienist skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Patient Care, 13%
  • CPR, 10%
  • Medical History, 5%
  • Infection Control, 5%
  • Work Ethic, 4%

Browse healthcare support jobs