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A dental hygienist is a licensed oral healthcare professional who works with dentists to promote and maintain good oral health. They perform preventative procedures such as cleaning teeth, taking X-rays, and applying fluoride treatments. Dental hygienists also educate patients on proper oral hygiene practices and provide advice on how to maintain healthy teeth and gums. They often work in dental offices, but can also be found in hospitals, schools, and public health clinics.
Aaron Benitez CDA, RDA, RDHAP, MSDH
Dental Assisting Faculty, Articulation Officer, Website
Avg. Salary $88,432
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 11%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.50%
Asian 6.27%
Black or African American 3.72%
Hispanic or Latino 12.01%
Unknown 3.64%
White 73.86%
Genderfemale 93.08%
male 6.92%
Age - 41American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 41Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Pros
Good salary
Flexible schedule
High demand
Opportunity to help people improve their oral health
Positive work environment
Cons
Risk of exposure to infectious diseases
Requires good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity
Can be emotionally taxing when dealing with patients in pain or distress
Must maintain strict infection control protocols, which can be time-consuming
Can be challenging to manage patient anxiety or fear during procedures
| Skills | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Patients | 29.54% |
| Patient Care | 13.16% |
| CPR | 9.73% |
| Medical History | 4.67% |
| Infection Control | 4.56% |
| State | Education | Exam | License url |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Degree required | Third-party exam required | DENTAL HYGIENIST |
| Alabama | - | - | Licensed Dental Hygienist |
| Alaska | Degree required | Third-party exam required | Dental Hygienist |
| Arkansas | Degree required | State exam required | Dental Hygienist |
| California | Degree required | Both state and third-party exams required | Dental Hygienist, Registered |
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Now it's time to start searching for a dental hygienist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Are you a dental hygienist?
Share your story for a free salary report.
The average dental hygienist salary in the United States is $88,432 per year or $43 per hour. Dental hygienist salaries range between $56,000 and $137,000 per year.
What am I worth?
I love being able to help people get back on track with their health. I love to be a part of the process that stops and maintains oral disease.
It is taxing on your body, especially your neck and back.
I love working in Healthcare/Dental and having patients turn into relationships and friendship while doing my job to help them with dental care and hygiene. I liked working in a big office as well.
I have been a Hygienist for 15 years and I am burnt out of the position. I still love dentistry and being part of a team.