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The differences between dental hygienists and orthodontists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an orthodontist has an average salary of $215,333, which is higher than the $88,432 average annual salary of a dental hygienist.
The top three skills for a dental hygienist include patients, patient care and CPR. The most important skills for an orthodontist are patients, diagnosis, and OSHA.
| Dental Hygienist | Orthodontist | |
| Yearly salary | $88,432 | $215,333 |
| Hourly rate | $42.52 | $103.53 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 24,234 | 18,456 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
An orthodontist is responsible for evaluating the dental records, including x-ray and surgery results of a patient, administering medications to treat dental issues and avoid further health complications. Orthodontists perform adjustments on the patients' dental condition, including teeth improvement procedures, by utilizing dental equipment and tools for operations. They inspect the efficiency of the operating equipment and machine, ensuring its stability and top-performance condition by conducting regular maintenance and sterilizing equipment to prevent contamination that may affect dental results.
Dental hygienists and orthodontists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Hygienist | Orthodontist | |
| Average salary | $88,432 | $215,333 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $137,000 | Between $121,000 And $381,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Bonita | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a dental hygienist and an orthodontist in terms of educational background:
| Dental Hygienist | Orthodontist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between dental hygienists' and orthodontists' demographics:
| Dental Hygienist | Orthodontist | |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.9% Female, 93.1% | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 17.6% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 12% |