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The differences between dental technicians 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 $68,232 average annual salary of a dental technician.
The top three skills for a dental technician include patients, dentures and dental care. The most important skills for a dental hygienist are patients, patient care, and CPR.
| Dental Technician | Dental Hygienist | |
| Yearly salary | $68,232 | $88,432 |
| Hourly rate | $32.80 | $42.52 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 45,536 | 24,234 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 28% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Dental Technicians manufacture dental prosthetics, such as crowns, bridges, and dentures in accordance with the dentist's specifications. They are also responsible for replacing, repairing, or modifying full or partial dentures.
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 technicians and dental hygienists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Technician | Dental Hygienist | |
| Average salary | $68,232 | $88,432 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $115,000 | Between $56,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Columbia, MD | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Private Practice | Bonita |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a dental technician and a dental hygienist in terms of educational background:
| Dental Technician | Dental Hygienist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 28% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between dental technicians' and dental hygienists' demographics:
| Dental Technician | Dental Hygienist | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.6% Female, 48.4% | Male, 6.9% Female, 93.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 Percentage | 5% | 7% |