Dental Hygienist

Explore This Path

Help people maintain healthy smiles and prevent oral diseases.
Make a positive impact on patients' oral health and overall well-being.
Use advanced techniques like fluoride treatments and topical anesthesia.

💰 Earn $108K-$131K

📚 Associate Degree

⏱️ 12–24 MONTH TRAINING

📈 9.2% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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.

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.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Associate Degree

Career Prospects

Excellent (Increasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

1 to 2 years

Job Openings

16,400 Annually

Median Earnings

$120,640 in California

$87,530 Nationally

$25K

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Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Relating with or serving others
Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Service Orientation
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking

You value 🙏

Having support
Having freedom
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Dental Hygienist

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years