Dental Hygienist Careers - Top Careers for 2013

Dental Hygienist Careers Information

Dental hygienists are among the fastest growing occupations today. The role of a hygienist is vast but essentially they assist dentists and provide care & treatment to patients. They often examine the health of patients’ teeth and gums, record abnormalities, and diagnose the severity of problems.

Other activities dental hygienists routinely complete include applying fluoride treatments, removing deposits on teeth, administering local anesthetics, and taking x-rays.
In some offices, dental hygienists are responsible for preparing rooms for an examination or procedure and this typically involves making sure all of the needed tools and materials are in place. During in-depth procedures, hygienists will work alongside dentists to offer assistance when needed.

Patient education also comprises a large percentage of the job and dental hygienists help teach patients how to properly care for their teeth. An unique feature of the position is that it allows for flexible scheduling and hygienists can often choose to work part-time, full-time, days, evenings, or weekends.

Dental Hygienist Careers Path

Dental hygienists must complete an accredited dental hygiene program and   pass written and oral examinations to become licensed in the state in which they want to practice.

Dental Hygienist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Solid interpersonal communication skills, strong desire to help others, able to closely follow instructions, good with hands, able to clearly articulate ideas

Dental Hygienist Interview

Read More about a Professional Dental Hygienist…

Dental Hygienist Careers: Salary Expectations

Dental Hygienists can expect a median salary of $68,250 annually or $32.81 hourly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Dental Hygienist Careers: Job Outlook

The demand for dental hygienists is rapidly growing and job opportunities are expected to increase approximately 38 percent through 2020. This growth is largely driven by the expanding population and a stronger push for preventative dental care. As dentists’ offices become increasingly busy, they are expected to hire more hygienists.