Dental Hygenist Salary Range
Dental hygienists work under dentists to ensure the oral health of their patients. They enjoy flexible scheduling, and the education/training required to become a licensed hygienist is considerably less than that required of an actual dentist. The majority of dental hygienists work part-time, and they can be paid on an hourly, salary, daily or commission basis.
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Job Description
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Dental hygienists specialize in preventive medical care relating to the mouth and teeth. Their duties include, but are not limited to, taking x-rays, performing teeth cleanings and educating patients about proper brushing technique and overall oral hygiene. Dental hygienists also record patient histories and assist with overall office logistics.
Work Environment
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Dental hygienists typically work in a respectable office setting, and their primary concerns are those related to safety; they must follow strict protocol when it comes to radiological procedures and administering anesthetic gas. In order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, hygienists must also wear safety glasses and surgical masks and gloves. Dental hygienists tend to have flexible schedules that enable them to work full-time, part-time, weekends or evenings. Dentists usually hire them to only work two to three days per week, and for that reason many hygienists are employed at multiple offices.
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Education
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Most prospective dental hygienists graduate with an associate degree after completing a two-year program at a community college, technical school or dental school/university. University-based programs sometimes offer baccalaureate and master's degrees----the procurement of which usually requires two years of additional schooling. These advanced degrees may be necessary for those intent on teaching or research. The dental hygiene curriculum emphasizes the application of clinical techniques through monitored patient care experiences. Dental hygienists also take courses in the liberal arts, basic sciences----like anatomy and microbiology----and clinical sciences such as radiology and dental equipment. The degrees mentioned above allow for hygienists to take the national or state examinations necessary for them to become licensed and find work in a dental office.
Salary Range
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The average salary of a dental hygienist in the United States is $65,590, though this number varies according to location, specific responsibilities, education and type of practice/setting. The middle 50 percent of U.S. dental hygienists earn in the vicinity of $57,335 to $72,767, as of 2009.
Job Outlook
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The future is bright for dental hygienists, as older dentists who were less inclined to employ hygienists are retiring, to be replaced by recently-graduated dentists who will presumably be more likely to employ multiple hygienists. Furthermore, dentists looking to concentrate their time and effort on more involved procedures are predicted to hire more hygienists to carry out routine preventive measures, such as cleaning.
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