Dental Hygienist Career Guide

Dental hygienists provide essential dental health services to patients. Although their responsibilities vary by state, most of their work consists of preventative care, patient education, and tracking treatment plans.

Typically, dental hygienists are responsible for cleaning, examining, and X-raying teeth using various ultrasonic and power tools. They also teach patients how to correctly brush, floss, and maintain their oral health. In some states, dental hygienists also place fillings and periodontal dressings.

All dental hygienists must be licensed through the state. An associate?s degree in dental hygiene is always required. This schooling provides an education in anatomy, radiography, and the study of gum disease. Dental hygiene is a rapidly growing career field. Health care reforms have expanded dental coverage to more people, which has encouraged dentists to hire more hygienists.

Compassionate, detail-oriented people make great dental hygienists. Since the nature of the work requires hygienists to hover over patients for extended periods of time and work with precise tools in very small and sensitive areas, physical stamina and manual dexterity are essential.

Of course, the best way to explore a career is to learn from people who work in that field every day. The real-world career profiles below contain in-depth information from experienced dental hygienists who can give you the inside scoop on the daily demands of this profession.