Why Pursue A Dental Hygienist Career?

Job Description: Dental hygienists perform somewhat more advanced dental tasks than dental assistants, but do not receive the same training that dentists do. Some of the tasks that hygienists perform include examining patients' teeth and gums for diseases; removing calculus, stains, and plaque; taking and developing dental x-rays; applying fluorides or other cavity-preventing agents; and teaching patients about good oral hygiene and other preventative dental care. Hygienists sometimes work chairside with a dentist during treatment.

Many hygienists also use dental instruments to clean and polish teeth, and administer local anesthetics to patients in preparation for dental procedures.

Work Environment: Dental hygienists enjoy flexible schedules, and can work full-time, part-time, evening, and weekend schedules. Many hygienists hold jobs in more than one dental office, as dentists oftentimes hire hygienists to work two or three days a week.

Dental offices are clean, well-lit environments. When working, it is important for hygienists to follow health safeguards, including wearing protective equipment (safety glasses, surgical masks and gloves).

Education and Training Requirements: Dental hygienists must be licensed by the state in which they practice. Prospective dental hygienists must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school, and must also pass both a written and clinical examination. Most dental hygiene programs end in an associate's degree, although some schools are starting to offer a certificate program, or a bachelor's or a master's degree. The minimum education level required to work in a private dental office is a certificate or an associate's degree.

Hygienists must also be comfortable working with dental instruments, as they are often working within a patient's mouth with little room for error.

Salary Range: Earnings for dental hygienists vary by geographic location, employment setting, and experience. Some hygienists will land salaried jobs; while others will be paid on an hourly, daily, or commission basis. This is due to the flexible scheduling typically involved with the work, as outlined above.

Median hourly earnings of hygienists in 2002 was $26.59, with most of the salaries ranging from $21.96 to $32.48 an hour.

Job Outlook: Owing to the increased demand for dental care by a growing population, as well as an increased reliance on hygienists to perform services previously done by dentists, prospects for dental hygienists are expected to be quite good. The profession is projected to be among the fastest-growing occupations through 2012.

Dentists are expected to hire more hygienists to perform basic duties and preventative dental care as their workload increases. In addition, older dentists, who are typically less likely to employ hygienists, are getting replaced by younger, recent graduates, who are much more likely to employ hygienists as support staff.

Featured Dental Hygienist Schools:

Arizona Schools
The Bryman School* (Phoenix) - Dental Assistant, Hospital Unit Coordinator, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Technologist in Radiology, Surgical Technologist, Massage Therapy

California Schools
Academy of Professional Careers * (Indio) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Holistic Health Practitioner, Massage Therapy, Optical Technician
Everest College* (Alhambra, Anaheim, City of Industry, Gardena, Hayward, Los Angeles - Wilshire, Ontario, Reseda, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose North, West Los Angeles, Wilshire)- Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Phlebotomist, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Office Management, X-Ray Technician, Surgical Technologist, Medical Clinical Assistant
Clarita Career College (Canyon Country, Lancaster) - Medical Assistant, Administrative Medical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy
Heald College* (Concord, Hayward, Stockton) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Health Information Technology
High-Tech Institute (Sacramento) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy
Keller Graduate School of Management* (Pomona, Irvine, Long Beach, Pomona, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Downtown, West Hills) - Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management
Maric College* (Bakersfield, Fresno, Stockton) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Coding/Billing, Nursing, Healthcare & Rehab Technician, X-Ray Tech, Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Ultrasound, Radiologic Technology, Pharmacy Tech, Respiratory Therapy, Massage Therapy
Newbridge College (Monterey Park) - Dental Assistant
San Joaquin Valley College* (Bakersfield, Fresno, Visalia) - Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Health Care Insurance Specialist, Pharmacy Technology, Surgical Technology, Veterinary Technology, Health Care Administration, Respiratory Care Practice
Santa Barbara Business College* (Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura) - Medical Assisting, Medical/Dental Office Systems, Pharmacy Technician

United Education Institute (Chula Vista, Huntington Park, Ontario, San Diego, Van Nuys) - Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billing & Coding
West Coast College (Victorville, Citrus Heights, Pleasant Hill, Sacramento, San Leandro) - Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Massage Therapist

Colorado Schools
IntelliTec College (Colorado Springs, Grand Junction) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Coding and Transcription

Connecticut Schools
Porter and Chester Institute* (Enfield, Stratford, Watertown, Weathersfield) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting

Florida Schools
ACT - Jacksonville (Jacksonville) - Dental Assisting
Angley College (DeLand) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Dental Assisting, Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Therapeutic Massage
ATI College of Health (Miami) - Dental Assisting, Diagnostic Ultrasound Technician, Medical Assisting Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Respiratory Therapist
Central Florida Institute* (Orlando, Tampa Bay) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant/Basic X-ray, Noninvasive Cardio Technician, Advanced Cardiovascular Technologist - ECHO, Surgical Technologist - Operating Room Scrub
Florida Education Center (Lauderhill) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
High-Tech Institute (Orlando) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist, X-ray Technician
Lincoln College of Technology (West Palm Beach) - Dental Assisting, Associate of Dental Office Management
Sanford-Brown Institute* (Tampa, Ft Lauderdale) - Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Surgical Technology, Advanced Massage Therapy
School of Health Careers (Lauderdale Lakes) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting

Georgia Schools
ACT: Advanced Career Training (Atlanta, Morrow) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Insurance Coding
Everest Institute* (Jonesboro, Norcross) - Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Patient Care Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Surgical Technologist
Medix School (Atlanta) - Dental Assisting, including Orthodontry, Medical Assisting

Hawaii Schools
Heald College (Honolulu) - Dental Assisting, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration

Idaho Schools
Academy of Professional Careers (Boise) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Holistic Health Practitioner, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Illinois Schools
Careers in Dental Assisting (River Forest) - Dental Assisting, Dental Office Administration
Everest College (Burr Ridge, Chicago) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing and Coding

Indiana Schools
Everest College (Merrillville) - Dental Assisting
Professional Careers Institute (Indianapolis) - Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting/Administration, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy/Medical Assisting, Medical Assistant, Medical Assisting/Administration, Medical/Dental Administration

Kentucky Schools
ATA Career Education (Louisville) - Dental Assisting, Medical Coding

Louisiana Schools
Everest College* (New Orleans) - Dental Assisting, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Pharmacy Technician

Maryland Schools
Kaplan College (Frederick) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant

Massachusetts Schools
Everest Institute* (Brighton) - Dental Assisting, Masage Therapy (Modular), Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Michigan Schools
Everest Institute (Dearborn) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy
Everest Institute* (Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Nurse, Certified Nurses Aide

Minnesota Schools
Argosy University (Twin Cities) - Dental Hygiene

Missouri Schools
Allied College (North St. Louis/Maryland Heights, South Arnold/Fenton) - Dental Assisting
Everest College (Springfield) - Dental Assisting
High-Tech Institute (Kansas City) - Dental Assisting
Missouri College (St. Louis) - Dental Office Administration, Dental Assistant
Sanford-Brown College (Hazelwood) - Dental Assisting
Everest College (Springfield) - Dental Assisting
Vatterott College (Springfield) - Dental Assisting

Nebraska Schools
Hamilton College* (Omaha) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, Massage Therapy
Vatterott College (Omaha) - Dental Assistant, Practical Nursing, Advanced Medical Assistant, Alcohol/Drug Abuse Counselor, Medical Assistant, Veterinay Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Administrative Specialist, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Office Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Psychiatric Assistant, Veterinary Technician

New Jersey Schools

New Mexico Schools

Southwest Health Career Institute (Albuquerque) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding

Nevada Schools
High-Tech Institute (Las Vegas) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist
Northwest Health Careers (Las Vegas) - Dental Assisting

Ohio Schools
Akron Institute (Cuyahoga Falls) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Biller/Administrator
Remington College - Cleveland West (North Olmsted) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance and Coding, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Oregon Schools

Cambridge College - Portland (Beaverton) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist
Heald College (Portland) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting

Pennsylvania Schools
Academy of Medical Arts and Business (Harrisburg) - Dental Assistant Specialist
Bradford School (Pittsburgh) - Dental Assisting
Career Training Academy (New Kensington) - Dental Assistant
CHI Institute * (Broomall) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technician
Sanford-Brown Institute (Philadelphia) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Coding & Billing, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Non-Invasive Cardiovascular & Surgical Technology, Massage Therapy
Thompson Institute (Philadelphia) - Dental Assisting
Tri-State Business Institute (Philadelphia) - Dental Assisting
Western (Monroeville ) - Dental Assisting

Rhode Island Schools
Lincoln Technical Institute (Lincoln) - Dental Assisting

Tennessee Schools
Draughons Junior College (Clarksville, Murfreesboro) - Dental Assisting
High-Tech Institute (Nashville) - Dental Assisting
Remington College* (Nashville) - Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assisting

Texas Schools
Milan Institute (Amarillo) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Office Administration, Pharmacy Technician
Academy of Healthcare Professions* (Austin, Houston North Loop, Houston Southwest) - Dental Assistant, Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist, Medical Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing Specialist, Phlebotomy Technician, Dental Assistant, Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist, Massage Therapy, Surgical Technologist
ATI Career Training Center* (Dallas, Hurst Medical, North Richland Hills) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Respiratory Therapy Technology
Career Centers of Texas* (Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth) - Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Dental Assistant, Insurance Processor, Patient Care Assistant Technician, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technician, Medical Office Specialist, Radiologic Technologist
High-Tech Institute (Irving) - Basic Massage Therapy, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist
National Institute of Technology (Austin, Greenspoint, Houston) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Business and Clinical Specialist
Pinnacle Career Center (Houston) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing
Kaplan Career Institute (San Antonio) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
San Antonio College of Medical and Dental Assistants (McAllen) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
Southeastern Career Institute* (Dallas, Midland) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
Texas Careers* (Beaumont, Lubbock) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Patient Care Assistant Technician, Nurse Aide, Vocational Nursing
Texas School of Business (Friendswood, Houston North, Houston Southwest) - Dental Assisting

Utah Schools
Eagle Gate College* (Murray) - Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assisting, Office Management
Provo College (Provo) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapist Assistant, Therapeutic Massage Technology

Virginia Schools
ACT College* (Alexandria, Arlington) - Medical Assisting, Dental Assistant, Medical Administrative Specialist, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician
Everest Institute* (Chesepeake) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding
Medical Careers Institute* (Newport News) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Specialist, Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing

Washington Schools

Everest College* (Everett, Lynnwood, Port Orchard, Renton, Tacoma) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist
Cambridge College - Seattle (Bellevue) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist
Kaplan College (Renton, Milwaukee) - Dental Assistant

Canadian Schools
Canadian Business College (Toronto, Ontario) - Dental Chairside Assistant, Dental Hygienist
Everest College * - Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Retail Pharmacy Technician, Medical Office Assistant, Dental Assisting

• Saskatchewan: Saskatoon
  
• Ontario: Barrie, Brampton, Hamilton Mountain, Kitchener, London, Mississauga, Newmarket, North York, Ottawa East, Scarborough, Sudbury, Toronto South, Windsor
  
• British Columbia: Abbotsford, Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria Bay Centre
  
• Manitoba: Winnipeg