A dental hygienist primarily assists the dentist in performing routine check up and treatments. And aside from that they are also expected to clean and polish patient’s teeth, instruct and explain good dental hygiene procedure to dental patients and perform other preventive dental care. Usually you find them next to the dentist during patient’s examinations filling up charts and operating machines used by the dentist. Other responsibilities of the dental hygienist are taking and developing the patient’s dental X-ray, teaching dental patients regarding good oral hygiene and nutrition, creating the patient’s teeth molds for evaluation and treatment, applying sealants and fluorides to the teeth and other preventive materials, administering of anesthetics when needed, and preparing the clinical and laboratory diagnostic test to be used by the dentist for interpretation.

The job demands skills and good training to be able to do these duties and responsibilities. To become a dental hygienist you need to study and train to get an associate’s degree and after attaining that you have to pass a licensing board examination in order to be qualified to be a dental hygienist. And if you want to further your career either in research work , in teaching , in public and school dental health programs or clinical practice you must continue your education in order to obtain a bachelor’s and master’s degree in dental hygiene. Further studies and specialization will help you get promoted and increase your salary.

Salary of dental hygienist depends on these several factors: location, experience, education, and employment setting. A dental hygienist receives a salary ranging from $56,235 to $71,080 and it could even go up to $80,000 or more annually. Location affects the salary of the dental hygienist. Salary are much higher in areas where cost of living is higher like the urban areas, while in rural areas where cost of living is lower salary received is also lower. Starting pay for dental hygienist is $37,000 to $40,000 annually since they have lesser experience compared to those who have five to seven years of experience who would receive $60,000. And as the years of experience grows to eight to ten years salary would also increase to as much as $100,000. Dental hygienist employed in hospitals receives lesser pay then those who work in a private offices or clinics.

Demand for dental hygienist is great in hospitals, private dental offices, dental schools, public health clinics, and programs concerning dental hygiene education. Aside from these job opportunities, there are also other career opportunities that are open to them like, in the field of research, in the field of business with companies that provides dental-related equipments and materials and in the field of education as teachers in dental schools.

Work schedules for dental hygienist vary and are very flexible. You could practice full-time, from nine to five daily or part-time weekends or evening’s only .Some part-timers work for two to three days a week depending on their schedule or preferences. Some also receives commission based salary where they are paid according to the specific job they were asked to do. This arrangement allows them to work for two or more dental offices.

Being a Dental hygienist is an exciting and demanding job and financial opportunity is good at the same time it gives you satisfaction in being able to help people have confidence with their smile.