Dental Hygienist Jobs

If you have an interest in dentistry or have a curiosity about human teeth, then perhaps you should start a career as a dental hygienist. Currently, dental hygienist jobs are one of the most secure with an expected job growth in the next decade. Back in 2004, there were a total of 158,000 dental hygienist jobs. 50% of those jobs were for part-time work. In 2008, there were around 174, 100 jobs that were held as dental hygienists. It has been estimated that through 2018, dental hygienist jobs are expected to grow 36%. If this is a field that you are interested in, you can guarantee a secure job for your future.

The duties of a dental hygienist include cleaning patient’s teeth (such as removing plaque, tartar and other stains), performing x-rays, applying cavity treatments, treat periodontal diseases and counseling patients on proper teeth care and cleaning. Other tasks that a hygienist may do include administering laboratory tests and giving them to the dentist for interpretation or assisting the dentist during dental exams.

Before an individual can secure a job as a dental hygienist, he/she must have completed an education through an accredited dental hygienist program. There are about 300 accredited hygienist programs located in the United States. Some offer an associate’s degree while others offer certificates, bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree. To be able to enroll into such a program, the individual must have completed their high school education and submitted their college test scores.

For those interested in a dental hygienist job, you can apply through a dentist. Most jobs will be in a dentist’s office. If you are lucky to have an internship with a dentist from college, perhaps you could secure a job working for the same dentist. Some jobs can also be secured through an employment service or a physician’s office too. Details from the U.S. Dept of Labor show that the majority of dental hygienists (96%) worked in a dentist’s office. The average salary of a dental hygienist is around $61,840. Although, other factors can determine your salary such as experience and level of education too.

If you plan to work as a dental hygienist, you must be able to have flexible scheduling. Sometimes you may be working during the evening or weekends. Some jobs may require either part-time or full time work. Also, while you are working, all dental hygienists are required to wear protective masks as well as wearing protective gear when doing an x-ray for a patient. Sometimes it is also necessary to wear safety goggles or glasses.

Presently, with jobs becoming harder to secure, it could be wise to get an education and gain experience for training as a dental hygienist. If the job duties are of interest to you, and the salary is something that would benefit both you and/or your family, then it could be a field that would provide job security for years to come.