Dental Hygienists
Complete Dental Hygienists career guide. Discover required skills, average salary, day-to-day responsibilities, interview tips, and resume templates.
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Salary Data
Median ~$96k — know your worth
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What Does a Dental Hygienists Do?
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- 1Record and review patient medical histories.
- 2Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- 3Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
- 4Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- 5Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
- 6Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
- 7Expose and develop x-ray film.
- 8Attend continuing education courses to maintain or update skills.
Required Skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Dental billing software
- Dental charting software
- Dental clinical records software
- Dental digital radiology software
- Dental imaging software
- Dental intra-oral imaging software
- Dental office management software
- Email software
- Henry Schein Dentrix
- Microsoft Excel
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Dental Hygienists Salary
Entry
$84k
Mid-level
$96k
Senior
$108k
Dental Hygienists FAQs
What skills do I need to become a Dental Hygienists?
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Key skills for Dental Hygienists include Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking. Strong foundational knowledge in your field plus continuous learning is essential.
How much does a Dental Hygienists make?
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Dental Hygienists salaries vary based on experience, location, and employer. Visit our salary guide section for detailed compensation data.
What does a Dental Hygienists do day-to-day?
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Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
How long does it take to become a Dental Hygienists?
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The path to becoming a Dental Hygienists varies. Many enter the field with a bachelor's degree (4 years) plus 1-3 years of entry-level experience, though bootcamps and self-study routes are increasingly common.
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