Spotlight: Dental Hygienist

When was the last time you went to the dentist? Did you have your teeth cleaned? Most likely the person wearing the scrubs and cleaning your teeth was a licensed dental hygienist.

Photo by eastmidtown

Dental hygienist work in dental offices across the United States. These oral health professionals do the nitty gritty work of cleaning teeth, identifying oral diseases, taking x-rays, removing plaque, flossing, brushing, and the other dirty work. They also screen patients and counsel clients on good nutrition and proper oral health.

Learn More About Being Dental Hygienist

It’s a big job where you meet new people and stare into their mouths every day. It’s a healthcare job that’s certainly in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that there are 192,800 professional dental hygienists working in the United States. It’s a profession that is supposed to grow 33% by 2022! That’s a huge opportunity for any aspiring dental hygienists out there.

If this sounds like a profession that interests you, there’s even more good news. On average dental hygienists make $33.75 per hour or $70,210 per year. That’s an awesome salary for not being stuck in desk all of the time.

Are you starting to wonder how to become a dental hygienist? Dental hygienists must obtain an Associate’s degree that takes about two years to complete. There are approximately 330 dental hygiene programs in the United States approved by the American Dental Hygienists´ Association. That means there’s probably a school near you. There are even some online learning options available.

Discover Other Jobs In Dentistry

After you obtain an associate’ s or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, you need a state license (state regulations vary so do your research) and you’re ready to find a job. According to a US Dental Practice Industry Report, there are 154,000 dental practices in the US in 2011. That’s a lot of potential employers!

Start your dental hygienist job search on the JobMonkey Job Board. There are lots of employment opportunities available. They just need you to apply. When you find a job as a dental hygienist, it will give you something to smile about.

If this job doesn’t interest you, still be sure to clean your teeth before your next visit to the dentist! Clean teeth and good oral health go a long ways toward finding a job!