Dental Hygienist Salary Guide – Salaries, Schools, and Information

Today, there are numerous career opportunities in the healthcare industry.

One of the best options is to work as a dental hygienist, a dentist’s assistant who works

under the watchful tutelage of a dentist during dental care sessions.

Like nurses or medical assistants, dental hygienists prep the patient for the session and

do after care. Aside from that, a dental hygienist is also taught to perform other tasks

and responsibilities related to daily dental clinic operations.

As a dentist’s assistant, a dental hygienist’s priority is to assist the dentist in every dental

process.

A dental hygienist can be assigned in three areas of responsibilities such as lab duties,

office work and patient care. The latter is usually the most fun yet challenging since you

will be dealing with different people on a daily basis.

As a dental hygienist, working under the supervision of a dentist, you will be tasked to

perform simple procedures such as cleaning the teeth and removing calcareous deposits,

stains, and accretions using sterile dental equipments. You may also perform some

physical assessment such as feeling the patient’s nodes to determine the presence of oral

cancer and other signs of potentials diseases.

Anybody can work as a dental hygienist provided they have obtained the proper

education and training. Dental hygienist courses and training programs are open to all

high school graduates. This is a vocational course that would last no more than two

years, but if you would like to to pursue a specialty and additional training, there are

enhancement programs offered by educational institutions.

The demand for dental hygienists continues to increase rapidly. However, you cannot

work as a dental hygienist unless you are licensed or certified. After all, you will

sometimes be assigned to conduct invasive procedures and administer medicine, and a

simple error could lead to lawsuits.

A certified and trained dental hygienist should be particular with the standard practices,

concepts and procedures within the field. Familiarity with the human anatomy

specifically the oral anatomy in order is necessary to properly carry out duties. All dental

hygienists work under general supervision and would make daily or weekly reports to a

dentist.

The Expected Salary of a Dental Hygienist

In the US, the median salary expectation of a

dental hygienist is $59,626 to $79,079 per year. This result was taken from a survey

conducted by the Certified Compensation Professional’s analysis 2017.

However, a dental hygienist salary varies according to state and can be affected due

to numerous factors. The dental hygienist salary guide will provide further information

about a dental hygienist’s salary. The number one factor that you have to consider that

could greatly affect a dental hygienist salary is location. Dental hygienist working in

major cities like New York, Texas and Chicago will tend to have higher salaries.

The reason behind this is high cost of living. If you are living in Southern states where

the population is lower, along with the cost of living, then you can expect a smaller but

still well deserved dental hygienist salary. Even though a dental hygienist salary is not

constant from location to location, it would still be fortunate to work in the healthcare

field , as the healthcare industry is known to be very generous to their workers in terms

of benefits and other packages.

Factors Contributing to the Need of Dental Hygienist

According to statistics, there are a few main factors that contributed to the growth of the

dental hygienist profession. First, there are a lot of individuals who are choosing to

retain their original teeth thus increasing the need to advance dental science.

This means that there are newer and more sophisticated dental procedures that dentists

have to keep up with. With so much of their time taken to study and master these new

dental procedures, there is a greater need to hire dental hygienists or dental assistants to

perform basic dental procedures. This way, dentists will only be free to execute the

complicated dental procedures. Also, many states are reporting shortages of qualified

dental hygienists.

This means competitive companies would most likely increase a dental hygienist’s salary

and offer numerous benefits to attract young and fresh talent. In many cases, fresh

graduates of a dental hygienist course are receiving the same salaries offered to

experienced dental hygienists. Aside from the good salary, other perks such as a flexible

work schedule, rewarding patient interactions, and interesting job duties will entice any

individual to properly prepare and master their skills in this type of profession.

The dental hygienist field, according to surveys, is one of the

fastest growing professions currently available in the United States. It is even more

appealing than some other dental-related careers because it often requires less

secondary education comparatively. Some dental practices (specifically those who allow

their hygienists to practice advanced skills) are hiring dental hygienists at record rates

because of their skill level and reasonable salary demands – a dental hygienist salary

will remain strong for years.

Despite this current trend, job competition in some regions can be brutal because of the

influx of recently graduated students coming into the field. Students who are interested

in this field should do some research into the job availability in their region, and

consider their options in areas other than their own.

The minimum requirement to gain entry into an accredited dental hygiene school, for

most states, is a high school diploma or GED (along with college entrance test scores).

For high school students who are considering entering into the field, studying

chemistry, biology and math would be beneficial, as high scores in these areas are

attractive to dental programs. For those who have already completed high school, there

are several options to retain hygienist training.

The community colleges who offer dental hygiene programs typically have a certificate

program or an associate’s degree program (The AA degree is overwhelmingly the most

popular option, as the amount of classroom and lab time for the certificate program

compared to the AA program is negligible). For those students who would prefer more

education- and possibly higher pay in the field, many state universities offer bachelor’s

and master’s programs for dental hygienist training. In order to practice in the United

States, one must have either a dental hygienist certificate or a college degree from an

accredited dental hygiene school recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA).

The ADA requires a minimum of 2,794 hours of dental hygiene classroom and lab hours

combined, to obtain an entry level degree or certificate for the field. In addition to

higher education requirements, the prospective hygienist must possess a true calling for

working with patients, as they will often encounter people who have fear of dental

procedures. It is part of the hygienist’s job to put these patients at ease so that they may

be more open to learning about their oral care.

Dental hygiene training, regardless of

whether the end goal is a certificate or degree, consists of studies in anatomy, behavioral

and life sciences, health regulations, microbiology, radiography, and nutrition. In some

states, and for those who enter bachelor’s or master’s programs, the course of study may

also include classes for local anesthesia and other invasive procedures. State laws and

regulations determine exactly what the scope of practice for a dental hygienist will entail

on a state-by-state basis.

Generally speaking, however, dental hygienists are responsible for dental cleaning,

administering fluoride treatments and sealants, and educating patients about good oral

hygiene and prevention of oral diseases. They are also required to record their unusual

findings and observations in the patient’s chart.

Often, the opinion of the hygienist regarding patient treatment is “worth its weight in

gold” to the dentist, who likely has not spent as much time with the patient.

In some states, dental hygienist candidates must complete an internship in a dental

practice. This may be completed at a local dentist’s practice, at a dental “clinic”,

designed for those patients with little or no dental insurance, or at a nonprofit

organization (for example, dental care for the homeless). The student may pick

whichever option they are most interested in.

After schooling (and internship in some cases) is completed, the candidate is required to

pass a written exam and a clinical board exam in the state in which they have chosen to

practice. The content of the written exam varies by state, but in general, it consists of

multiple choice questions and some short answers or essay questions. The clinical

portion of the exam tests candidates on patient treatment procedures, radiography

procedures, and local anesthesia techniques if that particular state allows their dental

hygienists to perform anesthesia skills and the candidate is qualified.

As of 2009, there were 301 dental hygienist training programs in the United States .

These 301 programs include those that offer certificate programs, associate’s degrees,

bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Competition to gain entry into these programs continues to rise steadily, as more people

are discovering that the dental hygiene field is economically sound and a rewarding

career choice, a dental hygienist salary is well worth the time and effort.

If you have been considering a career as a dental hygienist, then you have probably

thought about the the average dental hygienist salary. An average dental hygienist

salary, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics, is a little more than $67,000 a year.

This figure is largely dependent on geographic location as well as education level of the

hygienist. Another factor is the years of experience.

What Does a Dental Hygienist Do All Day?

A dental hygienist is an important part of the dental

healthcare team. Hygienists work directly with the dentist and dental assistants to

provide oral care to patients.

Their primary role is to prevent and treat oral diseases. Dental hygienists are licensed

professionals that perform such duties as teeth cleaning, removing soft and hard

deposits from teeth, and educating patients or proper oral hygiene.

Dental hygienists assist dentists with procedures by ensuring patient comfort and

operating equipment. They may also perform laboratory duties involving x rays.

Dental hygienists perform office duties involving the recording and maintaining of

patent records. They chart abnormalities and decay for the dentist so that further

treatment can be performed. They may also assist the dentist with those treatments by

applying topical anesthetics.

Some dental hygienists work with school systems to promote oral healthcare. They

present educational programs to the students. These programs educate the students on

proper ways to take care of their teeth and gums.

How is Geographic Location Important to Raise the Dental Hygienist

Salary?

Geographic location is one of the greatest

influences of dental hygienist salary. An example of this is the average dental hygienist

salary in the state of Alaska. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a dental

hygienist working in the state ofAlaska has the potential to earn an average of $92, 280

a year. This is due to the small number of dental hygienists available in the area.

The state of Washington comes in second in the amount of annual dental hygienist

salary. The earning potential of dental hygienists there is an average of $90,830 . The

state of Michigan only records an average of $61,170 due to the larger amount of dental

hygienists available.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that dental hygienist salary figures can be as low

as$44,900 a year and as high as $92, 860 annually. These figures are highly dependent

on type of facility the dental hygienist works in. Those who work in private practices

tend to earn lesser amounts than those who work in larger clinics or larger healthcare

facilities.

How Does Educational Level Raise a Dental Hygienist Salary?

Another factor that greatly influences dental

hygienist salary is educational level. Those dental hygienists who pursue a Master’s

degree earn significantly more than those who complete an Associate’s degree program.

With enough clinical experience, those with a Master’s degree have the potential to

teach hygiene students in dental schools, thus increasing their annual earnings. They

also have the ability to obtain careers in research that may add to their earning potential

thus adding to a dental hygienist salary.

The salary for dental hygienist industry is a very lucrative industry to work within. If you

work within this industry, you will likely earn an income that is far above the average

income individuals in other professions earn. The amount of money you can earn as a

dental hygienist can differ based on a number of factors though. The following

information will shed some light on the salary for dental hygienist professionals though.

Salary For Dental Hygienist Need Education

One of the most important factors affecting the amount of income a person in this

profession can earn is the amount of education they possess.

Before you can even become an oral hygienist, you must first complete an extensive

amount of education and you must obtain a license. The more education and training

you receive before you enter the workplace though, the higher your income will be.

The part of the world you are planning on working in will likely also affect the amount of

money you can expect to earn once you get your first job as well. While the cities you

work in will affect your income, the highest paying areas around the world are probably

not where you would expect them to be situated.

High Salary For Dental Hygienist

Individuals in this profession actually earn

more in areas where there are very few people with the education and skills necessary to

fill this type of position. For this reason, Alaska is currently the state that pays dental

hygienists the largest salaries right now. Oral care professionals can expect to earn as

much as $96,000 per year while working in Alaska.

States that maintain a lot of competition often handle more customers on a regular

basis, but due to the large amount of skilled people who live in these areas, oral care

personnel cannot make as much as they would make in areas where skilled professionals

are rare.

Even so, in Illinois, a state where many skilled professionals can be found, dental

hygienists can expect to earn as much as $55,000 per year.

The amount of experience you possess will also have a dramatic impact on the amount

of money you can make each year. Dentists who hire these professionals often prefer to

hire skilled workers who have successfully serviced many patients before. For this

reason, your income will certainly increase over time as you continue to add more jobs

and years of service to your resume.

Average Salary For Dental Hygienist Professionals

The average income of individuals in this

profession is $68,000 within the United States. While this is the average salary for

dental hygienist earned by the workers within the United States, those who are entering

this field for the first time can expect to earn around $45,000 per year on average.

After only a few years of service though, the salary for dental hygienist moves towards

the average for the profession. With over 170,000 dental hygienists within the United

States alone, the competition can be rather fierce within this profession.

If you are planning on becoming a dental hygienist, you should do your best to acquire

your education from the most prestigious school possible and you should work in an

area where there are few skilled professionals, in order to increase the salary you earn

each year. No matter where you work though, the salary for dental hygienist

professionals is generally very high compared to many other professions.

In the lucrative world of dentistry, a dental hygiene salary ranks only second to that

of a dentist. A hygienist’s salary can lead to a very comfortable living with the basic

dental hygiene salary plus benefits. Schools recommend this filed for anyone who is not

sure where to start a career in medicine.

The mean dental hygiene salary for hygienists is around sixty thousand dollars a year.

That’s about thirty dollars an hour you spend in a dentist’s office.

The top ranking teeth doctor hygienists can make up to eight or ninety thousand dollars

a year, with the lower ranking hygienists making close to forty thousand dollars a year.

These figures put hygienists way above dental assistants, although below professional

teeth doctors.

A big attraction for prospective hygienists is the bonus package that comes with the

work. Most employers allocate to hygienists free healthcare, paid vacations as well as

retirement plans. Employers also award discounts to any procedures required by these

hygienists. Sometimes, other practices will entertain these discounted procedures if they

are affiliated with each other.

Part-Time Dental Hygiene Salary

Another big draw for hygiene students is the

chance to work only part time with different dentistry practices (these practices typically

have three or more teeth doctors on staff).

Nearly half of all teeth doctors today work part time and only attend to procedures two

or three times a week. This flextime enables dental hygienists to have more free time

with their family.

This flexible time arrangement by most dentist offices has led to more positions being

vacant to more teeth doctors. The current number of this professional profession

working in the country stands at two hundred thousand.

Because there are only a few hundred that are newly licensed each year, the demand

for hygienists is growing each year. In fact, the demand is expected to double over the

next decade, giving a very good outlook for medical or teeth doctor students.

Dental Hygiene Salary Demand Increase

This increasing demand has led most medical

students to shift their majors. There are even working nurses who take hygienist classes

in the hope of graduating within a couple of years. This is usually how long it takes to

complete a teeth hygiene program, although accredited schools offer this as a four year

program. Curious students should think carefully about their career choices before

deciding on a career in dentistry.

All of these positive talk about hygienists to think that this is an easy course and

profession. On the contrary, teeth hygienists play an important role alongside dentists in

a patients good oral health.

There will be times where dental hygienists are required to discuss preventive oral

health with their patient. Most times will see them cleaning and polishing a patient’s

teeth, or assisting chair side with a dentist. This is a serious role so prospective students

should be prepared and responsible.

If you have the work ethic it takes to take care of a patient’s teeth and gums, then being a

dental hygienist might be the job for you. With all the benefits that go with this career,

it’s an easy choice for many students. Life can be very comfortable living on a dental

hygiene salary.

Those considering a career in dental hygiene have probably thought about the average

dental hygienist salary of becoming a dental hygienist. An average dental hygienist

salary, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics, is a little more than $67,000 a year.

This figure is largely dependent on geographic location as well as education level of the

hygienist. Another factor is the years of experience.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the average dental hygienist salary figures

can be as low as$44,900 a year and as high as $92, 860 annually.

These figures are highly dependent on type of facility the dental hygienist works in.

Those who work in private practices tend to earn lesser amounts than those who work in

larger clinics or larger healthcare facilities.\

Average Dental Hygienist Salary – Duties

The average salary is an important part of the

dental healthcare team. Hygienists work directly with the dentist and dental assistants

to provide oral care to patients. Their primary role is to prevent and treat oral diseases.

Dental hygienists are licensed professionals that perform such duties as teeth cleaning,

removing soft and hard deposits from teeth, and educating patients or proper oral

hygiene.

Dental hygienists assist dentists with procedures by ensuring patient comfort and

operating equipment. They may also perform laboratory duties involving x rays and

other radiology equipment. Dental hygienists perform office duties involving the

recording and maintaining of patent records. They chart abnormalities and decay for the

dentist so that further treatment can be performed. They may also assist the dentist with

those treatments by applying topical anesthetics.

Dental hygienists educate patients on basic oral hygiene and instruct them on

postoperative care. Some dental hygienists work with school systems to promote oral

healthcare. They present educational programs to the students. These programs educate

the students on proper ways to take care of their teeth and gums.