How much does a Dental Hygienist make?
In today’s shrinking job market, careers in the health care professions are becoming more and more attractive to many job seekers.
Young people just graduating from high school as well as more mature workers who are either entering the work force for the first time or looking for a career change after being laid off from a formerly lucrative profession are looking at health care as a potential career path.
Of all of the health care professions, that of dental hygienist is one of the fastest growing and potentially lucrative options available. Some projections indicate that the job market will increase by about 30% in the ten years between 2006 and 2016 with salaries increasing along with demand.
Of course, a number of factors impact the actual salary a hygienist can command, most notable among them being experience, training and that ubiquitous factor in all job markets, location. Nevertheless, the most recent numbers are impressive.
For example, an experienced dental hygienist living in Alaska (known for its high cost of living and commensurate salary structure) can command a whopping $90,000-$100,000 per year, while a similarly prepared professional working in the considerably more friendly climates of California, Nevada and Washington DC can earn an equally impressive $80-$86,000.
Furthermore, the average salary for all US locations for an entry level hygienist with an Associate Degree is a generous $40,000 to $70,000 per year. Salaries may be somewhat higher or lower depending on such factors as experience, educational preparation, skill level and practice location. Nevertheless, in view of the relatively “low-tech” skills required for someone entering this job market, it is a career worth considering.
Just what is a dental hygienist? As anyone who has been to a dentist in the past thirty or more years is already aware, dental hygienists are actually skilled dental assistants. They are responsible for most routine preventive dental care such as cleaning and plaque removal, fluoride application, teeth whitening, and the application of sealants and they perform most simple diagnostic x-rays of patient’s teeth and gums.
The hygienist also prepares the patient for each visit, takes the patient’s history and ensures that he or she has complied with all pre-visit instructions from the dentist (such as not eating or drinking for 8 hours prior to “conscious sedation.”) He or she also will assist the dentist as needed in complex dental procedures and ensure that the patient receives any ordered medication or prescriptions.
Perhaps the most important responsibility of the dental hygienist, however, is patient education. Today more than ever before the goal of all dental care is the prevention of decay and tooth loss due to gum disease and the hygienist is the health care professional tasked with educating patients about the care necessary to accomplish this sometimes difficult task. He or she teaches patients about proper brushing techniques, demonstrates the right (and wrong) way to floss, and generally reinforces the need for good nutrition as well as meticulous mouth care as the best way to maintain oral health.
Becoming a dental hygienist can be somewhat costly. Although there are some “certificate programs” that claim to qualify a person as a hygienist in as little as 8 weeks of weekend training, the generally accepted minimal educational preparation is an Associate Degree obtained from a community college.
If one is seeking employment in a research or university setting a Bachelor’s Degree is recommended. Nevertheless, considering the personal and financial rewards that are possible for a motivated and hard-working candidate, a career as a dental hygienist is an opportunity that is well worth exploring.