Information Provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Most dental hygiene programs grant an associate degree; others offer a certificate, a bachelors degree, or a masters degree. Dental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations. Job prospects are expected to remain excellent. More than half work part time, and flexible scheduling is a distinctive feature of this job.
On average, Dental Hygienists earn $ 30.19 per hour.
Job Opportunities for Dental Hygienists are expected to:
Increase faster than average.
Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. They examine patients teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities.
A high school diploma and college entrance test scores are usually required for admission to a dental hygiene program. High school students interested in becoming a dental hygienist should take courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Also, some dental hygiene programs require applicants to have completed at least 1 year of college.
Dental hygienists held about 167,000 jobs in 2006. Because multiple job holding is common in this field, the number of jobs exceeds the number of hygienists. Almost all jobs for dental hygienists were in offices of dentists. A very small number worked for employment services, offices of physicians, or other industries.
