Dental Hygienist

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Wages and Employment Trends For These Occupations

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease.
  • May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop X-rays, or apply fluoride or sealants

General Requirements

  • Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
  • Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.
  • Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree. (source: O*NET).
  • About 70% of workers in this occupational category have some college or less [66% have some college] (Source: BLS).
  • Most dental hygiene programs grant an associate degree; others offer a certificate, a bachelor's degree, or a master's degree.
  • Dental hygienists must be licensed by the State in which they practice.

Sample Job Titles

Dental Hygienist, Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), Hygienist.

Education and Credentials

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