Dental Hygienist

To be a successful Dental Hygienist you should…

• work well with others
• have good manual dexterity
• have good listening skills
• have good eye/hand coordination and precision
• have visual acuity noting details in color/shape
• have the ability to calm nervous patients
• have good aptitude for science coursework
• have good health, personal neatness, cleanliness

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What will my job be like?

Dental Hygienists use a variety of personal and clinical skills to motivate and instruct patients on ways to prevent oral disease and to maintain oral health.

Hygienists perform oral health assessment and oral health instruction. They examine head, neck, and oral regions for disease, take and process x-rays, perform other diagnostic tests, remove deposits from teeth, and apply sealants and fluoride to prevent decay.

Dental hygienist may work in periodontic or pediatric dentistry.

Where could I work?

Hygienists are usually employed in dental offices and clinics. Flexible scheduling is a distinctive feature of this job. Full-time, part-time, evening, and weekend work is widely available. Dentists frequently hire hygienist to work two or three days a week, so hygienists may hold jobs in more than one dental office.

Depending upon the level of education and experience achieved, dental hygienists can also apply their skills and knowledge to other career activities such as teaching hygiene students in dental schools and dental hygiene education programs.

Other workplace settings:

• Community Health Agencies
• Correctional Facilities
• Hospitals and Nursing Homes
• Military
• Public Health Departments

What is the average annual salary?

$77,000

What is the future of this career?

Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.

About 15,600 openings for dental hygienists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

What type of education and/or training do I need?

Dental hygienists receive their education through academic programs at community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools, or universities. The majority of community college programs take two years to complete, with graduates receiving a diploma, certificate, or associate degree.

An associate degree is sufficient for practice in a private dental office. A bachelor’s or master’s degree is usually required for research, teaching, or clinical practice in public or school health programs.

Where can I get the education and/or training?

• Goodwin College, East Hartford
• Tunxis Community College, Farmington
• University of Bridgeport – Fones School of Dental Hygiene, Bridgeport
• University of New Haven, West Haven

Do I need a license or certification for this career?

Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. Prerequisite: Connecticut requires successful graduation from an approved dental hygiene school and passing the National Board Examinations and Regional Clinical Performance Examination.

Please visit the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health website for more information.

Where can I get more information?