How to Become a Dental Hygienist

Do you enjoy working in contact with people? If you’re also interested in the medical field, but you’d like a less hectic environment, a dental hygienist job could be exactly what you’re looking for. In this article, we tell you all about why you should choose this great career and all the concrete steps for how to become a dental hygienist.

With a projected 9% growth in the next decade, dental hygienist jobs are some of the best careers you could choose for their excellent prospects, stable income and manageable lifestyle. These professionals also enjoy great flexibility, as they can work part-time, as well as arrange their working hours with one or multiple medical facilities.

What Is a Dental Hygienist?

A dental hygienist is a licensed healthcare professional who is part of medical teams that take care of people’s oral health. They work closely with dentists to provide educational, preventative, and therapeutic services that help people keep their smiles healthy.

What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

Although the duties of a dental hygienist may vary slightly from state to state, generally they carry out tasks such as:

• educating patients on proper teeth care
• providing non-surgical periodontal therapy such as applying fluoride or removing plaque
• sanitizing dental instruments
• performing initial oral screening to look for signs of diseases such as cavities, gingivitis, or oral cancer
• administering local anesthetics (only in certain states)
• collecting information about oral health from patients
• taking X-rays or dental impressions for the dentist
• updating patient clinical history
• monitoring and ordering their supplies
• refer patients to specialists like oral pathologists or physiotherapists to support the treatment of certain conditions

How to Become a Dental Hygienist

Let’s dive into specifically how to become a dental hygienist and how long it takes to become a dental hygienist. First, if you’re still in high school we suggest you add chemistry, biology, and math courses to your curriculum, so you’ll have an easier time in dental school.

Dental hygienist education requirements can vary by state, although an associate degree is generally the minimum. To answer the question “how long is dental hygienist school?”, the average program lasts about three years but in some states, it’s as little as 16 months. It’s taught in community colleges, universities, and technical schools.

During this time, you’ll build your knowledge with both theoretical classes and internship experience. On the other hand, if you wish to work in teaching, research, medical application, and public health projects, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. You can find all the accredited institutions on the Commission on Dental Accreditation website.

After your studies, you’ll have to obtain a license in your state to practice the profession and keep up with new training courses as required by your state Board of Dental Examiners.

How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make?

A dental hygienist’s salary averages $35.73 per hour. That equates to around $74,317 per year if you work full-time. However, based on various factors like further education, experience, and location, you can earn more or less than that. Take for instance Los Angeles and Seattle, where the average wage rises to $41.94 and $42.12 per hour respectively.

If the question “how much do dental hygienists make in my city?” is on your mind, you can simply check on Monster’s Salary Tool.

How to Find Dental Hygienist Jobs

Now that you’re all caught up on how to become a hygienist, you have everything necessary to start working on your job applications. Follow Monster’s easy writing tips and you’ll have a perfect resume ready in no time. Shoot for a simple but easy-to-read layout. Create separate sections for experience, education and skills, and add hobbies and interests if they’re relevant to the job.

It’s also always a good idea to include a professional summary – a brief snapshot of who you are and what you’ve achieved – just below your contact information. Do you want a shortcut? Download our dental hygienist resume template and simply fill it in.

Throughout your resume, make a point of showing your accomplishments with metrics and other quantifiable data rather than just describing your tasks. Also mention crucial soft skills important for dental hygienists, such as communication, teamwork, patience and problem-solving.

Finally, leverage the power of a well-written dental hygienist cover letter. Explain what your professional motivations are and why you’d be a great addition to the company’s team.

Where Does a Dental Hygienist Work?

Dental hygienists have many options besides private dentist offices when it comes to the facilities they can work for. You could be employed in:

• hospitals
• local dental clinics
• non-profits
• clinical trials
• dental hygienist schools
• managed care organizations
• nursing homes

Plus, if you possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can access teaching jobs in colleges and universities, as well as managing roles in public health, local community programs and dental practices.

With so many possibilities, where should you look for dental hygienist jobs if you could move anywhere? Here are the states where this profession is in the highest demand:

• California
• Florida
• New York
• Texas
• Ohio

We suggest that you also look into the following U.S. metro areas with excellent prospects for dental hygienists:

• Los Angeles
• New York
• Chicago
• Philadelphia
• Dallas-Fort Worth

Treat Your Career Right and Get on Monster to Find Your Next Job

If our guide on how to become a dental hygienist was helpful, jump right into the job market and sign up to Monster for free. Creating a profile is as easy as uploading your resume and it has many added perks. Forget scrolling job ads and instead receive matching ones directly to your inbox. Set up your account and discover all our member benefits today.