Dental Hygienist Jobs Overview
Do you want to work closely with patients without the long hours of nurses or the extensive education requirements of doctors? Then a job as a dental hygienist may be right for you. Dental hygienist jobs exist to support a dental practice. Dental hygienists perform patient care, both independently and while assisting dentists. Their responsibilities include:
- polishing teeth and performing teeth cleanings
- applying treatments like fluoride
- taking X-rays
- educating patients about oral care
- documenting medical history and treatments
States vary in how much authority dental hygienists have independent of dentists. In some states, you can have a provider-patient relationship with patients and treat them without the presence of a dentist, even if you can’t perform all of the duties that a dentist can.
You’ll enjoy this job if you’re service-minded and thrive on helping others. It’s also a great option to consider if job security is important to you. In fact, this is a rapidly growing field expected to see an average job growth of about 9% over the next 10 years.
How Much Do Dental Hygienist Jobs Pay?
The median pay for a dental hygienist nationwide is $34.22 an hour. Use Monster’s Salary Tools to find the median pay in your area. We also have statistics on pay in the locations with the highest demand, as well as salaries for related jobs. Some of the cities with the highest demand for dental hygienists include San Diego, Portland, New York City, and Phoenix.
If you work in a state where dental hygienists can practice independently, you’ll have more control over your pay by opening your own practice.
How to Find Dental Hygienist Jobs That Fit You
Dental hygienists typically work normal office hours, although some dental practices may be open for a few hours during the weekend. Taking a look at the hours of the dental practice you want to work for should give you a general idea of what your schedule will be like.
A good fit with the staff in the office, and especially the dentist, is key because you’ll be working closely together much of the time. It’s therefore important that you get to have at least one interview in person to see if the work culture and team will be a good match for you. Consider whether you want to work with children, adolescents, adults, or seniors, since some dentists will specialize in a specific age group.
If you live in a state where you can open your own practice as a dental hygienist, consider finding a job where you can take on as much responsibility as possible early on. On the other hand, be wary of overly long job descriptions. A dental hygienist job ad that also entails significant unrelated job tasks could indicate that you’ll be doing more than one job for one salary.
How to Apply to Dental Hygienist Jobs
Give your job application the best treatment with our writing tips for dental hygiene jobs. Take a look at our dental hygienist resume and dental hygienist cover letter for some suggestions on how to make your job application shine.
In your resume, make sure to mention the states you’re licensed to practice in and any certifications that you hold in addition to your RDH license, such as CPR or First Aid certification.
Get a Customized Dental Hygienist Resume and Cover Letter
If you need to brush up on your resume writing skills, get help from Monster’s Resume Writing Services. A job-hunting expert familiar with your industry will create a customized resume tailored to your unique experience. You can also get help writing your cover letter and finding a unique value proposition that will make your letter stand out.
Submit Your Application on Monster
Once you have polished resume and cover letter, team up with Monster to boost your job search. Get regular emails with career advice in your inbox and updates on new job opportunities by creating a free profile. You’ll also be able to send your applications directly through Monster to dental hygienist jobs that you find on the site, as well as add your resume to the database for recruiters.
How to Follow up With an Employer
If it’s been at least a week and you haven’t heard anything regarding your job application, don’t hesitate to reach out. Just be aware that the contact person in the email or the person picking up the phone in the front office may not be responsible for hiring decisions. For best results, ask who’s interviewing for this position and see if you can get in touch with them directly. Often, this is the dentist, but it could also be an office manager or the owner of the practice.
If you can reach the person in charge, don’t miss the opportunity to deliver a brief pitch about yourself. Use Monster’s best follow-up tips for detailed advice on what to say. You can also find some help in our article on how to craft an elevator pitch.
Interviewing Tips for Dental Hygienist Jobs
Whether your first interview is virtual or in person, come prepared by dressing professionally and conservatively. If you’re visiting the clinic, think about some brief small talk as you meet the rest of the staff and the dentist. Refresh your knowledge of common dental office lingo as well.
Most importantly, make sure to come well-prepared to answer a variety of interview questions. Questions for a dental hygienist job will likely include clinical questions, administrative details, and hypothetical scenarios. Here are some examples of interview questions you might be asked:
- Are you familiar with HIPAA?
- How do you handle difficult patients?
- What techniques do you use to calm a nervous patient?
Read our articles on potential interview questions for more examples of general questions that may come up in a job interview.
What to Do When You Get an Offer
With a well-written resume and well-rehearsed interview questions, a job offer could be right around the corner. Before you accept it, make sure to give it a detailed check-up. Do the salary and benefits measure up to what you expected?
Don’t hesitate to negotiate if the offer isn’t quite up to par—just make sure to express your gratitude and excitement first. Keep in mind that a good salary negotiation is based on fair compensation for your experience level and education, as well as additional factors you have to offer as a candidate, not how much you need or would like to earn. Always approach a negotiation reminding the employer of what you can offer.
The offer should also include details such as the hours and title of the position, the expected start date, job description, and other essential information.
Dental Hygienist Career Paths
You’ll need at least a two-year associate degree in dental hygiene to become a dental hygienist. To strengthen your position on the market for dental hygienist jobs, consider enrolling in a dental hygienist program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Some jobs may require a bachelor’s degree. Before deciding what path to take, read current jobs ads to see what positions and pay you can get with either of these degrees.
These are some examples of classes you might take in a dental hygiene program:
- oral health
- patient management
- patient care
- dental anatomy
- oral pathology
After your education, you’ll need to a get a license as a registered dental hygienist (RDH). Licensing requirements vary from state to state, but typically include a written and a clinical exam. Some jobs also require you to hold a CPR certification.
Planning For a Future as a Dental Hygienist
If you live in a state that allows independent practice dental hygienists (IPDH), you can open your own office one day. This usually requires that you first acquire a certain number of work hours, and then pass a criminal background check, a board interview, and several other requirements.
If your plan is to have your own practice one day, it’s a good strategy to take some classes in business administration and management of a dental practice, such as billing and insurance issues.
Another possible path is to become a sales rep of dental equipment to dental offices. A degree in dental hygiene gives you a unique perspective to sell dental equipment and may help you advance in sales.
Similar Occupations to Dental Hygienist Jobs
There are many other similar jobs in healthcare technology you might be interested in. Take a look at these related job titles: