How to Become a Dental Hygienist and More About This Career

Dental hygienists help people maintain a vital part of well-being: their oral health, which Mayo Clinic states is a direct link to overall health.1 Dental hygienists work on teams with dentists to provide dental patient treatment. They help people learn how to take better care of their teeth, gums and mouths.

A career as a dental hygienist can be rewarding in many ways. You can begin your career with an associate degree, which takes less time to complete than a traditional 4-year bachelor degree. Plus, compared to most jobs that require an associate degree, dental hygiene careers typically pay more.2 3

If you have an interest in the human body and you want to help people lead healthier lives, you might find work as a dental hygienist fulfilling. Use this guide to see if the career fits your goals.

What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

What is a dental hygienist? When people head in for a dental exam, the first person they meet with is typically the dental hygienist. A dental hygienist prepares patients to be examined by a dentist. Dental hygienists perform duties including:

• Document and update patient dental health records and treatments
• Perform dental X-rays
• Cleaning teeth with dental instruments to remove plaque, stains and tartar
• Apply sealants
• Provide fluoride treatment
• Teach patients how to properly take care of teeth, including brushing and flossing recommendations and optimal dental tools to use at home

As dental hygienists clean teeth, they may identify cavities or gum issues to alert the dentist about. They’re on the lookout for oral diseases like gingivitis and talk with patients about their oral healthcare routines.

Like a nurse working on a team under supervision of a doctor, a dental hygienist typically works under supervision of a dentist. Most of the tasks dental hygienists perform are preventative or dental maintenance. A dentist performs more intensive treatments, like filling cavities.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in some states, dental hygienists who get additional training may fill roles called dental therapists.4 Dental therapists may perform restorative services, including extracting primary teeth.

Benefits of Being a Dental Hygienist

People are drawn to work as a dental hygienist for a variety of reasons. One is that you can work in the health and wellness field without having to attend dental school, which can take up to six years or more to become a dentist.5 You can earn an associate degree and prepare to take the Dental Hygiene National Board, as well as any state or regional clinical licensing examinations (if applicable)* in as few astwo years.

Another perk to working as a dental hygiene professional is that compared to being a dentist, the work schedule may be more predictable and less demanding. While the BLS reports many dentists work evenings, weekends and on-call hours, dental hygienists can work more flexible schedules.6 If you want to work part-time, that’s another option dental hygienists have.7

Dental Hygienist vs Dental Assistants

When considering a career in a dental office, you may be wondering what is better: dental assistants or dental hygienists? The fact of the matter is that the two roles are very different. A dental assistant works closely with a dentist to help with patient care. A dental hygienist, on the other hand, works closely with patients to do the bulk of the work of a routine dental appointment.

A benefit of pursuing a career as a dental assistant include getting into the working world faster. Learn more about a career in dental assisting.

Why Become a Dental Hygienist?

The BLS reports as the population ages, dental services will increase in demand. Also, people are becoming more educated about the link between oral and overall health, which is making dental services more popular.

Wherever there are people, there is a need for those who work in a dental hygienist career.11 Some dental hygienists work in physician offices or in government roles.

States with Highest Employment Levels of Dental Hygienists

Some states have higher employment of dental hygienist based on factors like population size. Salary may vary by state, as well, due to cost of living.

The following states have the highest employment level for dentist hygienists as of May 2022, according to the BLS.13

Dental Hygienist Jobs

While most dental hygienists work in dentist offices under the supervision of a dentist, there’s plenty of variety available in work as a dental hygienist.

Some dental hygienists work in physician’s offices, on teams that include doctors and nurses for overall patient health treatment. Dental hygienists may also be employed by the government and provide care via local clinics and hospitals or in underserved areas.

Dental hygienists may work full-time or part-time. Hygienists may specialize in working with one dentist, or they may work with a team of dentists.

There’s a variety of dental specialties, including dental anesthesiology, dental public health and oral medicine. A registered dental hygienist (RDH) might work with a dentist who specializes in one of the following areas.15

• Oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology and/or surgery: This specialty focuses on oral and maxillofacial diseases, including diagnosing, imaging and surgical treatment.
• Orofacial pain:Orofacial pain focuses on pain disorders of the mouth, jaw, face, head and neck.
• Pediatric dentistry:A pediatric dental hygienist will work with a dentist who specializes in providing oral care for infants and children through adolescence.
• Periodontics:Periodontics is the dentistry specialty focusing on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of teeth and the surrounding tissues.
• Prosthodontics:The prosthodontics dental specialty focuses on helping patients with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues with the use of biocompatible substitutes.

Some people who study dental hygiene pursue careers outside of a dentist environment. Those who specialize in dental hygiene may pursue work in dental supplies sales, hospital/nursing home consultancy, teaching or community clinic administration.16 Whether you want to provide direct patient care or educate others about the importance of oral health, a dental hygienist education presents a variety of opportunities.

How to Become a Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienist requirements will vary depending on each state, but you’ll need to be licensed to legally work as a dental hygienist. The American Dental Association (ADA) reports there are some common requirements to be aware of.17

1. Earn an associate degree. Typically, to become a dental hygienist one must complete a Dental Hygiene degree program that’s accredited** by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
2. Pass exams*. Take the Dental Hygiene National Board, as well as any state or regional clinical licensing examinations (if applicable). Licensure qualifications vary by state.  Get licensed. Licensure requirements will vary by state. These may include requirements like a statement of citizenship form, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification and passing a background check.19

How long does it take to become a dental hygienist?

That depends on how long it takes to complete school, pass exams and get licensed. You may be able to begin your dental hygiene career in as few as two to three years.

Do I Need to Be Certified to Be a Dental Hygienist?

Yes, the ADA states dental hygienists must be licensed by the state in which they work in order to legally provide patient education and dental hygiene care. Typically, licenses will need to be renewed after a certain amount of time, which may require continued education credits.20 Without an active license, it’s illegal to perform licensed dental hygienist duties.