Dental Hygienist Jobs in United States – Requirements and Salary
Posted under Dental Hygienist Jobs
Removing soft and hard deposits from teeth, teaching patients how good oral hygiene can be practiced, and providing other preventative dental care are some of the responsibilities of dental hygienists. Additionally, dental hygienists might also record the presence of abnormalities or diseases in patients’ teeth and gums after examining them.
The main requirements to start a job as a dental hygienist mainly include having a accredited degree and state license.
To get admitted to a dental hygiene program, the usually requirements include a high school diploma and college entrance test scores. Courses in biology, chemistry and mathematics must be taken by high school students who have an interest in pursuing a career in dental hygiene. Having completed at least a year of college is also another requirement for applicants for certain dental hygiene programs. Different dental hygiene schools also have varying specific entrance requirements as well that need to be fulfilled when applying.
A dental hygiene program that is chosen must essentially be accredited by the CDA (Commission on Dental Accreditation). Mostly an associate degree, a certificate, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree is offered by the different dental hygiene programs. To be able to practice in a private dental office having at least an associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene is a general requirement. To be able to teach, perform research, or practice in clinics, public or school health programs, having a bachelor’s or master’s degree is the usual requirement.
To be able to practice in a state, being licensed by the state is also a major necessity for dental hygienists. Graduating from an accredited dental hygiene school and passing not only the written examination but also the clinical examination, are the other state requirements for people to begin practicing as dental hygienists. The written examination is administered by the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. Every state and the District of Columbia accept this examination. Additionally passing an examination regarding the legal aspects of dental hygiene practice is another requirement by a majority of the states.
Since working closely with dentists, dental assistant and even dealing with the patients directly are the normal duties for dental hygienists, therefore it is important that they adapt well to such a work environment. Due to the fact that dental instruments that go within patients’ mouths are have to be used and there is little room for error, therefore having good manual dexterity is another necessity for dental hygienists.
If dental hygienists work outside a typical dentist’s office, their chances of acquiring advancement opportunities also increases however they are required to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in dental hygiene in this case. Pursuing a teaching career at a dental hygiene school is an ideal option that dental hygienists have, however they can conveniently work in a public or corporate health setting.
The highest salary that can be earned by dental hygienists is about $91,470 and $66,570 is the median salary that dental hygienists can earn.
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