Should I Become a Dental Hygienist & Is It a Good Career?

Key Takeaways

• Yes, dental hygiene is a great career for the right professional with high earning potential, flexible scheduling, and the ability to make a positive impact.

• You should become a dental hygienist if you are comfortable with the responsibilities, are prepared for the challenges, and have a genuine interest in patient oral care.

Why More People Are Considering Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene is an ever-growing profession with consistent demand for skilled professionals, strong earning potential, and high flexibility. These strong motivators are attracting many dental professionals to the field, and for good reason.

A career in dental hygiene may not be for everyone, but for individuals who like working with people, are committed to a long educational path, and have a genuine interest in patient oral care, a dental hygienist position is very rewarding. Before exploring the career path, it’s important to understand the demands of the position and what the work environment entails.

What Does a Dental Hygienist Actually Do?

A dental hygienist’s day can range from providing patient education after facilitating a deep cleaning to entering patient notes in front of a computer. Dental hygienists must be flexible, versatile, and have a wide skillset to be ready and willing to jump into a variety of tasks that may arise. Some of these daily responsibilities include:

• Basic cleanings
• Deep cleanings
• Patient education
• Periodontal charting
• Updating patient charts
• X-rays
• Assisting the dentist with preventive care

Responsibilities may vary by state and practice setting; some hygienists may be more focused on preventive care, basic cleanings, and patient education, while others are more focused on deep cleanings and periodontal disease, for example. Though a dental hygienist is a more focused and specific role than an assistant, hygienists must be prepared to collaborate with the dentist, dental assistants, and other staff members to ensure that patient treatment plans are carried out properly.

Education, Licensing, and Timeline to Become a Hygienist

Becoming a hygienist requires hard work and dedication, given the extensive coursework in a dental hygiene program and the necessary licensing requirements, which, together, usually take between two and four years to complete. This timeline breaks down in the following way:

Timeline To Become a Dental Hygienist

Requirement	Timeline
Get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited dental hygiene school	2-4 years, depending on the degree
Gain clinical training and experience	120 to 720 hours, included in the above program
Pass state-licensing exams	2-3 months to prepare and pass the test
Apply for final licensing with your state	1-4 weeks to file your application and allow for processing

This route may also change based on whether someone is pursuing their education full-time or part-time on top of navigating other responsibilities like work and family. Other factors, like prerequisites, scheduling, and work-life balance, may also extend the timeline of the educational path.

Is Dental Hygiene a Good Career Financially?

Dental hygiene can be a very financially lucrative career, with above-average earnings compared to most careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for a dental hygienist is $94,260.

Of course, these earnings can vary widely from state to state and depending on one’s level of experience, location, and practice. However, hygienists can increase their own earning potential by gaining additional certifications or pursuing roles in specialty practices.

There is also a healthy job outlook for dental hygienists, with a projected growth of 7%, which is 4% higher than the average for all professions. This strong outlook means plenty of career growth and opportunities to support a long and successful career.

What Are the Biggest Challenges of Being a Dental Hygienist?

The biggest challenges of being a dental hygienist include the potential strain on the body from repetitive motions, long hours of clinical work, and the stress of handling patient concerns and managing busy schedules. The biggest challenges of being a dental hygienist include:

• Physical Demands – Dental hygiene procedures involve physical demands that can bring strain from repetitive motions and posture during procedures, which can be mitigated by proper ergonomics and workplace fit.
• Emotional Capacity – Any patient-facing role requires a level of emotional intelligence to help quell patient anxieties and navigate patient concerns or frustrations with grace.
• Stress of the Fast Pace – Dental hygiene can be a fast-paced career while having to keep up with multiple patients on the schedule and a wide range of procedures throughout the day.

While dental hygiene can be rewarding, aspiring professionals should be well aware of these challenges before committing to the job. Becoming a dental hygienist is a long road, which is an important consideration, even before reaching the day-to-day challenges.

What Career Growth Opportunities Exist for Dental Hygienists?

A career in dental hygiene opens the door to a wide variety of additional career growth opportunities in the dental and clinical health world that range from expanded clinical positions to more administrative roles. Some of the potential careers a dental hygienist can transition into include:

• Dentistry
• Professional education
• Public health
• Corporate dental roles
• Recruiting
• Dental product sales

While there are vast opportunities across a variety of options across the dental field, ranging from selling dental equipment to educating future hygienists, many hygienists often transition into a dentistry role. With additional schooling in a dedicated program and clinical experience, hygienists can become practicing dentists to increase their earnings and career outlook further.

What Type of Schedule and Work Environment Can You Expect?

Dental hygienists benefit from a high level of flexibility that is unique compared to other professions, with flexible schedules and varying work environments. This schedule means hygienists often work between 32 and 40 hours per week with multiple days off throughout the week.

Many hygienists work part-time and in flexible situations that involve contracted roles, temp dental hygienist positions, or work across multiple locations and practices. Dental hygienists are often in one dental office only a few days of the week, so they often work for more than one dentist.

Common work environments for dental hygienists include:

• Private practices
• Specialty offices
• Government and public health clinics
• Mobile dentistry
• Traveling dental hygienist roles

Workplace culture and practice structure can vary widely from practice to practice, which can impact job satisfaction. Due to the flexibility of the role, hygienists can often choose where they want to work, especially in positions where they pick up shifts on their terms.

How Toothio Supports Dental Hygienists

Becoming a dental hygienist is a great choice for individuals who can handle the demanding requirements, prepare for the daily tasks, and have a genuine interest in patient oral care. With the high earning potential, strong career outlook, and ability to have a positive impact on patients' quality of life, a hygienist's role is very rewarding.

Toothio provides experienced hygienists with rewarding work opportunities in reputable dental practices. Whether you’re a freshly aspiring hygienist or already a dental professional looking to grow your career, Toothio is a great way to find fulfilling work and build experience on your terms. Hygienists on our platform have the ability to pick up shifts that fit their own schedule and preferred payment terms.

Create an account with Toothio and start searching for shifts today.