Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities for dental hygienists are excellent. Factors such as an increase in the number of dental insurance plans, a greater awareness of the importance of oral hygiene, and an expansion of the role and function of the dental hygienist point to a faster employment growth rate than is likely for other occupations.
The majority of dental hygienists are employed in private dental offices, although an increasing number are working in public health agencies, school systems, industrial firms, clinics, hospitals, universities, and research organizations. Specific responsibilities of the hygienist vary with the setting and with the laws of the state in which the hygienist is employed.
Typically, hygienists in private practice will provide the following services:
- oral prophylaxis (removing deposits and stains from teeth)
- exposing, processing, and mounting radiographs (X rays)
- instructing in preventive dental care
- counseling on diets
- applying dental sealants and fluoride
- taking medical and dental histories
Although most hygienists in private practice are employed by dentists in general practice, an increasing number are finding employment in specialty practices.
Within school systems, hygienists function as both clinicians and educators. As clinicians, they conduct dental screening examinations, participate in dental surveys and follow-up studies, and provide oral prophylaxes. Expansion of the educator role presents the hygienist with the opportunity to develop and implement classroom programs on oral health as well as serve as a consultant to teachers on dental health education.
Dental hygienists employed in public health agencies typically have clinical, consultative, or supervisory/administrative responsibilities. These responsibilities include:
- application of topical fluorides
- demonstration of new dental preventive methods and procedures
- assistance in planning, organizing, and conducting community dental health programs
- participation as dental health advisers in community health activities
- service as liaisons with agencies to help channel funds from various sources to specified recipient groups
Dental hygienists may also find employment as researchers in public health departments, hospitals, schools of dentistry or dental hygiene, and industry.
Dental hygiene is a licensed profession. Following graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program, the applicant is required to demonstrate proficiency by successful completion of a board examination that includes both written and clinical practice sections. The license to practice dental hygiene is issued by the state board of dentistry in the state where employment is undertaken.