Dental Hygienist Schools

Schools by State for This Career

What Kind of Person Has This Career?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Natural Abilities	% Choosing
Oral Comprehension	69%
Oral Expression	69%
Anticipating Problems	69%

Full List

Work Values	% Choosing
Relationships	95%
Organizational Support	67%
Independence	61%

Full List

Areas of Personal Interest	% Choosing
Working And Communicating With People	83%
Hands-On Physical Work	78%

Work Style Characteristics	% Choosing
Dependability	94%
Integrity	92%
Attention To Detail	86%

Full List

Which Skills and Knowledge are Needed for this Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Personal Skills	% Choosing
Active Listening	86%
Speaking	83%
Reading Comprehension	78%

Full List

Important Professional Knowledge	% Choosing
Medicine And Dentistry	91%
Customer And Personal Service	75%
English Language	64%

Full List

Which Activities and Situations Are Involved in Doing The Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Common Work Conditions	% Choosing
Wear Common Protective Or Safety Equipment Such As Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, Or Life Jackets	100%
Spend Time Using Your Hands To Handle, Control, Or Feel Objects, Tools, Or Controls	100%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions	100%

Full List

Common Job Activities	% Choosing
Documenting/Recording Information	92%
Performing For Or Working Directly With The Public	86%
Assisting And Caring For Others	82%

Full List

Information Sources

BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Dental Hygienist Job Description

Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.

To prevent disease and enhance appearance, teeth and gums must be regularly cleaned and treated. Dental hygienists are trained to properly care for and repair teeth, diagnose specific dental conditions, and educate patients about oral health.

Although responsibilities of dental hygienists vary according to state regulations, typical tasks include:

• Testing for cavities and gum disease
• Documenting conditions, abnormalities and treatments
• Using tools and equipment to remove dental plaque
• Applying treatments to seal cracks and prevent cavities
• Performing procedures such as root planing to treat periodontal disease
• Administering anesthetics
• Preparing laboratory tests
• Placing fillings and polishing restorations
• Taking x-rays and developing film
• Providing chair-side assistance to dentists
• Instructing patients in oral hygiene and educating them on its relationship to diet

Almost half of dental hygienists work part-time, some in more than one office.

Degrees and Schools

Two-year associate's degrees for dental hygienists are offered through community colleges and vocational schools, and are considered standard for students who plan to work in private dentists' offices. These programs usually require a high school diploma or equivalent and college entrance exam scores, plus certain pre-requisite courses. Bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in dental hygiene are available through colleges and universities, and prepare students to work in teaching, research or clinical practice in public health programs.

Graduation from a program accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA)'s Commission on Dental Accreditation is a requirement for licensure in most states.

Classes

Dental hygiene students spend time in class, lab and clinical practice. Classes typically include:

• anatomy and physiology
• chemistry and pharmacology
• microbiology and pathology
• pharmacology and radiography
• histology (tissue structure) and periodontology (gum diseases)
• dental tools and materials
• clinical dental hygiene
• nutrition and preventive oral health
• social and behavioral science

Good programs require substantial supervised practical experience.

Online Classes and Programs

There are quite a few online dental hygiene programs that offer degree completion. These programs offer convenience, but may not provide access to laboratories or clinical experience.

In order for graduates to qualify for licensure in most states, any program must be accredited through the ADA. Additionally, any online program should be accredited through the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Employment and Education Requirements

All states require that dental hygienists be licensed. In addition, most states require that dental hygienists be graduates of an ADA-accredited program and pass both a national exam and test on dental hygiene-related legal issues.

For admission to associate's degree programs, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent, provide college entrance test scores, and in some cases complete pre-requisite courses.

How to Evaluate Dental Hygienist Schools

Students comparing associate's degree programs in dental hygiene should consider asking these kinds of questions:

• Accreditation and location - Is the school accredited through the ADA, and, if online, the DETC? Is it located in the state where the student plans to practice as a dental hygienist after school?
• Emphasis and focus - Does the program heavily emphasize preparation for national and state exams? Does it include coursework in clinical skills that are not licensed by the school's state, but in other states where the student may wish to live and work at some point? How well does the program support the student's long term career goals?
• Admission requirements - In addition to a high school diploma, does the program list prerequisite courses? Are students required to provide college entrance exam scores?
• Class structure and practical experience - Does the program incorporate substantial supervised clinical practice? Are classes small enough to facilitate learning?
• Tuition and financial aid - What financial aid resources, such as student loans, grants and scholarships, are made available to students through the school?
• Graduate success - In recent years, how many graduates passed national and state exams upon graduating? What job placement services are offered by the school?

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Example Job Titles

(Titles per survey respondents and career experts.)

• Dental Hygienist
• Dental Nurse
• Hygienist
• Oral Hygienist
• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)