Career Information
Dental Hygiene - Associate of Applied Science
Career Snapshot: Dental Hygiene
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Job prospects are expected to remain excellent. Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 7 percent through 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. About 16,400 openings for dental hygienists are projected each year, over the next decade.
- Nearly all dental hygienists work in dental offices, and many work part time.
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About Dental Hygiene
A dental hygienist is a licensed primary health care professional. Dental hygiene is the science and practice of the recognition, treatment, and prevention of oral diseases.
Typical functions of the clinical dental hygienist include:
- Assessing and monitoring medical and dental health histories
- Performing head and neck cancer screenings
- Obtaining and assessing dental X-rays
- Identifying oral and systemic health problems
- Treating oral diseases by removing deposits from the teeth and applying therapeutic agents
- Preventing further disease by applying preventive agents such as fluorides and dental sealants
- Educating individuals and groups on oral health care and promotion
- Developing oral health programs to meet the needs of school and community settings
Upon successful completion of a program of study accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), students must take the required board examinations to be eligible for licensure in their respective state(s). The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) fulfills the written examination requirement for licensure in all states. The ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination measures skill-specific clinical competence, and is accepted for initial licensure in 48 states.
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The majority of graduates work in the private practice dental settings. Dental hygienists are also employed in hospital and institutional clinics, long term care facilities, corporate health facilities, school systems, research facilities, dental insurance companies, corporate sales, and as teachers in dental hygiene programs.