Employers

Approximately 214,100 dental hygienists are employed in the United States. Dental hygienists can find work in private dentists offices, school systems, or public health agencies. Hospitals, community clinics, industrial plants, nursing homes, prisons, and the armed forces also employ a small number of dental hygienists. Some hygienists work for companies that support the oral health industry through the sale of products and services. Some dental hygienists launch their own businesses. "By using imagination and creativity to initiate or finance new commercial enterprises, dental hygienists have become successful entrepreneurs in a variety of businesses," according to the American Dental Hygienists Association.

Many hygienists work part time, which is not usually by choice. Dentists often hire hygienists to work only a few days a week, so many hygienists compensate by working for more than one dentist.

Starting Out

Once you have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a licensing exam in a particular state, you must decide on an area of work. Most dental hygiene schools maintain placement services for the assistance of their graduates, and finding a satisfactory position is usually not too difficult. Additionally, the American Dental Hygienists Association offers job listings on its Web site, http://careers.adha.org/jobs.

Opportunities for advancement, other than increases in salary and benefits that accompany experience in the field, usually require additional study and training. Educational advancement may lead to a position as an administrator, teacher, or director in a dental health program or to a more advanced field of practice. With further education and training, some hygienists may choose to become dentists.

When you visit a dentists office, speak to a dental hygienist about the job.

Attend an accredited program and obtain at least an associates degree in dental hygiene.

If you finished your education (or are close to doing so), visit your colleges career services office and ask counselors to help place you in a position as a dental hygienist.

Visit https://careers.adha.org/jobs for job listings.

Check out the American Dental Hygienists Associations podcast (https://www.adha.org/education-resources/publications) to learn more about the field.