Hottest job lookout!
Do you know what one of the hottest jobs in America is? Believe it or not – it’s dental hygiene. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is expected to increase more than 27% through 2014 for dental hygienists. In 2004, dental hygienists held about 158,000 jobs nationwide. Be a part of a successful field. Learn more about becoming a dental hygienist.
Education requirements
You will need at least an Associate degree in dental hygiene to practice. Classes are offered at community colleges, trade schools and 4-year universities. You can earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in dental hygiene. Mostly, those degrees are required for teaching or practicing in public or school health programs. Some classes you might have to take are chemistry, anatomy and biology. To receive your state’s license, you must take and pass a written and clinical exam.
Earnings for dental hygienists
The national average of earnings for dental hygienists in 2004 was $28 an hour. The middle 50% made between $23 to $34 an hour. At the high end, dental hygienists can make $40 an hour, to the lowest, less than $18 an hour*. The earnings vary by demographic location, experience and employment setting.
All part of the job
Dental hygienists provide preventive dental care to patients. They remove deposits from your teeth, take x-rays, and inform you on good oral hygiene practice. In some states, they can administer anesthetics, remove sutures, and place and carve fillings. Dental hygienists may not diagnose disease. However, they can prepare the tests for the dentist to interpret. They also can work alongside a dentist during treatment.
The demand for dental hygienists will continue to rise with importance of quality oral health and the maintenance of natural teeth.
* Sources from the Bureau of Labor Statistics