Occupation · SOC 29-1292
Dental Hygienists
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
Median wage
$94,260
$66,470–$120,060
Projected growth
+7.0%
Faster than average
Annual openings
1,550
per year
Employed (US)
219,070
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
128 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingService OrientationWritingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Billing and invoicing softwareMedical softwareElectronic mail softwareInventory management softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
Record and review patient medical histories.Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient medical histories — collect and review under direct supervision in a clinical dental setting.Gum tissue and oral structures — visually examine for sores and signs of disease with guidance from a licensed dentist.Periodontal probes — use under supervision to locate recession and early signs of gum disease during patient assessments.Hand scalers and curettes — apply basic scaling techniques to remove visible calculus deposits under direct clinical oversight.Dental radiographs — expose and develop x-ray film following established protocols under supervisory review in a dental office.Dental charting software — enter decay and disease conditions as directed to support dentist diagnosis in a clinical environment.Oral health education materials — deliver basic brushing and flossing instructions to patients under the direction of senior staff.Appointment scheduling and calendar software — manage patient bookings accurately in a dental practice setting.Continuing education courses — attend required sessions to build foundational clinical knowledge within the first year of practice.Infection control and sterilization protocols — follow established procedures consistently to maintain safety standards in the operatory.
developing
Patient medical and dental histories — independently review and flag contraindications or health changes prior to routine hygiene appointments.Gum tissue assessment — conduct systematic visual and tactile examinations to identify periodontal disease signs with minimal oversight.Periodontal charting — probe and document pocket depths, bleeding points, and recession across a full patient caseload in a general dental practice.Supragingival and subgingival deposits — scale and debride teeth and gum margins efficiently using hand and ultrasonic instruments during routine appointments.Digital radiography systems — capture and process diagnostic-quality x-ray images, adjusting exposure settings for varied patient anatomy.Dental charting and medical software — record clinical findings accurately and transmit completed charts for dentist review and treatment planning.Oral health education — tailor home-care instruction to individual patient needs, including diet counseling and product recommendations.Time management across a patient schedule — prioritize clinical tasks and documentation to maintain appointment flow in a busy dental office.Billing and invoicing software — enter procedure codes and verify insurance information accurately to support administrative operations.Active listening and social perceptiveness — recognize patient anxiety or comprehension barriers and adapt communication style accordingly during appointments.
proficient
Complex medical histories — analyze systemic conditions and medications for oral health implications and communicate findings independently to the supervising dentist.Advanced periodontal assessments — perform comprehensive probing, mobility testing, and furcation classification to support full treatment planning without routine oversight.Non-routine periodontal cases — perform thorough root planing and debridement on patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis, managing discomfort and clinical complexity autonomously.Radiographic interpretation — evaluate x-ray images for bone loss, calculus, and pathology, documenting findings clearly for dentist diagnosis.Patient-centered health education — design and deliver individualized oral health programs for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease.Critical thinking in clinical decision-making — recognize emergent oral conditions, apply clinical judgment, and escalate appropriately within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.Nitrous oxide and local anesthesia administration — deliver pain management procedures safely where permitted by state regulation, adjusting technique to patient response.Electronic health record management — maintain complete, legally compliant patient records across a full caseload using dental medical software platforms.Inventory and supply management — monitor clinical supply levels using inventory management software to ensure uninterrupted patient care.Continuing education and skill updating — independently pursue advanced coursework in periodontics, nutrition, or emerging technologies to stay current with evidence-based practice.
advanced
Clinical protocols and quality standards — develop and implement evidence-based hygiene procedures that govern practice-wide patient care across all hygienists.Periodontal program design — create comprehensive periodontal maintenance and early intervention programs that reduce disease prevalence across a patient population.Staff development and mentorship — supervise, train, and evaluate junior dental hygienists and assistants, fostering clinical competence and professional growth.Oral health education initiatives — lead community outreach and public health education campaigns to improve oral health literacy across diverse populations.Cross-functional care coordination — collaborate with dentists, physicians, and specialists to integrate oral health considerations into holistic patient treatment planning.Practice technology adoption — evaluate, select, and implement new clinical software, digital imaging systems, and instrumentation to advance practice capabilities.Regulatory compliance and risk management — interpret and enforce OSHA, HIPAA, and state dental board requirements across all clinical and administrative operations.Data-driven performance improvement — analyze patient outcome data, scheduling metrics, and recall compliance rates using spreadsheet and reporting tools to drive practice improvement.Persuasion and patient advocacy — influence organizational leadership and patient communities to prioritize preventive care, driving measurable changes in care delivery models.Professional leadership and continuing education strategy — set a practice-level continuing education agenda aligned with emerging evidence, guiding the professional development direction of the entire dental hygiene team.
Also known as
8 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Licensed Dental HygienistOral HygienistRegistered Dental Hygienist (RDH)Dental HygienistDental NursePediatric Dental HygienistDental Treatment CoordinatorHygienist