Dental Hygienists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Gums are checked by sight and touch, then probed for recession and other signs of disease, after the medical history is reviewed. Hardened deposits, plaque, and stains are cleaned from teeth and under the gumline; decay is charted for the dentist; and x-ray film is exposed and developed. Fluoride or topical anesthesia may be part of a visit, and patients get advice on keeping their mouths healthy. Courses are taken to keep skills current, and most of the day is spent chairside in a dental practice. Suits people who like precise instrument work, talking patients through care, and a steady clinical routine.
Typical education: Associate’s Degree (2-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$98'100
Median Wage Market Position
$98'100
What you might do
- Clean tartar from teeth and under the gums
- Check gums by sight, touch, and probing
- Record and review each patient's medical history
- Chart decay and gum disease for the dentist
- Take and develop dental x-rays
- Show patients how to care for their mouths
Skills that matter
- Cleaning tartar and stains from teeth
- Probing gums for signs of disease
- Listening to patients' oral health concerns
- Charting decay for the treating dentist
- Exposing and developing dental x-rays
- Advising patients on oral disease prevention
AI & the future of this role
Cleaning, fluoride, and anesthesia still require hands-on skill and chairside trust that tools struggle to match. Digital charting and screening aids may speed some steps, but demand for in-person preventive care is likely to keep this work resilient.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details