Your Dental Hygienist Education

What you'll do: Working side-by-side with a dentist, your main concern will be preventative oral health care, cleaning patients' teeth and educating them about caring for their teeth and gums between dental appointments.

Where you'll work: Private dental offices, hospitals, public health clinics, dental schools, research facilities

Degree you'll need: At least an associate's degree

Median annual salary: $68,250*

Cities where jobs may be found: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Minneapolis

Your daily duties will depend heavily on where you live, since each state has a specific set of regulations for dental hygienists. However, typical responsibilities generally include the following:

• Collecting information about the patient's oral and medical health history
• Examining teeth and gums as well as inspecting the neck and head to identify any abnormalities or potential health problems
• Removing calculus, stains and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth
• Applying preventative materials, such as sealants and fluorides, to the teeth
• Taking and developing dental x-rays
• Teaching patients about good oral hygiene and nutrition
• Making molds of patients' teeth used for evaluating treatment

In some states, their roles have expanded to include these responsibilities:

• Placing and removing filling materials, temporary fillings and periodontal dressings
• Smoothing and polishing metal restorations
• Preparing clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret
• Administering anesthetics

To become a dental hygienist, you'll need either a 2- or 4-year degree in dental hygiene. Most programs are two years long and lead to an associate's degree. They are offered through community colleges and technical colleges.

Dental hygienist school programs at universities are typically four years and lead to a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's offers a broader educational base in the humanities and other disciplines through two years of prerequisite courses such as English, speech, psychology, sociology, nutrition, chemistry and biology.

Each dental hygienist school has different entry requirements, but you'll generally need to fulfill theses prerequisites:

• High school diploma or GED
• Minimum age of 18
• High school courses in math, chemistry, biology and English
• Minimum 'C' average
• College entrance exam scores

Most programs prefer applicants who have completed at least one year of college. Some bachelor's programs require two years of college prior to enrollment in a dental hygiene program as well as completion of courses in chemistry, English, speech, psychology or sociology.

A dental hygienist must be licensed by the state in which they want to practice. To qualify for licensure, you need to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program and pass written and clinical exams. Almost all states require the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination in addition to the regional or state clinical exam. Some states may require an exam on the legal aspects of dental hygiene practice. After earning licensure, dental hygienists may use "RDH" after their names to signify that they are a Registered Dental Hygienist.

_{Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data published March 27, 2012; Dental Hygienists.}

_{*The salary information listed is based on a national average, unless noted. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.}