Dental Hygienist
Their salary is about $70,210 a year.
Dental hygienists basically clean teeth. The also look for oral diseases in their patients, and tell patients how to have good oral hygiene.
Duties
- Make sure patient's teeth are clean by removing tartar and plaque
- Use fluoride to protect teeth
- Take x-rays
- Keep track of patients
- Educate patients on dental hygiene
They work really close to dentists and they have to wear safety glasses, masks, and gloves. They usually work part-time.
You have to be compassionate, detail oriented, and interpersonal. You have to have stamina and dexterity so you have to be able to work on your feet and also be able to think on your feet.
To become a dental hygienist you need an associate's in dental hygiene, but you can also get a bachelor's. In high school, they should take biology, chemistry and math.
Not as many adults nowadays are losing their teeth anymore, so there is a bigger need for people who work to clean people's teeth. That means the job outlook is pretty good.
A day-in-the-life of a dental hygienist