Is a Career as a Dental Hygienists Right for You?
Dental Hygienists at a Glance
- O*NET-SOC Code
- 29-1292.00
- Holland Code
- SRI
- Typical Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
What Does a Dental Hygienists Do?
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.
- Record and review patient medical histories.
- Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- Expose and develop x-ray film.
- Apply fluorides or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
- Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
Salary and Job Outlook
Verified salary and job-growth data for this occupation aren't published on this page yet, we only show figures we can cite to a real source (PRD methodology: O*NET/BLS).
Is Your Personality a Fit?
People who thrive as a Dental Hygienists tend to score high in Social, Realistic, Investigative interests. Take the free career test to see how your own results compare.
Take the free career test to see if you matchHow to Become a Dental Hygienists
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related Careers
FAQ
What does a Dental Hygienists do day-to-day?
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.
What education do I need to become a Dental Hygienists?
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Is a Dental Hygienists a good personality fit for me?
It depends on your interests: Dental Hygienistss tend to score high in Social, Realistic, Investigative. Take the free career test to see your own match.
Occupation data from the O*NET O*NET 30.3 Database (retrieved 2026-07-21), U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.