The dental hygienist’s well being also involves his or her state of mind. Compliant patients come and go, and personal lifestyle factors such as family has high and low points.
Dental hygienists’ perception of salaries, regardless of whether it’s the highest hourly rate in the United State (cost of living makes a huge difference in how far a dollar is stretched), can be demoralizing. Ditto for the fringe benefits the employer offers. If family members and friends convey earning better benefits, how does that improve the dental hygienist’s self-worth?
Where are hygienists at the most peace with their career choice?
The rankings below are based on an RDH eVillage survey that resulted in 1,545 responses. The scores were derived from the following categories:
- Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Nationally, 69% of dental hygienists said they trust the doctor’s work from an ethical and clinical standpoint.
- Contentment with salary: Nationally, 57% of dental hygineists feel like they should be earning more income.
- Believe fringe benefits compare favorably with non-dental acquaintances: Nationally, 60% of dental hygienists believe the fringe benefits they receive are “below average.”
- Do not believe burnout will occur during their career: Nationally, 22% of hygienists do not foresee burnout occurring to them.
- Be an RDH again: Nationally, 59% of dental hygienists would still stick with their current career if they “could do it all over again.”
- Satisfied with career choice: Nationally, 44% of dental hygienists “remain satisfied” with their career choices within dentistry.
“The future of dental hygiene is in advancing our careers beyond clinical opportunities. Workforce models are very important to pursue such as collaborative practice, ADHP, etc.”“I believe that making a four-year BS degree an entry level mandate would be the start of improving our profession. Alternative work settings and direct reimbursement for our professional services would be steps in the right direction.”Con comments
“The future of dental hygiene is only going to be tougher on the new dental hygienists — more responsibilities with no extra time, which only adds stress.”“I fear that, due to the economy, we will be undercut by less educated dental personnel. My experience in private practice is that dentists are very motivated by money rather than doing the right thing for patients.”Wisconsin — 3.33 score, based on 63 responses
“At the current time, the future of dental hygiene seems dim. Many people go into this career for the money, not the love of dentistry. It is now flooded with uncaring hygienists, which give our profession a bad name.”“I think that hygiene is on its way out. Doctors feel that its not important and anyone can do it. I feel bad for the patients, cause they have no idea because they just trust what is going on, and they don't have a clue!”Washington — 3.00 score, based 48 responsesHighest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Tied for Minnesota for thirdLowest ranking: Contentment with salary: Tied for 15th with Florida and Texas
“I feel that there is a strong demand for committed people in this career. Patients need interested, caring people to address their dental needs. It takes time to take care of dental treatment and I cannot imagine a machine that can take our place. We haven't even started to tap into the needs of the poor. I feel there is a huge percentage of the population who need our skills and we must find ways to put ourselves out there. Bottom line is that I have a bright outlook for the field of dental hygiene.”“Continue to be flexible, open to change and grow within the profession and demand nothing less than excellence in your delivery of care and compassion regarding your patients. Your choices where you choose to work and the quality of your Dentist will dictate your overall happiness and the rewards will follow as each day comes to completion.”Con comments
“I am disappointed in the path dental hygiene is taking. If you are in it long enough you understand that the best dentistry is no dentistry and you will fight to help people go down that path. I believe as dental hygienists we have sold our career out. We should be partnering with nutritionists to change the school lunches to educate about healthy foods, which will improve dental health, also partnering with public education to get the understanding of how important dental health is for a lifetime and introduce brushing in the schools. Our work is not done as hygienists as prevention specialists. We have failed in this respect and now are moving on to drilling and filling. I am disappointed.”“Over 14 years of practicing hygiene, I've gone from seeing eight patients in an eight-hour day to 10-hour days seeing 15 to 20 patients. Offices are pushing us to our breaking point; there's no time to enjoy the patients, I can't wait to get out of the profession. I feel like a machine.”Colorado — 2.83 score, based on 46 responsesLowest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Tied for 12th with Arizona
"We need to voice our opinion against proprietary programs that offer condensed programs that graduate far too many dental hygienists than the market can handle. The dentists would never allow a two to three year dental school to open, but it appears it's accepted to reduce the education of hygienists. Encourage your friends and classmates to go on and finish degree completion programs.""I am a current dental hygiene student at the Community College of Denver. I am writing you because I am very concerned about the news that I have heard of two new dental hygiene schools opening up in Colorado. Concorde and Pima are rumored to be trying to start a dental hygiene program and pumping 24 to 48 students out in 17 months. The 17 months is supposed to include all pre-requisite courses. It took me two years to finish my pre-requisites courses before being accepted into a two-year dental hygiene program. I am very concerned about the lack of education that the graduates will come out of school with. By allowing them to fit the pre-requisites courses in with all dental hygiene courses it will surely couldn’t allow these students to be allowed the proper clinic time to become great, skilled hygienist. I am also concerned that they will lack the proper knowledge about the disease process of periodontitis and overall lack of knowledge that has taken me four years to acquire. I am concerned as a future graduate that these graduates will not be giving the patients the best care. In my opinion there is no way that quality dental hygienist will be graduating from these programs, and the patients will suffer and in addition, the lack of knowledge will be seen by dental offices and patient which could damage the idea that there are quality dental hygienist out there that have spent the adequate time on their education."Ohio — 2.83 score, based on 83 responses
"Doctors are in control and are lazy and/or greedy. The do not respect what the hygiene department contributes to the success of the practice. Every practice I have been in for the last 36 years allows untrained and unlicensed individuals to perform treatment procedures that are illegal. When you professionally and privately discuss this with the doctors, they look at you and say "So what?" So, you work hard and keep your mouth shut, and hope they do not replace you with a younger cheaper model. If I did not have financial obligations, I would quit this field forever! I have in the last five years obtained my Ohio insurance license (to sell insurance) and a tax preparer certification. I have done all the right things over the years, taught at the best of colleges in Ohio (dental hygiene and EFDA), been very active in my community promoting high degrees of dental health, volunteered hundreds of hours, and been exceptional in all the practices I have been in. But, when the right opportunity occurs, I will kiss my dental hygiene and EFDA career away. Do I sound bitter … Yes, I am.""I think that we have lost our identity. We're in the office to just 'clean teeth' and on occasion, address perio. Our expertise and experience is not valued. With assistants able to do coronal polishing and EFDA's doing more for less money, I'm not sure how to regain the respect that we have lost."Virginia — 2.83 score, based on 51 responsesLowest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Ranked 14th out of 25 states
"I think the future is bright! What we need is more dental hygienists pursuing higher education in order to push our field forward! It's so much fun to really get more in depth in what you are already an expert on!""Still going strong as the 'foundation' to a successful dental practice!"Con comments
"Should be very interesting with all the certificate programs coming along to keep up the hourly wage. I feel it is going the wrong direction. I can't get a job at this point making the same salary or more. Only offers are for $6 to $7 dollars less an hour.""The dental market in my area is flooded with corporate-owned, production-driven dental offices. The dentists and staff who work in these practices are money-mongers, and are not compassionate. I see this as the future of dentistry."California — 2.67 score, based on 143 responses
The future of DH is bleak. More schools pump out hygienists unable to find employment -- just what the doctor ordered. It is not a coincidence that so many schools have opened their doors in the past 10 years. It is outrageous that we are the only licensed professionals unable to run an independent business. Rather, we are trapped under the thumbs of greedy dentists who, in many cases, will not hire a hygienist. There are little or no benefits for most of us that are employed. I have been a hygienist for almost 34 years. I have built a practice that has thousands of patients. I am on my third dentist, the first two have retired, selling the practice that I was instrumental in building and retiring. There is no retirement plan waiting for me when I retire. I should have worked for the phone company; I'd be retired with a great pension by now. My one and only compensation has been the wonderful patients with whom I have established relationships with over the many years of practicing quality, ethical dental hygiene.""There will have to be less schools pumping out dental hygienists every year. There are not enough jobs to meet the demand. Because of this, dentists do not value the dental hygienists they currently have, because they know they can hire someone else quick. Also, hygiene education should be removed from technical schools. This cheapens the occupation. I have a bachelor’s in dental hygiene. Twenty years ago, dentists where impressed by this and understood my value to their office. Now I feel that dentists feel that all hygienists are the same. My advanced degree doesn't impress them one bit. They just want someone to work cheap. And because there are so many dental hygieinsts out of work, salaries have gone down in my area to what I was making over 10 years ago!""I am worried for the profession as there are too many schools cranking out students in 18 months. The level of professionalism and rising to the standard is not there. Due t the economy, the doctors are so tight with their money. It makes it very difficult to order or try new products. I love being a hygienist, I love my work and my out reach work I do on a personal level. But I see hygiene declining as a whole, and it is very sad. The schools will not stop the hygiene programs as it is a lot of retired or injured hygienist who in fact teach the curriculum so they believe in what they are doing. But if they were on the outside working world or looking for work they would not like it."Maryland — 2.67 score, based on 26 responses
"Dental hygiene has a significant place in dentistry. Its future can be fine as long as dentists and their organizations give hygienists the respect and allowances to treat patients as the professionals they are.""Increasing the scope of practice and generalizing the supervision will allow hygienists to help the underserved without insurance. Public health hygienists should be the future with public dental health clinics set up in every county."Con comments
"As long as the dentists remain at odds with us because we earn what they consider 'too much,' it will never change.""Clinical dental hygiene is a dead-end career! I would never recommend anyone to become a dental hygienist."Minnesota — 2.67 score, based on 42 responses
"Hygienists must be proactive in their profession, like nurses were in the 1980s and stop whining. No one is going to do things for you.""It is up to each of us to raise the professionalism of dental hygiene by spending more time sharing our knowledge, caring, and adding value to all we provide to our offices and our patients. I make sure that my patients know me, have my contact information, and understand the value to their overall health that they gain from my services."Con comments
"The ADA is determined to do away with hygienist — just look at Arizona and the 18-month dental hygiene programs, as well as the legislation for coronal polishing by dental assistants!""I am seeing many management companies and corporations buying dental practices in Arizona. This has its place but is scary to me. It changes the personal relationships and trust patients build with doctors and hygienists. It also places so much emphasis on production that you can begin to feel that you are a factory worker.""You may wonder why I can be so very content with my profession and at the same time feel the future is not bright. Not everyone with a transcript of all "A's" and the patience to wait until their name reaches the top of the "list" is suited for this profession. Too many hygienists graduate, accept positions in practices whose only concern is production, and have little time to develop skills and ethical standards of their own. The dentists have debt, many hygienists have debt, and both do whatever it takes to keep their jobs — not always with the best interest of the patient in mind! Sorry for the dismal response but I have seen it over and over."Missouri — 2.33 score, based on 37 responses
"Join ADHA, stay connected locally, nationally and get involved with legislation procedures.""Dentistry is ever changing; as clinicians, we can decide if it is for the good or bad, so please be ethical and treat every patient as if it were your spouse, parents, or grandparents."Con comments
"The area where I live is so flooded with hygienists you are lucky to even get a job. They pay you crap, take advantage of you, give no benefits, no lunch, no vacation, let alone a paid vacation. You have more job responsibilities and less pay. They are not regulated and basically do whatever they want to their employees. If you want a job, this is what you put up with.""The profession of dental hygiene needs to be self-regulating and not regulated by dentists, the dental board, or ADA. I would think that some dentists would be very happy to have an educated and experienced professional hygienist do what they do best — co-diagnose, manage the perio program, and treat his/her family of patients as they were her/his own. The doctors need to value their hygienists as co-professionals and support their efforts to provide excellent care. The future of dental hygiene seems very bleak at this moment. Why would a bright, enthusiastic individual seek out an associate degree at a cost of $38,000 for a job that pays $20 to $30 dollars an hour with no benefits, when she can earn a lot more money, have a bachelor’s degree, and have benefits in another field without board exams, continuing education, dues to professional associations, special equipment self-purchased, or even finding a job as a dental hygienist after graduation?"Texas – 2.33 score, based on 67 responses
"There are too many schools turning out subpar hygienists. The dentists take advantage of that and pay the experienced ones less money than they are worth. Hygiene becomes the backbone of a practice (steady patients, restorative work found). We are expected to be cheerful and happy while we have our roller skates on. I would not let my daughter go into hygiene even though it has been a great profession for me. I think hygiene is not the profession it was when I went into it.""Dental hygiene will not exist, as we know it, in five to 10 years. Little by little, assistants are given permission to do what I am licensed to do. Soon I will only be able to make $15 per hour, if that, because assistants will be doing hygiene."Florida — 2.16 score, based on 92 responsesLowest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Tied for 17th with Illinois, Maryland, and Texas
"We can only be taken seriously when we take ourselves seriously. We must continue our education beyond an associate’s degree to bring our profession to another level.""Sooner or later I hope to see hygienist being able to go outside of the traditional doctor owned practice setting. Hygiene services must become more available to patients that have a hard time getting to the office."Con comments
"It is important to educate people/patients to the educational and licensure requirements of a hygienist. They all think that the assistants are higher than the hygienists because they are with the dentist and we 'just clean teeth.' Unless we move ourselves up to the role of an oral therapist, assistants who polish and ‘clean cement’ will replace us. In Florida, in the government listed jobs available, a dental assistant job starts at $30,000 and a hygiene job starts at $23,000 to $30,000. Why? Because the state legislators who set the salary range has NO idea what a hygienist does and the education she has. Whose fault is that? Ours! We need to educate each patient about our abilities and roles." "Unfortunately, dental hygiene has become less respected by the dental community. More duties are delegated to the dental assistants by state governments on a regular basis. In Florida, foreign dentists are given seven attempts to pass the national dental hygiene boards. Hygiene students who are U.S. citizens are only given two attempts to pass the boards. What is wrong with this picture?"Massachusetts — 2.16 score, based on 30 responsesLowest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Tied for 24th at the very bottom with New Jersey
"I wish we were allowed to serve the population that is not able to receive care instead of feeling the job market is oversaturated with private practice jobs.""Until the economy picks up, the doctors won't be hiring more hygienists, especially experienced ones that cost more.""R-E-S-P-E-C-T! When I was a younger hygienist, most of the doctors I worked for were fair in wages and benefits and respected my work. My latest employer, and most likely to be my last, has made being a hygienist miserable. I am proud of my work. I adore most of my patients and want to do the best I can for them. They in turn let me know how much they appreciate me, which makes the unbearable more tolerable. It makes a difference who you work for. I don't want to blame all dentists for the questionable actions and attitudes of a few among them. However, I feel there are many hygienists out there experiencing similar workplace situations. If there were more respect and appreciation in the form of a kind word or a simple thank you from our employers, there would be less burn out." Connecticut — 2.00 score, based on 24 responsesHighest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Ranked first in the country. 83% say they trust the doctor’s work.Lowest ranking: Contentment with salary: Ranked 25th, dead last. 75% think they should be earning more than they do.
"It will merge with medical as the links are astounding, and the cost savings are tremendous.""I see more expanded duties, which will give access to care to more people."Con comments
"In the state of Connecticut, there are not enough dental hygiene jobs and due to the economy doctors will hire someone out of school vs. experience due to the salary. The older hygienists are getting the boot from jobs and there is nothing we can do about it. What I know now is that I would of stayed in school to become a doctor. Otherwise, you have no control over your career as a hygienist.""I'm very disturbed by all the prophy mills that keep opening up and performing substandard care.""It is very possible that the pinnacle has been achieved, and hygiene will become a thing of the past. I hope not, but it is possible with the way things are going."Kansas — 2.00 score, based 25 responses
- Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Tied for 22nd with Pennsylvania
- Contentment with salary: Ranked 21st out of 25 states
- Believe fringe benefits compare favorably with non-dental acquaintances: Tied for 18th with Texas
- Do not believe burnout will occur during their career: Ranked fourth
- Be an RDH again: Tied for 17th with Florida and Pennsylvania
- Satisfied with career choice: Tied for 22nd with Arizona
None provided.Con comments
"Future is not great — no jobs, too many schools, undereducated assistants performing coronal polishing, and, in Kansas, scaling assistants who are actually doing damage to patients and the profession as a whole. Dentists pay them less; the public has no idea they are not actually getting comprehensive hygiene care and the fees the patient is charged is the same as when they see a hygienist. It is a real mess. I think educating the public/patient/consumer is the only answer. Until patients ask, “Am I being seen by a RDH,” the dentists will continue to go with the cheaper alternative. Cheaper in health care is definitely not better; I have seen it with my own eyes!""Due to the shortage of dentists, the laws need to be more open to allow dental hygiene practitioners to practice for any population in need of dental treatment."Michigan — 2.00 score, based on 91 responsesHighest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Tied for ninth with Ohio
"Don't just sit there and expect a job to fall into your lap. Go find a way to be productive in your community, and the job will come to you. Start a non-profit to help provide access to care. Inspire change for dental health.""There will always be a decent career in dental hygiene. You can't replace us with technology!"Con comments
"If I had known going into hygiene how it would effect my body as I aged, I would have chosen another profession. I have encouraged others to not go into hygiene because of this. There are other professions that do not physically cause damage to your body to cause so much pain as we age.""I work two days a week and have been looking for more days for several years. With the economy and now two dental hygiene schools in the town I live in (in Indiana) the outlook for dental hygiene is bleak, at least as far as getting a job at a decent wage. I have practiced 38 years and still love what I do, but very discouraged with the job availability."New York — 1.83 score, based on 80 responsesHighest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Ranked Second in the country. 80% say they trust the doctor’s work.
"Incorporate information from individual overall dental health screenings into patient's medical history. I think the future can be amazing if we are allowed to utilize the new scientific advances for improvements to detect, prevent, and repair, pathology to hard and soft structures of the oral cavity.""Keep learning and growing. Know who you are. Don't be afraid to face challenges and challenging personalities in your practice. Stick to your convictions and do the right things for the right reasons."Con comments
"There needs to be fewer schools opening up for this occupation and the schools that are open need to stop having two to four sets of clinics. They are putting out too many hygienists. There are not enough jobs for us. I have been unemployed for two years and the future does not look bright for jobs.""I see hygiene to be a "part time" job. It is very popular for dentists in this state to have multiple hygienists so they do not have to pay benefits, sick time, etc. I work 40-plus hours a week but in three different offices with no benefits.It seems pretty obvious the 'powers that be' have flooded the market to drive salaries and benefits down drastically. I work strictly on production. No base pay, no vacation, no holiday pay, etc. More and more office duties are assigned to our hygienists. We must pull and file our own charts as well as split the duties for maintenance of sterilizers and processors. With a full schedule, the only way to accomplish that is do it on your own time; coming in on a day off, doing it on lunch break, or stay one to two hours extra a week at least. What a blessing for corporation that owns us. They no longer have to pay employees like front desk staff or assistants to do those jobs. There are very few job openings ever so I guess we are all just grateful to be employed. I live in the Buffalo area."North Carolina – 1.83 score, based on 44 responses
"I work in a growing office, the hygiene department is valued by our doctors. The doctors see the importance of having a big hygiene team and allowing us enough time to perform a prophy. However, the job market around my area is saturated with hygienists from the local college and other graduates that move to the area.""The competitive environment in the dental hygiene world requires an employee to be the best that they can be. This is no longer ‘chat and polish’ dental hygiene, and the profession has become clinically more specific and demanding. A dental hygienist must now be a marketing wizard, salesman, and publicist for our employers. We must treat our office and position as if we were the owners of the practice. We should work just as hard as employees as we would as owners."Con comments
"I think the future of dental hygiene will probably stay the same. However, I think that people will decide not to make life long careers out of it. I would not recommend that anyone train as a dental hygienist unless they already have some other degree or skill they could fall back on.""Dental hygienists are always going to be needed. Every year, new dentists are graduating and opening new offices. It does not take long before the new dentist figures out he or she does not want to do SRPs or recare all day long. I do feel our benefits may be at stake. More dentists are hiring part time hygienists so that they do not have to offer benefit packages. I have never really believed in unions, but now I know why they are in place in some states and career fields."Georgia – 1.67 score, based on 38 responses
"People are still putting money into things they find value in. The practice in which I work strives to educate our patients on the importance of dental health, helping them to find value in the service we provide. In the practice I'm in, I don't worry too much about the future of hygiene."Con comments
"Hygiene will always be needed, but for the practitioner, the only reward is the salary, which has been steadily declining since the recession started. We need more ways to be valued, other than just for scaling. Even if I earned the ADHP, I couldn't use the knowledge and wouldn't get paid more, so what's the point? There is nowhere for the average hygienist to go in this profession! In nursing, you can advance to NP or become a PA. Dental (at least in Georgia) is still in the dark ages. Heaven forbid we practice without a dentist on the premises or give anesthesia in Georgia!I have a bachelor’s degree and I feel the market is saturated. My profession has become a trade. I am told weekly that a monkey could do my job.I perceive dental hygiene as a dying career field. Dental assistants with expanded duties can do almost what we do — without the educational level that we have earned. Many doctors are utilizing the lower paid assistant in place of us, or we are having to do more scalings and the assistant will do X-rays, fluoride treatment, and polishing. I love this field, but hate how things are right now.Pennsylvania — 1.67 score, based on 46 responsesLowest ranking: Trust doctor’s work from ethical and clinical standpoint: Tied for 22nd with Kansas
"I see job saturation with minimal fulltime positions available. This will lead to zero benefits and lower pay even though the cost of keeping our license and skills up to date will increase.""I absolutely love my career as a dental hygienist but I feel very stymied. I wish I could make the decisions as to the treatment of the disease at hand. I would always make recommendations to the dentist but it was always his decision as to the treatment delivered. I could never tell the patient I disagree with what the doctor said because obviously that would get me fired — even though I am a professional who knows what she is doing and knows her profession. I feel like my 25 years of experience do not matter in the eyes of the doctor or the patient. I really wish we could practice on our own because the patients would get much better treatment. I think that with the increase of 'dental factories' the profession will only get worse."Illinois — 1.17 score, based on 92 responses
Pro comments
"I think the future of dental hygiene is looking good. Hygienists have more responsibilities then ever before which makes them an important asset to any office."
"Make sure that you have "enough" education to change to a different career path if you may want/need to."
Con comments
"Put a cap on how many students can enter a dental hygiene school program to prevent an over abundance of graduates, because there are no jobs for them when they get out."
"With the economy the way it is, dentists seem to be doing more hygiene work than before."
"Full time positions are even harder to find — forget about benefits. Some dentists are doing hygiene themselves and not hiring a hygienist."
