What Do Dental Hygienists Do?
Dental hygienists are licensed health professionals who provide preventive dental care, perform oral health assessments and teeth cleanings, apply cavity preventive agents to teeth, take and develop x-rays, and educate patients on proper oral hygiene techniques. In some states, dental hygienists are allowed to place and carve filling materials, place temporary fillings and periodontal dressings, remove sutures, perform root planing, and smooth and polish metal restorations. Under the supervision of dentists, dental hygienists in New York are permitted to administer and monitor local infiltration anesthesia and nitrous oxide.
For more information about dental hygienists, go to: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm.
Where Do Dental Hygienists Work?
Dental hygienists work in dental offices and clinics. Some may also be found in schools; hospitals; nursing homes; community health clinics; and federal, state, and county health departments. More than half of dental hygienists work part time.
How Much Do Dental Hygienists Earn?
In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for dental hygienists in the United States was $84,860. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, dental hygienists in New York earned a median annual salary of $92,451 (dental hygienists in the 25th percentile made approximately $69,344 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $97,508).
Supply and Demand
Growing interest in preventive oral health care is expected to create more demand for dental hygienists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of jobs for dental hygienists in the U.S. will increase by 9% between 2021 and 2031. The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of audiology jobs in the state will increase by 19% between 2020 and 2030.
For more information on projections of dental hygienists by New York State labor regions, 2018-2028, click here.
New York Educational Requirements
Dental hygienist educational programs in New York are usually found at community colleges and sometimes at universities. Most dental hygienist programs in New York and throughout the country offer an associate degree, while some universities offer a four-year bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.
New York Licensure Requirements
Dental hygienists who practice in New York must be licensed. Requirements include graduating from an accredited dental hygiene education program and passing the written and clinical certification examinations, which are administered from a national organization. Continuing education is also required for active dental hygienists in order to maintain licensure. To administer and monitor local infiltration anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia in the practice of dental hygiene, dental hygienists must meet additional requirements and obtain a Dental Hygiene Restricted Local Infiltration Anesthesia/Nitrous Oxide Analgesia Certification.
For more information: www.op.nysed.gov/prof/dent/dentdhlic.htm.
Financial Support
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) offers scholarships and grants to dental hygiene students and dental hygienists who can demonstrate a commitment to further the discipline of dental hygiene through academic achievement, professional excellence, and a desire to improve the public’s overall health. For more information: http://www.adha.org/scholarships-and-grants.
The American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation offers a variety grants, awards, and scholarships to dental students. For more information, please go to: https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-student-resources/financial-resources-for-students-and-recent-gradua.
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) also has scholarship, awards, and fellowship information: See this page on their website.
Education Programs in New York (subject to change)
| Broome Community College, SUNY 907 Upper Front St Binghamton, NY 13902 (607) 778-5000 |
New York City College of Technology, CUNY 300 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 260-5000 |
| Erie Community College, SUNY North Campus 6205 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221-7095 (716) 851-1322 |
Hostos Community College, CUNY 500 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 518-4444 |
| Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vanderburgh Avenue Troy, NY 12180 (518) 629-4822 |
Monroe Community College Brighton Campus 1000 East Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623 (585) 292-2000 |
| New York University College of Dentistry 345 East 24th Street New York, NY 10010 (212) 998-9800 |
SUNY Orange 115 South Street Middletown, NY 10940 (845) 341-4306 |
| Farmingdale State College, SUNY 2350 Broadhollow Road Farmingdale, NY 11735 (631) 420-2000 |
Plaza College (waiting for CODA accreditation-Apr 2019) 118-33 Queens Blvd Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 779-1430 |
Additional Web Links
For more information on Dental Hygienists, go to:
American Dental Hygienists Association: http://www.adha.org/
New York Dental Hygienists Association: http://www.nydha.org/.
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