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Occupation Profile
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Occupation: Dental Hygienists Change Occupation
State: Pennsylvania Change State
Profile Content: (content listed below) Modify Profile Content
Wages  |  Employment Trends  |  Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities  |  Tasks & Activities
Tools & Technology  |  Education & Training  |  Related Occupations
Web Resources

DENTAL HYGIENISTS: PENNSYLVANIA

Occupation Description

Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop X-rays, or apply fluoride or sealants.


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Dental Hygienists
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State and National Wages

Location Pay
Period		 2008
10% 25% Median 75% 90%
United States Hourly $21.24 $26.55 $32.00 $37.98 $43.98
Yearly $44,200 $55,200 $66,600 $79,000 $91,500
Pennsylvania Hourly $18.94 $22.47 $27.08 $32.13 $37.30
Yearly $39,400 $46,700 $56,300 $66,800 $77,600
Annual Wages for Dental Hygienists

United States - $91,500 United States - $66,600 United States - $44,200 Pennsylvania - $77,600 Pennsylvania - $56,300 Pennsylvania - $39,400
  • High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
  • Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
  • Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Hourly Wages for Dental Hygienists

United States - $43.98 United States - $32 United States - $21.24 Pennsylvania - $37.3 Pennsylvania - $27.08 Pennsylvania - $18.94
  • High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
  • Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
  • Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Occupation Wages FAQs

Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Workforce Statistics

State and National Trends

United States Employment Percent
Change		 Job Openings 1
2008 2018
Dental hygienists 174,100 237,000 +36% 9,840
Pennsylvania Employment Percent
Change		 Job Openings 1
2006 2016
Dental hygienists 6,750 8,700 +29% 300
1Job Openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement.

Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.

Occupation Trends FAQs

Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Dental Hygienists.

Knowledge:

  • Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills:

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities:

  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Source: Occupational Information Network: Dental Hygienists.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Dental Hygienists.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

  • Administer local anesthetic agents.
  • Apply fluorides and other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
  • Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
  • Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
  • Conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.
  • Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
  • Expose and develop x-ray film.
  • Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
  • Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
  • Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.
  • Maintain patient recall system.
  • Make impressions for study casts.
  • Place and remove rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.
  • Provide clinical services and health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients and the general public.
  • Record and review patient medical histories.
  • Remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.
  • Remove sutures and dressings.

Generalized Work Activities:

  • Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Detailed Work Activities:

  • administer anesthetics
  • administer injections
  • administer medications or treatments
  • analyze dental data
  • analyze medical data
  • collect clinical data
  • collect dental laboratory diagnostic data
  • communicate technical information
  • follow clinical radiation safety procedures
  • follow dental or medical office procedures
  • follow dental or medical x-ray procedures
  • follow infectious materials procedures
  • follow patient observation procedures
  • identify body response variations
  • inventory medical supplies or instruments
  • maintain dental or medical records
  • make presentations on health or medical issues
  • observe patient condition
  • operate dental equipment
  • perform dental hygiene procedures
  • prepare patient for dental work
  • record medical history or data
  • set up dental equipment
  • understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
  • use clinical sterilizing technique
  • use darkroom procedures in radiology or medical or dental lab setting
  • use dental treatment procedures
  • use emergency medical procedures
  • use hazardous materials information
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use knowledge of dental terminology
  • use knowledge of medical terminology
  • use quality assurance techniques
  • use sanitation practices in health care settings
  • work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses

Source: Occupational Information Network: Dental Hygienists.

Tools and Technology

Dental Hygienists  View Detailed Report

Tools:

  • Dental lasers - Caries detection aids, Dental lasers, Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Nd:YAG dental lasers
  • Dental probes - Calculus explorers, Caries explorers, Nabers furcation probes, Periodontal probes
  • Dental scalers or accessories - Autoscalars, Cavitron equipment, Dental curettes, Hand scalers, Hollow handle scalars
  • Dental x ray units - Dental x ray machines, Digital dental x ray units, Panoramic dental x ray units, Portable dental x ray units
  • Teeth cleaning devices or accessories - Air-driven dental polishers, Air/water syringes, Dental polishers, Motor-driven dental polishers

Technology:

  • Accounting software - Dental billing software
  • Calendar and scheduling software - Scheduling software
  • Electronic mail software - Email software
  • Inventory management software - Inventory management software
  • Medical software - Dental charting software, Dental clinical records software, Dental digital radiology software, Dental imaging software, Dental intra-oral imaging software

Source: Occupational Information Network: Dental Hygienists.

Education and Training

Occupation: Dental Hygienists
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Associate degree
Related Instructional Programs: Dental Hygiene/Hygienist

Distribution of Educational Attainment
Occupation Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is
Less than high school diploma High school diploma or equivalent Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Master's degree Doctoral or professional degree
Dental hygienists 0.4% 2.6% 5.4% 56.3% 30.5% 1.8% 3.1%
Health Technologists and Technicians 1.9% 19.6% 29.5% 25.6% 19.1% 2.3% 2.1%
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 1.2% 10.4% 15.4% 15.4% 20.7% 11.6% 25.2%
Total, All Occupations 10.7% 27.6% 20.6% 8.9% 19.4% 8.3% 4.5%

Find colleges, training schools and instructional programs for this occupation.

Find education and training programs where you can earn a certificate, diploma, or award in less than 2 years with the Short-Term Training Finder.

Access additional Education Resources in the Career Resource Library.

Use the Financial Aid Advisor to help find funds for financing education.

WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us/homeframe.asp?function=trainprov

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)

Related Occupation Profiles
Occupations with similar skill requirements

Web Resources

The following resources are related to occupations in the job family
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners
Health Technologists and Technicians
Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners
Health Technologists and Technicians
Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations


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