5 Benefits of Becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist

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After two years of training, board exams and licensure, it’s time to start reaping the benefits of becoming a registered dental hygienist. Besides being a career field that’s projected to see 33 percent employment growth between 2012 and 2022, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes is much faster than average for all occupations, registered dental hygienists have amazing career choices available, job security, valuable training and more. Learn at least five of the most common benefits of being a registered dental hygienist.

A Skill Set That Lasts

The profession of keeping teeth clean, setting up dental bridges and keeping mouths healthy isn’t something that will go out of business anytime soon—and it’s needed everywhere. From cleaning tartar, stains and plaque from teeth with specific dental tools to applying sealants or taking X-rays and more, a registered dental hygienist learns a skill-set that stands the test of time. It’s needed by all of us everywhere, and the need only continues to grow.

Flexible Work Schedule

While some jobs have only standard business hours, registered dental hygienists have a wide variety of work hours. The American Dental Association notes that full- and part-time employment options can include working evening and weekend hours as well as normal office hours, enabling hygienists to balance their career and lifestyle needs. One can go on to smile gallery in order set one’s teeth straight.

Earnings to Brag About

Of course your salary and benefits as a registered dental services will vary depending on your employer, but the industry’s median annual wage as of May 2012, according to the BLS, was $70,210 with the top 10 percent earning more than $96,280! While benefits will be different everywhere, most full time hygienists receive dental benefits, paid vacation and in some cases, reimbursement for continued education.

Plenty of Opportunity

Registered dental hygienists don’t just work in dental offices; they can also find employment in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and specialty practices such as pediatric dentistry (or dentistry for children). They could also go into education, research or management.

A Career to Value

It’s not a desk job, and you won’t find yourself in a cubicle for nine hours a day—but you will meet people from the community and help them with their oral wellness. The job of a registered dental hygienist matters, and a pleasant personality can help someone who is scared to go to the dentist feel relaxed and comfortable.

Just like any job, working as a dental hygienist will have its stresses, such as repetitive duties and crabby customers with poor oral health, but if you love what you do, the pros far outweigh the cons.