Dental+Hygienists


 * Dental Hygienist**


 * Career Description**
 * Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
 * Record and review patient medical histories.
 * Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
 * Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
 * Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
 * Expose and develop x-ray film.
 * Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
 * Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.
 * 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.


 * Skills Needed**
 * 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. ||
 * Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. ||
 * Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. ||
 * Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. ||
 * Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. ||
 * Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people. ||
 * Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. ||
 * Science — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. ||
 * Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

67% Associate's degree 31% Bachelor's degree 2% Doctoral or professional degree ||  || 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. ||
 * Education/Certification/Other Requirements**
 * 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. ||

Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.


 * Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical. ||
 * Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. ||
 * Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. ||
 * Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. ||
 * Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. ||
 * Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. ||
 * Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. ||
 * Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. ||
 * Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

$32.81 hourly, $68,250 annual
 * Salary Information**
 * Job Outlook** ||

Dentists,Orthodontist, Prosthodontist, Respiratory Therapist, Surgical Technologist, Radiologic Technician, Dental Assistant.
 * Employment (2008) || 174,000 employees ||
 * Projected growth (2008-2018) || [[image:http://www.onetonline.org/image/growth/g4.gif width="23" height="5" caption="Much faster than average (20% or higher)"]] Much faster than average (20% or higher) ||
 * Projected job openings (2008-2018) || 98,400 ||
 * Related Careers**

http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2021.00