Are you a dental hygyenist? how much do you make per hour and do you have an associate?

i am a dental assistant now, if there a big difference? i mean workwise. What exactly is the job?

Are you a dental hygyenist? how much do you make per hour and do you have an associate?
I am a hygientist with an bachelors degree. There many different jobs that a hygienist does - clean and polish teeth, scale and root plan, take x-rays.


Depending on where youlive depends on the salary. The area that I live in the salary per hour is $15 - $30 an hour.





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Reply:There is a difference between a hygienist and a dental assistant. A hygienist must be licensed nationally, and by the state you practice in. Also, you must have continued ed credits. The number depends on the state you practice in. A hygienist must have an Assoc Degree/Bachelors Degree whereas an assistant can be trained 'on the job'. A hygienist checks each pt for cancer, gum disease, scales the teeth, removing calculus, educates the pt, in some offices the blood pressure is taken before the appt. Also, one's medical history and the meds they are presently taking must be carefully checked at each visit. There are reasons for that, but I won't get too detailed right now. In some offices you may take impressions for tooth bleaching, administer anesthetic (your state must allow this, and you must be trained in it). and deep scaling. You work on your own, the dr. does not always have to be present, you are working under his supervision - but that depends on your state as well. Hygienist in the northeast are starting any where from $27-32 an hour. The closer you get to a big city, the more you are compensated. Ex: A hyg. in Boston/NY City/LA could be at about $50-70 an hour. Its a great responsibility - a hygienist is not just a 'cleaning lady'. The average hourly wage for a hygienist in the suburbs is $35. Plus, benefits [ the best part is you can name your hours/days - you can work w/o the dr. present, whereas an asst can only work when the doctor is in.}It is a great job, but you really have to cut out to do it - not everyones mouth is clean - and some are nasty enough to make you sick - I'm sure you've seen some of this as an assistant.
Reply:I am a hygienist in southeastern Wisconsin. We make between $25-35 / hour depending on where you live (closer to Chicago, more money, in Chicago suburbs, way more money). The previous poster was pretty clear. To be a hygienist, you need to graduate from an accredited school, pass National, Regional and State board exams, written and practical. Hygienists are kind of on their own more in the office than an assistant. I have assistants of my own to help with charting, xrays, suction, etc. Hygienists also depending on the state can give injections. If you are interested in being a hygienist, I would recommend assisting for one or ask to observe a hygienist for a day or two to see if it is something you would like to do. Pros: great pay, set your own hours, good for part time if you are a mom or just want to work less; Cons: monotonous, hard on the body (hands, back, neck)
Reply:I assume you know the difference in the duties of assistants and hygienists, so I think this is just a question about wages. I'm a hygienist in Michigan and I make $32 an hour. I do not have an assistant who works exclusively with me, but the assistants in the office help me when I need it, and sometimes when I don't really need it but they just have time.





Hmmm. It looks like you may be asking about the actual duties, too. We examine the patients teeth and gums as well as doing oral cancer screening. We update the patients medical records. We clean the teeth, do fluoride treatments, take and develop xrays, and teach people to care for their teeth.