Dental Hygienist vs. Dental Assistant: Understanding the Differences
If you’re considering a career in dentistry, you’ve likely come across the terms “dental hygienist” and “dental assistant.” While both positions serve essential roles within a dental office, the responsibilities, educational requirements, and even salaries for each can differ significantly. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the distinctions between these two pivotal roles.
The Roles Defined
Before we examine the differences, it’s crucial to understand what each role entails.
Dental Hygienist
A dental hygienist provides preventive dental care directly to patients. They’re skilled in performing oral health care assessments that include reviewing patients’ health history, dental charting, oral cancer screening, and taking and interpreting dental X-rays.
Moreover, they focus on oral health education and counseling. Dental hygienists might spend a lot of time educating patients about the importance of oral health and strategies to improve and maintain good oral hygiene.
Dental Assistant
A dental assistant has a more versatile role, carrying out a mix of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They may assist the dentist during dental procedures by handing instruments, preparing the patient for treatment, and setting up the dental equipment. They also have administrative responsibilities, such as scheduling appointments, managing patient records, and handling billing.
Educational Requirements and Training
Dental Hygienist
Becoming a dental hygienist requires a higher level of education than a dental assistant. In most states, dental hygienists need an associate degree in dental hygiene, which typically takes three years to complete. These programs include both classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience.
All states require dental hygienists to be licensed, which usually involves passing written and practical examinations. In some states, dental hygienists also need to complete a state or regional clinical board examination.
Dental Assistant
The educational requirements for a dental assistant can vary significantly from state to state. In some states, there are no formal educational requirements and dental assistants learn their skills on the job. In other states, dental assistants must graduate from an accredited program and pass a state exam. Most dental assistant programs are offered by community colleges and take about a year to complete, leading to a diploma or certificate.
Duties and Responsibilities
While there is some overlap in the responsibilities of dental hygienists and dental assistants, they each have unique roles within a dental office.
Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists typically have patient-facing roles. Their main duties include:
- Removing tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth
- Applying sealants and fluorides to help protect teeth
- Taking dental X-rays
- Assessing patients’ oral health and reporting findings to dentists
- Educating patients on oral hygiene strategies to maintain healthy teeth and gums
- Documenting treatment plans and care performed on patients
Dental Assistant
The role of a dental assistant is more varied, and their duties can change daily. Some of the typical responsibilities include:
- Assisting the dentist during procedures
- Preparing patients for treatments or checkups ensuring their comfort
- Sterilizing dental instruments and equipment
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Working with patients on billing and payment
- Preparing dental trays for procedures
- Taking dental X-rays (in some states)
Career Outlook and Salary
Both dental hygienists and dental assistants are in high demand, and their employment opportunities are expected to grow.
Dental Hygienist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2021 to 2031. In 2021, the median annual wage for dental hygienists was $77,810.
Dental Assistant
Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow by 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a bit faster than the average for all occupations. The growth in this field is driven by ongoing research linking oral health and general health, which will likely continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services. As of 2020, the median annual wage for dental assistants was $41,180.
Making the Decision: Dental Hygienist or Dental Assistant?
Choosing between a career as a dental hygienist or dental assistant depends on your individual career goals, interests, and the time you’re able to commit to education and training.
Dental Hygienist
This role may be suitable for you if you’re interested in having direct patient care responsibilities, focusing on preventative oral care, and spending more time on each patient interaction. This position also generally offers higher pay, given the increased educational requirements and responsibilities.
Dental Assistant
This role might be right for you if you’re seeking a versatile position involving both administrative and clinical tasks. If you prefer a quicker path to enter the dental field, becoming a dental assistant offers the chance to start working more quickly and learn on the job, although some states do have more stringent requirements.
Both careers offer rewarding opportunities to help patients improve their oral health. If you’re interested in becoming a dental assistant, consider 90 Day Dental Assistant. Our online, self-paced course can set you on the path to this rewarding career, offering a comprehensive curriculum and a high success rate for students finding careers after completion. Whatever path you choose, you’ll be entering a field with strong job prospects and the chance to make a difference in people’s lives every day.