This occupation is part of the Healthcare Practitioner and Technical cluster
-
Compatibility
not enough datawhy?
- x Create a Plan
- x Find Training
- x Find Job Openings
About the Job
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.
It is also Called
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Nurse
- Hygienist
- Oral Hygienist
- Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
What They Do
- 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.
Interests
People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: SRC.
This means people who work in this occupation generally have Social interests, but also prefer Realistic and Conventional environments.
Work Values
People who work in this occupation generally prize Relationships, but also value Support and Independence in their jobs.
Things They Need to Know
- 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.
Things They Need to Be Able to Do
- 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.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Additional Resources
- California Occupational Guide - A detailed guide to this occupation provided by the California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Education Required
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Wages
In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $93,280.00 with most people making between $57,970.00 and $118,570.00
Outlook
During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 19,900 people in California. It is projected that there will be 23,300 employed in 2020.
This occupation will have about 350 openings due to growth and about 400 replacement openings for approximately 750 total annual openings.
People who viewed this occupation also viewed:
-
majorDentistry
-
collegeCerritos College
-
onetDentists, General
-
onetOrthodontists
-
majorDental Hygiene/Hygienist
-
onetDental Assistants
-
collegeLoma Linda University
-
collegeUniversity of Southern California
-
collegeFoothill College
-
majorDental Assisting/Assistant
-
majorMedical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist