1. DENTAL
HYGIENISTS
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2. WHAT IS IT THAT DENTAL HYGIENISTS
DO YU ASK
∗ Well dental Hygienists 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.
∗ To be successful in this profession, you
must work good with others, work well
with your hands, and multiple objects.

3. Interests
∗ Social - Social occupations frequently
involve working, communicating, and
teaching people. These occupations
often involve helping or providing
service to others.
∗ Conventional ‐ Conventional occupations
frequently involve following set procedures
and routines. These occupations can include
working with data and details more than with
ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority
to follow.
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4. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW
∗ 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.
∗ Public Safety and Security ‐ Knowledge of relevant equipment,
policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local,
state, or national security operations for the protection of people,
data, property, and institutions.
∗ Production and Processing ‐ Knowledge of raw materials,
production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques
for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
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5. WHAT I 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.
∗ Biology ‐ Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues,
cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each
other and the environment.
∗ Education and Training ‐ Knowledge of principles and methods
for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for
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individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

6. MY SKILLS
∗ 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.
∗ Reading Comprehension ‐ Understanding written sentences and
paragraphs in work related documents.
∗ Active Learning ‐ Understanding the implications of new
information for both current and future problem‐solving and
decision‐making.
∗ Time Management ‐ Managing one's own time and the time of
others.
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7. MORE OF MY SKILLS
∗ Social Perceptiveness ‐ Being aware of others'
reactions and understanding why they react as they
do.
∗ Critical Thinking ‐ Using logic and reasoning to
identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative
solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
∗ Coordination ‐ Adjusting actions in relation to others'
actions.
∗ Instructing ‐ Teaching others how to do something.
∗ Writing ‐ Communicating effectively in writing as
appropriate for the needs of the audience.
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8. WAGES & OUTLOOK
∗ In 2008, the California average annual wage
was $85,030.00.
Most people employed in this occupation were paid
between $49,350.00 and $123,460.00.
∗ During 2006, there were approximately 22,400
people employed in this field in California. It is
projected that there will be 30,400 employed in
2016. This occupation will have about 800 openings
due to growth and about 430 replacement openings
for approximately 1,230 total annual openings.
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9. COLLEGES & TRAINING
∗ A program that prepares individuals to clean teeth and apply preventive
materials; provide oral health education and treatment counseling to
patients; identify oral pathologies and injuries; and manage dental
hygiene practices. Includes instruction in dental anatomy, microbiology,
and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; cleaning
equipment operation and maintenance; dental materials; radiology;
patient education and counseling; office management; supervised
clinical training; and professional standards
∗ Loma Linda University 4,114 4‐year, Private not‐for‐profit
∗ University of Southern California 34,824 4-year, Private not-for-
profit
∗ University of the Pacific 6,401 4‐year, Private not‐for‐profit
∗ West Coast University-Orange County 4-year, Private for-profit
∗ West Los Angeles College 11,866 2-year, Public
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