Career & Job Readiness

JOB SPOTLIGHT

Dental Hygienist

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Dental Hygienist

RIASEC Code: SRI
Lexile Range: 1230L–1470L
Education Required: Associate’s Degree; Optional certifications
Expected Salary:
Career Cluster: Health Science
Career Pathway: Therapeutic Services

Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.

Key Skills

Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
Critical Thinking—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation—Actively looking for ways to help people.