Where Can a Dental Hygiene Career Take You?
A dental hygiene degree opens doors to more careers than you might think! While many hygienists love working directly with patients in dental offices, your skills and knowledge can take you in many exciting directions.
PROFESSIONAL ROLES OF A DENTAL HYGIENIST
Clinical Care: Working with Patients
The most direct path – and a great place to start! You can work in:
- Private dental practices
- Community health clinics
- Hospitals
- University clinics
- Nursing homes
- School-based programs
Public Health: Serving Communities
Want to make healthcare more accessible? Public health roles let you:
- Run community dental programs
- Work with underserved populations
- Manage school health initiatives
- Lead state oral health programs
- Bring dental care to rural areas
Education: Shaping Future Professionals
Love to teach? Consider:
- Training the next generation of hygienists
- Teaching in dental hygiene programs
- Leading continuing education courses
- Developing training programs
Corporate Careers: Industry Impact
Put your expertise to work in business:
- Guide product development
- Train dental teams on new technologies
- Represent dental health companies
- Lead sales teams
- Conduct product research
Research & Innovation
Help advance dental healthcare through:
- Clinical research studies
- Product testing and development
- Healthcare policy research
- Educational research
Entrepreneurial Paths
Dream of being your own boss? Consider:
- Starting a consulting business
- Developing dental products
- Creating educational content
- Managing a dental staffing service
- Building a healthcare nonprofit
Administration: Leading Health Programs
Put your organizational and leadership skills to work in roles that shape healthcare delivery:
- Direct clinical programs at state or regional levels
- Lead dental hygiene education programs
- Serve as executive director for professional associations
- Manage university research departments
- Oversee healthcare initiatives and teams
The best part?
You can try different roles throughout your career or combine them. Many hygienists work part-time in a clinic while pursuing other professional interests. Your dental hygiene degree is just the beginning – where will you take it?
Ready for the Next Step?
Download our handy checklist of helpful next steps for exploring a career in dental hygiene – including how you can connect with a mentor to help you through the process!
GET THE RDH READY CHECKLIST!
