Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioners play a key role in providing oral healthcare services to diverse populations. Their responsibilities include cleaning and examining patients’ teeth and gums, checking for oral diseases, providing other preventative dental care and educating patients on how to maintain and improve oral hygiene. In some cases, they refer patients to consult with general dentists and specialists.

In addition, some of these experienced professionals teach aspiring dental hygienists or conduct research work to promote oral health science.

Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioners work collaboratively with dentists or independently. They are employed in variety of settings such as hospitals, dentists’ offices, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, research centers etc.

Educational Requirements

To become an Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner, the candidate must have to complete a master’s degree program in dental hygiene. Course work include health, pharmacology, health assessment, and dental emergency administration

Licensure

Since Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioners in USA require a licensure, the aspiring candidates need to pass both the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and any regional or state clinical examination. Following licensure, these professionals need work experience to pursue advanced study of dental hygiene.

Skill Set

Apart from clinical knowledge, Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioners possess wide range of skills such as dexterity, attention to detail, empathy towards patient, high medical ethics, management and clinical decision-making skills, ability to work in team spirit, effective communications and interpersonal skills, basic computer knowledge etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Hygiene Practitioner remains excellent in the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this profession may witness a job growth rate of 30% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Dental Hygiene Practitioner was $70,210 in May 2012.