How to become a Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Dental Hygienists deliver preventive oral care: cleanings, periodontal therapy, sealants, fluoride application, oral-health education, and clinical screening for systemic conditions visible in the mouth. About 217,000 RDHs practice nationally per BLS.
Education
Two CODA-accredited paths qualify a candidate to sit for licensing exams: an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene (typically 2-3 years at a community college) or a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (4 years). Both lead to the same RDH license. ADHA (American Dental Hygienists' Association) reports the BS path opens additional opportunities in research, public health, and corporate / DSO settings.
Licensing exams
Candidates take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE — written) administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, AND a regional or state clinical examination (most states accept ADEX, WREB, CITA, or CRDTS). Both required for RDH licensure. Some states additionally require a state jurisprudence exam.
Scope of practice
RDHs perform prophy (cleaning) + scaling-and-root-planing (SRP), administer local anesthesia in ~46 states (state-dependent), take + interpret dental radiographs, place sealants, apply fluoride, conduct periodontal charting, and document oral findings. About 24 states allow some form of dental hygiene practice without on-site dentist supervision (varies widely — collaborative practice agreements, public-health hygiene, etc.).
Practice settings
Private dental practices employ the majority — general dentistry + periodontic specialty offices. Pediatric dental, community + public health, school-based programs, DSO (dental service organization) groups like Heartland + Pacific Dental, and corporate roles with dental product companies all hire RDHs.
Compensation
BLS reports median annual RDH salary around $87k-$93k. RDH commonly ranks in the top 10 highest-paying associate-degree-only US careers. Compensation varies by state and practice setting — DSO + corporate groups typically structure as base + production bonus; private offices commonly hourly + benefits.