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Dental hygienist jobs have great potential. As our society is becoming more conscious of health and hygiene issues and maintenance, there is a much greater demand for these dental care and oral disease prevention jobs and dental hygienists fill these tasks that used to be carried out by Dentists in the past. There are currently more dental hygienist job offers than there are dental hygienists and the job market will remain excellent for the future as more than ever young dentists are in favor of hiring dental hygienists so they can allocate their time for more profitable procedures such as root canals, bridges, orthodontic treatments, … In fact, scientific research and statistics have ranked dental hygienist jobs among the fastest growing occupation for the next decade.
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Dental Hygienist jobs offer many benefits. Dental Hygienists have flexible hours; they are mostly employed by dentists on a specific schedule, they can work a few hours per day, morning or night, weekdays or weekends, full time or part time and can even seek employment in as many dental practices as their schedule allows them. Dental Hygienist jobs are in a growing demand with a satisfying salary.
Dental hygienists work conditions are very agreeable, hygienic and come with many benefits; many dental hygienists will even have dental coverage. Dental hygienists have a prestigious title as health care professionals in society and moreover, they are in direct contact with patients and get the satisfaction of raising oral hygiene communal awareness, improving their patients lifestyle and taking care of their teeth cleaning problems and gum diseases.
For the relatively short time spent in school, dental hygienist jobs are among the most rewarding and financially attractive among a vast array of careers.
Some dental hygienist jobs are full time, others are part time, and still others are independent contractors or have their own dental hygiene practice. Self employed dental hygienists are the newest trend for dental hygienist jobs. More and more dental hygienists are seeking to open an independent dental hygiene practice instead of working for a dentist or dentist group. This comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Being a self employed dental hygienist can be rewarding financially but comes at the expense of no security, no benefits, high overhead and the challenges of running a business.
I also would like to say that being a recent grad from a dental hygiene program has been one of the most stressful situations I have ever found myself in. When I went into school, there was an abundance of jobs and I thought it would be the same when I got out but now with over $60,000 in personal school debt and no job it looks really bleak. I definately would have chosen a different career path if I knew how hard it is now. I live in bc and dentists are low balling hygienists and recieve tons of resumes. If you are a new grad with no experience it will be sooooo hard to even get a temping job. I have been emailing, faxing and handing out resumes and nothing is comming up. I am not over exaggerating! Unless you have a family member/friend who is a dentist and promises a job for you it will be super tough out there.
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I am a RDH with over 5 years experience and 7 years experience as a CDA. The job market in Ontario is awful even for someone with loads of experience. I took an extended mat. leave to come back to a garbage job market thanks to an over saturation of new grads from private colleges. If anyone is considering this line of work I would recommend to reconsider….at least for now. And don’t listen to these private colleges they just want your money, besides most of the instructors are sadly inexperinced.
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I agree with Cynthia and Sarah, the market is saturated with Hygienists. My wife did this course back
in 2007 and they were crying for Hygienists and when she finished in 2009 there were hardly no jobs
left and the dentist are low balling the Hygienists, only because they’re greedy after all they are
charging the same rate but paying a lower salary, good for them sucks for Hygienists.
The CDHA has to do something really fast about all the grads the private colleges are spitting out.
This really is bad news, some assistant’s are getting as much as the Hygienists, what a shame, do you
hear me CDHA?????
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@Marise:
Actually, even well qualified hygienists like me, who gradated from a public school are unable to find a job in this market. It is too saturated and impossible to find work as a new grad where everyone wants an experienced hygienist.
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Sarah: I am wondering if someone at a dental school told you some of this information. You had better think outside the box. There are not several jobs for Hygienists in Nursing homes and elderly is one of the absolute most physically demanding populations in dentistry. Only very few specialized hospitals may have 2 or 3 Hygienists on staff. You likely won’t be doing any research unless you are also planning to get a degree, which I highly recommend because public health and hospitals will always hire the person with the degree/ not just the diploma. Being a hygienist won’t automatically qualify you to be a sales rep for a company and make that money…although it is good, you need to be able to sell, they can teach anyone smart about any product, your not. They will want someone who can sell it! You can start your own practice, after you pay off your $60,000 student loan, very doable! Also there are other opportunities for promotions etc. but they don’t pay well, but are a good stepping stone.
Yes I agree you need to do more than just show up, so good luck to everyone and start thinking creatively and rethink your career path in hygiene for the long-term, not just the immediate diploma. Ultimately everyone has the same lisence to practice…your school won’t make that big of a difference to a dentist.
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I have wanted to be a Dental Hygienist for my ENTIRE life. I had no idea of the pay rate before I went to school for this. I thought it was important to be an assistant before as well. So I did both programs even though Hygiene is a direct entry program. It kills me that there are so many of them ruining the profession. I wish the CDHA would put a cap on the number of graduates it registered. The field is totally over saturated and dentists are having a hayday with how little they have to pay us. I had to get my foot in the door of an office with assisting. I took a terrible wage and basically work on call because there is nothing else out there. I wish schools would stop selling students on the lie that there is a 97% rate of employment like my school did. Its just turned into a business for private schools.
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Thank you to everyone who posts comments up on this forum, it really does help people like myself who are considering this as a future career. I’m originally from Great Britain and I’ve lived in Canada for three years, I’m currently awaiting my PR card. After which I was hoping to apply to a dental school here in B.C. It has been two years now that I have been thinking of studying Dental Hygiene; it seems to me that a lot has changed over this time.
I recently checked the NHS salary rates for a Dental Hygienists in the U.K; for the previous 3 years they have fallen dramatically, which is exactly what is happening here in Canada.
“In 2008, the average salary for this job was £55000. The 2009 figure, as recorded, is £35445. This is a difference of -36% from 2008 to 2009. Figure based on 9 respondents in the 2009 UK data survey. In 2010, the average salary for Dental Hygienist jobs is £22,586. Compared to 2009, this is a change of -57%. Figure based on 10 respondents in the 2010 UK data survey”.
There is another article I read, that was written by the BBC in April 2010, which states, “A total of 410 dentists now earn more than £300,000, while 2,410 are on more than £150,000. That’s £7,500 more than David Cameron’s annual salary”. It’s just incomprehensible that this is allowed to happen. Dental hygienists wages are dropping dramatically both in Europe and in Canada, while Dentists are seeming their wages increase by the year.
Is there any hope for people like myself or recent graduates? It just doesn’t work out some how.
When you factor in the years it would take to study Dental Hygiene without work or a part-time job, then plus the student fees. And knowing in the back of your mind that your annual wage has decreased year upon year. This is another point that I believe would annoy me; seeing my boss getting richer and richer from my financial decline.
The reason why I was initially interested in becoming a dental hygienist wasn’t to do so much with the money I was told I could earn, but the stability and flexibility of the job as well as the great hiring rates of recent grads.
Am I being too negative on the prospects of a career in Dental Hygiene?
Is it true $50’000 – $60’000 is the average student debt? I though it was something like $25’000 for books and fees?
Are DA’s having the same issues?
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As most of new grads, I went to school thinking I was in good paying secure career. I graduated almost 2 years ago and do not have a secure position. I went to a community college in Ontario and received a quality education. I took a chance and took a poor paying remote job in BC to only have to move home due to poor pay…I was lucky to get that experience unlike most of the people I graduated with. I now work contract in remote native communities. I love my position but work is sparse…I will be lucky if I make $20 000 this year with temping at home included.
From research I’ve done in the past I believe the CDHA is fighting the over population of dental hygienists by making it hard in the future for schools to become accredited, but these policies take time to be put in place. Problem is the damage has already been done and unlike most professions I don’t think we will be benefited by the baby boomers retiring. From data I have read it seems like most DH’s are “middle age”….so maybe in another 15-20 years I might get a full time position?…I guess just in time for my future children to go to college lol
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It seems to be true that the market is saturated with DH’s and nobody is doing anything about it. Our college does not seem concerned and the Dentist’s are laughing all the way to the bank!!!
I am considering reentry since being off for abit to be home for my children. Not sure what to do when I hear that someone took a DA job when there first graduated???
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its a very sad state of affairs,i agree dentsits are getting richer and us poorer,why does the CDHA not do something to help change things???
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Hi Everyone,
It was great to read all your comments about the industry. I was considering a career in the field but after reading your comments, I think I will hold off for now until I hear of improvements in the industry.
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FYI…for new grads, it will be difficult to get a job, at first but keep trying. When I graduated 2 years ago in toronto, ontario. I was offered $15 and $20 for an ortho office in Markham, Ontario. Most dentist are taken advantage of hygienist. During my job search, I found that dentist from ethnic background (Not all of them) will pay a very low salary. I was bit surprise since Im of ethnic background. All I can say is, dont take the first job offer with low salary, just have patience and determination. There is still jobs out there.
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Sarah:
Unfortunately given how restrictive the regulations are in most provinces you can’t simply “think outside the box” to find jobs. An exception to this rule could be Alberta and the NS regs are quite progressive as well. Sorry to say but that is quite a naive comment and if you had a chance to practice in the “real world” you would understand this. I’ve had to fight tooth and nail to work a full-time week since I graduated. I was once a very optimistic student as well. I have a BSc from Acadia and completed my diploma at Dalhousie, which is one of the most respected hygiene programs in Canada. We all had jobs waiting for us when I graduated in 2008, and only 3 students could find work in the 2010 graduating class. CDHA should have regulated these private colleges more strictly, now we are all in a mess.
My view is that degree hygiene programs are giving students a false sense of self confidence these days. I’ve noticed more than a few condecending comments from degree students on forums. Give me a break, you guys will know the difference someday once your programs brainwashing wears off. My BSc (health sciences) gives me every option provided by the degree programs and trust me jobs are not jumping at me. You’ll realise you have to pay the bills too someday so you will just have to “show up” as well. And that degree program (especially if it’s at UBC) will definitely give you a big bill. Good luck.
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I have been a hygienist for 16 years and have had my hours cut to 20 hours a week from 30. My bosses excuse is “restructuring”. It amazes me that with 2 of us in the office the restructuring only affects MOI! I have sent resumes, cold called offices, signed on with temp. agencies. Nothing. At the time I did my training, you had to have dental assisting experience first. This . I feel, is essential to get a well-rounded feel on how an office is run. We need to get back to that prerequisite. With the market the way it is now, what dentist is going to pay top dollar for a hygienist when you can get one for next to nothing? I have even gone as far as applying to dental supply companies and insurance companies? Yes, we have the option of being self-initiated in \Ontario, but that may not be feasible for everyone. I have enough concerns with my 3 sons, I don’t need anything hanging over my heads. I am considering going back into assisiting as a Level 2. Such uncertain times!
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I graduated in 2006 and the market is flooded.. i really wish Ontario had not opened so many private schools!!!!
I know RDH’s that have gone back to assisting, other career fields and are currently unemployeed.
It’s very sad indeed.
The Hygienist job market is FLOODED and don’t let anyone else tell you any different.
I’m acutally going back to school next year to enter into my 3rd career (1st a Dental Assistant, 2nd Hygienist, 3rd.. not sure yet, but i’m gonna darn well make sure it can be offered at a private school!!!!)
Good luck all.
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“..1st a Dental Assistant, 2nd Hygienist, 3rd.. not sure yet, but i’m gonna darn well make sure it can be offered at a private school!!!!)”
sorry that was suppose to read…
..I’m gonna darn well make sure it CAN NOT be offered/taken at a Private School”
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Preface: I generalize a lot here (I really do NOT mean that all dentists are this way), too much really, sound biased and narrow minded, but there are real issues here and they need to be recognized. Many dentists are not money driven, they want to educate, they want to improve health, they work with other trained professionals like hygienists, surgeons, cancer centers etc to improve health, treat their employees well, support them etc. But, there is a trend and a history to dentistry that gives rise to the ideas in my comments below. Just think about how many dentists you have heard of who work in the community or do volunteer work (I don’t mean a week of volunteer work in Mexico either, I mean consistently give back to the community-remember the working class tax dollars are subsidizing the Universities so professionals and tradespeople can be trained etc etc).
Dear mytwocents,
So, I don’t believe the economy is as relevant as you might think in this debate. The issues I see are: 1. The private Ontario dental hygiene schools are primarily owned and run by Dentists-to me that supports the idea that Dentists are pretty darn smart and realized that the lack of dental hygienists was driving the wage up (point here-it isn’t just lower hourly wage that dental hygienists are upset about-it is poor working conditions, dental hygienists do not know what a “lunch hour” is, no breaks, employment packages, benefits, hours, security etc. dentists can offer pretty lousy employment conditions on top of low wage and still have ten hygienists lining up for a chance to work a half day). Some dentists opened a bunch of schools and produced a bunch of dental hygienists. All dental hygienists are not equal either, there are good quality and not so good quality hygienists-it doesn’t seem right that some dentists choose a hygienist who will work for $30 an hour instead of the hygienist who provides the best quality of care. What if doctors chose to hire nurses (doctors don’t hire nurses I am just making a comparison of how this is a bit scary) based on salary expectations instead of experience, education, qualifications, working interview, etc. there would probably be more adverse medication interactions, poor infection control practices, carelessness etc. This isn’t the case because people would die pretty fast with that system. We have high standards for doctors and nurses and we pay them lots to take on that responsibility. A hygienist could be lacking skill, choose CE courses that are easy and fluff instead of choosing ones to become better at treating patients, never scale subgingivally, and polish every client because the dentist says so. Most of the time members of the public have no idea if they have received quality care from a dental hygienist. The dentist who pays low for a dental hygienist must not perceive the work done by the professional as very important. With little to no risk to the dentist too, because dental hygiene is self regulating we are accountable for our actions. You get what you pay for-dentists should almost be required to disclose the salary range, lol, imagine that, they would have some explaining to do. Everyone pays basically the same amount per unit of time to have a “cleaning” at whatever dental office they happen to go to, but I would rather trust my teeth and gums to the hygienist who is making $50 an hour than the one who settled for $25. They are more worried about paying themselves than employing the most skilled dental hygienists. The fact that there are schools shutting down instead of doing the work that is required of them to become accredited is another sign that SOME private schools were not initiated to produce quality dental hygiene professionals, they cut curriculum and time (2 year diploma after completing one year of university prerequisites cut to the 16-18 month Ontario programs and pumped out a bunch of worker bees that they can pay $25-30/hour. They even proposed/implemented questionable dental assisting “modules in scaling” that reduces the respect and specialization of a dental hygienists very skilled scaling training. And means that it is possible you have had your teeth scaled by a dental assistant who is making $18-$22 an hour and have had little to no education on the intricate anatomy . (they are not supposed to scale more than 2 mm below the gumline, but what patient could tell the difference) 2) Canadian Dental Association (Dentists) set the fee guide. That includes hygiene… If you go back and compare the changes in pricing over the past 6 years, you will notice that services produced by the dentist have doubled/tripled in some cases and hygiene has been kept at about the same rate. This makes it difficult for hygienists to become completely independent because many insurance companies will only pay the stunted hygiene fees set in the fee guide. 3) Hygienists as employees are low overhead, many supply their own instruments, uniforms, no benefits, few hygienists even have dental coverage from the clinic they work in. Not only that, but a hygienist can easily bring in $140 per hour for the dental office and there are dentists trying to pay $25-$30. Again… relatively speaking, the overhead for a hygienist is low. We pay our own licensing, insurance, malpractice, etc etc. Paint on fluoride (3min) charge $20 (all to the dentist of course). 4) We are self regulating so an error made by a hygienist is an error that the hygienist is responsible for and his/her license is at stake, the dentist is not responsible just because he/she owns the practice. 5) The main reason why the economy and dental hygienists being complainers are weak and simple thoughts is because dentists and gold are the only items that go up in price every single year. The dentists are actually making more now, from higher fees (that the insurance companies and individuals have to pay), from added services, AND on top of that they are making even more now with all the reduced benefits and wages being paid to hygienists. (In short-hygienists are not making less because the economy is poor at the moment… you better believe that the majority of dentists are not feeling the effects of the economy. The major theme in the history of dentist/hygienist is that dentists have put regulations in place that restrict dental hygienists. 365 day rule. Inability to diagnose decay, local anesthetic,radiographs (all of which we are trained in and do daily, but are billed under the dentists code. Also, the exam/records that are charged to the dentist code includes periodontal assessment findings (the periodontal assessment is done by the hygienist usually and takes 3 times as long as a dental/occlusal assessment. Also, dentists have WAAAAAY too much power. They were able to stop dentistry from being added to the healthcare umbrella. WHY??? not for the patients best interest. This way they can charge what they want because they set the fees, work whatever hours they want, now that dental hygienists are a dime a dozen the dentist can pretty much control the dental hygiene profession ie: reprimanding dental hygienist for doing head and neck cancer screening and taking blood pressure because these are not billable services. In one year at our college dental hygiene clinic 3 clients were informed (for the first time) that they had severely high blood pressure and they were put on medication by their MD within 3 days of the visit to our school. 2 cases of cancer were identified and treated before they progressed. What I am saying is noone ever died from having some tartar on their teeth and not having their teeth polished, but those are the services that bring in the big bucks for the dentist. Yet some cut corners on important facets of the profession because they have the power to do so. I am pretty tired, likely missed some points and this isn’t my best bit of writing… Just some things to think about. And if the majority of hygienists are saying the same thing it is likely that they actually are correct, are not complaining premadonnas-you really do not have a grasp on the profession, so I find it a bit funny that you went “there” with your comment. Especially the “if you want to complain about how much dentists make then go be one” dental hygiene is a health profession, we educate and try to reduce and prevent disease, it is a different philosophy, dentists fix things that are broken. In a collaborative relationship that could be quite symbiotic. But I have no time for bullies and the dental association is keeping their “thumb” on the dental hygiene profession because WE ARE A HUGE CASH COW. Yes, it is that simple. Dentists are smart. Make more money at the expense of others. That was one thing you got right, capitalism is here to stay. Rich get richer. BTW, pretty simple explanation. It’s the economy. Blame the weather, that makes about as much sense. LOL.
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Graduated in 1985, I feel blessed to have had such a fabulous career practicing dental hygiene (general, perio, working overseas, volunteering at my children’s schools) but to read these comments is so disheartening. You see “My twocents”, this is not just an issue of economics, it’s about the deterioration of a profession and how it has affected people. Could I have become a dentist?…yes, but working one-on-one with patients to improve their health, building a trusted relationship so we could become a team ensuring our (the dental team) patients had the best dental health possible….that’s what I loved.
Now,after 4 years of having to leave dentistry due to my familial situation, and ready to return to dental hygiene, I’m seeing dental hygiene is not the same profession I left.
Were there hygienists who, for whatever reason, felt more entitled to increased wages and benefits due to the amount of income they were producing? I say yes. Being the daughter of an entrepreneur, I know too well the sacrifices one makes to own their business and what that employer deems fair and reasonable to pay her/his employees is their business. I’ve worked for a variety of dentists before I “found” the ones whom I felt I respected and were proud to be part of their team. (Yes,as there were prima donna hygienists, there was a share of dentists I’d rather clean toilets than work for them). It is a horrendous shame that enough dentists felt “disrespected” to open/fund private dental hygiene school as well disgust to those dentists who are now treating hygienists as aforementioned in these blogs. Amazing what decisions people make when it comes to money! As far as I’m concerned, both hygienists and dentists have created this indirect relationship of supply/demand of dental hygienists.
Bottomline: I will continue to actively market my skills as a clinical hygienist, broaden my spectrum of opportunities (ie: dental sales etc.) but on the side, will embark upon research of a new career.
Is life about choices, “My Twocents”, yes, but when those choices affect others (esp. your children), the choices are not so simple.
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Why is everyone ignoring the biggest issue facing Hygienist. It’s gender. If you want to raise kids and work part time, expect part time wages. If the profession as a whole has decided that dedicatting your life to something other than your work, so be it. But accept the responsibility that comes with those decisions. And now that your young peers have figured this out, they want a part of the gravy train. Market conditions support or suppress wages and job availability. Now that the secret is out, don’t expect to be able to stem the rising tide of hygienists entering the workforce looking for the same. In male dominated professions this does not happen. Men generally form unions or otherwise organize to prevent the very things that are happening in dental hygine. Where are your professional associations? Why is no one holding them to account? Where is the mass uprising to preserve your jobs and wages? Nowhere to be found. It’s a gender thing.
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Awwww Picnflick… Gender is definitely a factor in the slow progression of the profession. I actually have to ROFLOL regarding the comment you made “If you want to raise kids and work part time, expect part time wages. If the profession as a whole has decided that dedicatting your life to something other than your work, so be it.” Ba ha ha ha ha…. I can’t even believe I am responding to this. You do take the cake though for ignorant comment of the century. Thanks for the laughs!! Pretty narrow minded to chaulk up the decrease in pay over the past few years to gender issues. Gender is a factor because historically (before equality movements etc) dental hygiene was developed by dentists. Dentists realized that the precision and care required to effectively scale subgingival deposits takes a lot of TIME. So, they recruited female employees to do this “housekeeping” type of job. Talk to the client, build rapport, teach oral self care etc. all the time consuming preventative measures that do not make a whole lot of money relative to the time necessary to do a thorough job. Dentists were then free to set up an assembly line of people who are in and out with 2 fillings in a half hour for huge dollars. Women more nurturing, softer spoken may have been more suited to the job, but the job was designed by predominantly male dentists who wanted to rid themselves of the pesky preventative stuff. It is much easier to show someone the hole in their tooth, or assure them the pain of a decayed tooth will go away after a filling and get them to pay $200 for the 30 min procedure, than it is to get someone to pay you to teach them how to brush their teeth in a way so they don’t end up with 8 mm of recession everywhere. Add to this, many strategic “regulations” put in place by dentists that dental hygienists must work under that do not protect clients (although that is the defense used) as much as they force dental hygienists to be dependent on the dentist in one way or another. For example, 365 day rule. Dental hygienist cannot provide treatment to an individual if they have not had an exam by a dentist in the past year. Well, I advocate a yearly dental exam, I think that is in the best interest of the client. Buuuut, there are a lot of people who cannot access a dental clinic and are then unable to access dental hygiene treatment. That is not in the best interest of the client, dental hygienists have thorough pathology, anatomy, assessment, x-ray interpretation etc etc training. The only reason I can see for this ridiculous “rule” is to control how independent a dental hygienist can be-I think you would be hard pressed to find a dental hygienist who would discourage a patient from having a yearly dental exam. An independent hygienist could make house calls to bedridden, disabled, ill, end of life, elderly patients, rural communities etc and provide significant health benefits with treatment, but if that immobile/isolated individual cannot get out to a dentist office once a year then they are off limits to us as health care providers… at the expense of our license. That’s like saying if you strain your back and want to go to a physiotherapist or chiropractor that you would be unable to without first having an appointment with a general practitioner. Why???? Collaborative relationships produce better results than authoritarian ones. The dental hygiene profession has come a loooooooong way, but was stunted in its development into a truely self regulating profession in its early days by the majority of women who just worked part time, the dentist’s wife, or until they had children etc etc. The same relationship can be seen in the development of the nursing profession, they had to separate themselves from the medical doctors, become self regulating, increase the education necessary for entry to practice etc. Nursing was not always a degree program. They just were able to become independent earlier on so they had more control over the path of the profession. That was mainly because our healthcare system is not a private business like dentistry. I don’t think a dental science degree means the person is a better hygienist… but that extra year of high level university courses and the BDSc degree certificate do add to the validity, respect and specialization of a profession. It also helps shape free thinking professionals who are morally strong and empowered enough to say no to an authority figure (be it a dentist, boss or whatever)if they ask you to do something questionable (meal deal dentistry-same for everyone, most money-fluoride and polish for all clients). Reducing the length of the dental hygiene program means less depth of knowledge. Maybe we can all scrape teeth, but dental hygiene is so much more than that and that is where and why the profession is being held down. Anyways, the dental community is an old boys club… And I hope I didn’t miss your point-I agree that a male dental hygienist will make the same as a female dental hygienist, but gender definitely played a big part in the slooooooooow progression of dental hygiene. Physiotherapists evolved their profession around the same time but were independent and required degree for entry to practice eons ago – they were mainly men.
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I am sorry people but it is not a gender thing, it is a number thing. For years there have been too many jobs and not enough hygienists. Now it is reversed. (And the female dentists are hiring (or not) just like the male dentists!) You can try to find all sorts of reasons but the simplest answer is usually the easiest. It isn’t a conspiracy, it is just economics. Lots of people trying for the same job equals less hiring and lower wages.
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In response to Frank, you are commenting that it is a “number thing”. I assume that you are referring to number of dental hygienists and now they are easy to find. What you are failing to mention is, the scope of practice associated with dental hygiene and how that differentiates us from other auxilliaries, such as, dental assistants. Dental assistants do not have the intra-oral duties and responsibilities that hygienits have. The reason for a pay difference between dental assistants and hygienists is also that we generate income for the dentists and assumme more liability and risk then the dental assistants hence our liability insurance covereage of a few millions of dollars– I am not aware that assistant require that to practice. This comes down to scope of practice and that we have overlapping skills with dentist both are permited to perform scale, debridement. Compare registered nurses (RN) to registered practical nurses (RPN), why is there a pay difference? It is due to the greater responsibilities. Lots of people trying for the same job should not equate to lower wages, that is not in the best interest of the public, their best interest is education and experience of the candidate – and that my dear Frank, dictates a higher income not lower.
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I don’t disagree that there is a greater scope of responsibilities and risk that requires a greater rate of pay over other auxiliaries. And I agree that hygienists generate income for a dentist. (Other auxiliaries also generate income for dentists by increasing productivity but it is not as easily and accurately measured.) However, the discussion wasn’t about pay differences between auxiliaries but why salaries have decreased for hygienists specifically. The sad truth is there are more people chasing the same jobs. And the law of supply and demand says that pay rates will come down. It has nothing to do with gender. I know lots of female dentists that are paying less and I know male hygienists who are taking less. Pay rates have historically gone up because there were too few hygienists and dentists would outbid each other to hire them. And many dentists feel that the rates that they paid were out of proportion. (Case in point – hygienists in the US don’t make nearly the same pay either in absolute dollars or relative to other auxiliaries and they have the same training, risk and responsibilities. And I know many hygienists in Canada who make more than some nurses in Canada who arguably have more training, risk and responsibilities.) I get that this is a sensitive topic but I am just stating what is happening. It seems like there are many people coming on to this site to get information about hygiene as a career. They should be aware of both sides of the discussion.
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@Marise: Marise: it is dental hygienists such as yourself that will keep this profession from progressing beyong a school girl mentality that we should be grateful for whatever our holier than thou dentist bosses dish out to us. In a female dominated field such as ours, it is imperative that we solidfy our common goals to have secure, fair and honourable employment. A union is needed to collectively provide these rights for every dental hygienist and not just a – out for myself mentality such as yours. Many RDH’s are single mothers who, unlike our fellow RHPA members such as nurses, are treated with a lack of respect and dignity by dentists who force us to keep our mouths shut and put up with less than humane working conditions. It cannot be tolerated.
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@ Rebecca, she hit the nail on the head. The way hygienists are treated by dentists is poor, at best. I think Marise needs to wake-up and smell the coffee. There are MORE dental hygienists now being forced to apply for WELFARE! Yes, that is correct, if there is an artificial demand, why are they applying for welfare? Single mothers
who were once able to afford the basics no longer can. But hey, we don’t know what the employment standards at Marise office are. The older hygienists married to dentists are keeping their jobs… so, each employment situation is unique.
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@mytwocents:
To mytwocents: Obviously you are not taking sides…and good for you to open the debate it is just too bad nothing supports the “other” side of this argument.
Supply and demand and mechanics – really? There are plenty of unemployed mechanics and shop rates have not decreased. You are seriously bringing oil into this discussion? Oil companies continue to report record profits. One issue here is that dentists are paying less and making more. The consumer is not getting a break. I think you nailed it though when you said that dds’s are “running a business”. They have long ago abandoned the idea that they are part of health care. If you want to pay your staff less, why not charge less and be part of the healthcare solution?
It is all about the money, not care.
Another factor is the graduates of non-accreditted schools and their employers. Yes they get jobs. Both them and the dds who employs them should be lose their liscence or be criminally charged (if they have no liscense to lose). This is also part of the “business” model. Hire cheap (illegal) labour, pay them less, make more, ignore quality of care.
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Another reality that is not being addressed here is the fact that dentists are currently (well, a few years ago but ongoing) being investigated for being ANTICOMPETITIVE, ie, they are attempting to prevent others from making money.
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A friend of mine looked into opening a dental hygiene office. She called a company recommended to her by one of the biggest dental suppliers. She was informed that due to the dentists not liking the fact that hygienists are opening offices they are not able to go into business with her however, if they had already commenced a contractual agreement they would honour it (well, that is a no brainer, tort law, she could have sued them for breach of contract). So, moral of the story, the dentists have a lot of political clout and are directly influencing our ability to conduct business. Here is another tid bit, an acquaintence of mine in Colorado, who had an independent office (and also had a part-time dentist), referred to a report released by the ADA (American Dental Association) where they stated that there was NO IMPACT on the dentists income due to their presence in the Denver, Colorado area. However, there was an impact but to down play it they released this paper… necessary propoganda
So, here it is back at ‘mytwocents’, there are hygienists taking on higher risks, unfortunately, they are being afflicted with anticompetitive backlashes by the dentists. Why? We are just trying to make a business as they are but they need to employ dirty tacktics, but they have a history of that, guess not much has changed with this profession and I suppose this only further serves to perpetuates a poor public opinion of dentists.
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I have worked in dentistry as a CDA for 30+ years. In that time I have seen the change from a shortage of Hygienists to an over supply. The pay scale is a simple case of supply and demand. Dentists used to have to do their own scaling if they weren’t lucky enough to get a Hygienist and they would pay any amount of money to not have to do that. UBC used to graduate one class per year in BC that didn’t meet demand. First we had the influx of Ontario private college grads and then private colleges in BC opened up. Hygienists may have more formal schooling than CDAs but our on-the-job skills acquired are huge. A dentist without a CDA is pretty much non productive. If they had no CDA they would reschedule the day. The gap between CDA and Hygienist wages is starting to close slightly and will continue to close. I feel sorry for the people who have gone $50,000 into debt thinking they would earn a huge wage and signing bonuses.
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I should have been a nurse!!! I have been a hygienist for four years now and I still cant find a full time job. I am still trying to pay off my student debt. Its very stressful im trying to stay positive but this amount of stress is really getting to me i dont know what to do anymore. fed up!
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I totally understand your situation because I’m in it too. I’ve been looking for a full time job for about 4yrs now and still can’t find one. I still have a loan that I’m paying and it’s very very prostrating to put a small amount towards it every pay cheque. Just hang in there, it will get better, that’s what I tell myself, it’s not much of an advice, but I do hope that it will get better for all hygienist out there.
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Hi Karen,
I like your positive thinking. What province are you in? I am in BC.
Joyce
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@Joyce: Thanks Joyce. I’m in Ontario. Too bad your thousands of miles away or I would ask you to have coffee with me.
Take care.
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This is all good infomation for someone like me, I have always wanted to be a hygenist but I live in Nova Scotia where the only program is offered through Dalhousie University. Dispite the basic admission reqirements for Dal’s program the reality is that almost all the seats go to students holding another degree and as a single mother I don’t have the time or money for more than 2 years of education. I have been considering one of Ontario’s vast array of private school programs in dental hygene but with the insane fees I have been on the fence. Also, for years I have heard from practicing hygentists that there are too few jobs, no work, not enough hours, and I really assumed they were making that up to keep more work for themselves.
Private schools are not the only one’s selling the idea that this is a high paying in demand job, the media and many statistics have helped to fill people’s minds that this is “one of the most in demand and good paying jobs.”
This forum has helped me to finally realize that the career really isn’t what it used to be now that the market is flooded. I agree with some posts on here that the reality is that if dentist can get 2 hygenists for the price of 1 they will will go the cheaper route not caring as much about where they got their education from.
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I’m starting my 4th semester in DH and have 2 more semesters to go. After reading all these comments on here and other websites saying how bad the profession is now I don’t know if I should just drop out now and become a elementary or hgh school teacher which was my other choice before I chose hygiene for what I thought was better wages and job opportunities. I have talked to hygienists I know and they all say they love it but here and on another website a lot of people say they regret it. I don’t know what to do, I feel like I have spend so much money and time and am already halfway through to drop out now, but at the same time, it may not be worth it. as of right now, I’m not even sure I am going to enjoy clinic which we start next semester. Should i just go through it and see what happens or not waste any more time and become a teacher?
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hi,
I am RDH since 2009 and still looking for job. it is sooooo hard to find a job. i did many things to et a job. i do volunteering in dental office. I took my own patients to different dental offices to get any job oporunity ther ,but unfortunity no way. noooooooo jobs at all. the worse career ever
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I have been working as a dental hygienist for over 7.5 years. Unfortunelty I had to give up my position at my practices due to a medical leave. I have to say that it has been NOTHING but an uphill struggle to finding a new job now that I am well. The profession of dental hygiene has become a joke. Thanks to private schools opening up on every corner and if you can “show me the money” than you can have a hygiene diploma in your hand and say yes I did it. To start pointing fingers at saying who’s fault this is would be too simple. I would just like to point out that if our college really cared about our profession and even people/patients they would have taken a stronger stand and protected us. But lets face it does the college really care? More members = more money. So in summary, if you are in school right now to become a dental hygienist I feel sorry for you. I you are a hygienist now looking for work I say to you good luck and just go back to school. The money is crap now (thanks to new grads willing to work at $25.00 and hour while you’re billing the D.D.S $200+/hr), the hours are crap and the cherry ontop….your a tooth picker…a dime a dozen…just a tooth picker. So, keep your chin up girls and well atleast smile and show those pearly whites that you paid so much for!
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@M.: Hygiene 101 –CDHO is for the public.
ODHA is for dental hygienist
CDHA is for dental hygienist
If you want to complain, complain to the right organization/assocation.
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Who permitted the opening of all these private colleges which has led to the super-saturation of the dental hygiene profession? Could it have been the CDHO to increase the members of this profession to the point where the government recognized that we are large enough to deserve autonomy? Me thinks that would be Politics 101.
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@kimzoe RDH: First of all dental hygienist are HEALTH CARE PROVIDER not business people. If you want to become a business woman go to a different field as dentistry is about providing better oral health to the public.
Secondly, you’re so proud to call yourself a dental hygienist when your working in a salon. You’re the one that’s all about the money and not the profession.
Last but not the least, it will take decades for dental hygienist to be allowed do restoration, if ever at all.
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whitening in a hair salon? Talk about ruining the profession. Get a life
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I made a comment several months ago and since then I was working as a receptionist at a dental office on Toronto. While I was there I saw lots of young dental hygienists come in like a revolving door. What happens next is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. The dentist only had ONE slow speed that for polishing peoples teeth that the dental hygienist was required to use for every patient! NEVER STERILIZE IN BETWEEN! EVEN AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WAS NOT REMOVED AND STERILIZED. This is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen and ALL the hygienists who worked there had to do it, to guess what keep their job! He then would leave the office and force them to use nitrous on patients who wanted it. He then made the comment that hygienist should not have their own office as they think that they are dentists. Maybe the standards of care are better at a hygiene office.
Ladies you no longer have employee employer rights and if anything would have happened he was ready to blame it all on the hygienist. This profession has been thrust back decades. You had seriously better start thinking of unionizing, if this is the conditions that are going to be common, you are going to be sued and lose your license.
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I graduated in April 2011 and was licensed by the end of June. Since then I have had so much trouble finding work in the GTA. I have driven from office to office dropping off hundreds of resumes and still nothing. What is going on with this profession? There are barely any job postings online, and if there is one then there are hundreds of RDH’s applying for the opening. I have students loans to pay off and would love to start my life (financially) but I can barely afford my gas. What will it take for this oversaturation to subside? When will all these good for nothing private schools be closed down? When will the governing bodies think about us and not their pockets? I went into this program because I love the profession, not for the money….but this is just a disgrace!
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