Dental Assistant vs. Dental Hygienist: 5 Key Differences

Key Takeaways

• A dental assistant is a professional who supports the dentist with crucial daily tasks, such as handling instruments, scheduling patient appointments, and ensuring a comfortable patient experience.

• A dental hygienist is someone who is specialized specifically in performing dental hygiene procedures but may support the practice in other ways as well.

• Both professions have a positive career outlook and play an important part in supporting the operations of a dental practice to ensure quality care to patients.

• Some of the key differences between both roles include education requirements, salary expectations, and required skills.

Deciding Which Role Is Right For You

Both dental assistants and dental hygienists have important roles in supporting patients and keeping the operations of a dental practice running smoothly. However, the two roles do have some key differences, as they require distinct skills and levels of educational experience, as well as having different daily responsibilities and expectations.

Dental assistants support the practice in a general role with a variety of responsibilities, ranging from scheduling patients to preparing patients for dental procedures. Meanwhile, a dental hygienist has the primary role of conducting cleanings and tooth scaling to ensure patient oral health.

If you’re considering a career in dentistry but are unsure whether to pursue a dental assistant or a dental hygienist role, this guide will help you break down the key differences. Understanding the differences is key to helping you build a pathway to the profession that is the best fit for your goals.

Differences Between Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists

Whether it’s the daily responsibilities or the educational route you need to take to get there, a dental assistant and a dental hygienist position can be quite different. Although both professions have an important role in a dental practice, you should consider the following differences

1. Job Roles and Responsibilities

When working together, the daily jobs of dental professionals go hand-in-hand to keep the office running smoothly. However, dental assistants and hygienists each have their own areas of expertise—assistants take on several administrative tasks, patient-facing roles, while hygienists are involved more specifically in providing direct hygiene treatments to patients.

Dental Assistants

Dental assistants support a dental practice in a variety of ways, including in both administrative tasks and providing direct, patient-facing care in assistance to the practicing dentist.

Some of the key daily responsibilities include:

• Assisting the dentist during procedures
• Preparing and sterilizing instruments necessary for patient treatments and handing off to the dentist
• Taking and developing X-rays
• Managing patient records and office tasks
• Preparing patients and the exam room for dental treatments
• Taking dental impressions for bridges, crowns, or orthodontic devices
• Educating patients on post-treatment care and expectations
• Scheduling and welcoming patients in alignment with the dentist’s schedule

In some states, a dental assistant may also be allowed to perform basic procedures such as coronal polishing or applying sealants or fluoride.

All together, a dental assistant’s schedule may vary widely from day to day, depending on the needs of the practice and the patients scheduled. There will be considerable overlap, but because of the wide variety of tasks where they offer support, they may be needed in some tasks more than others based on the day’s schedule.

Dental Hygienists

Dental hygienists provide direct care to patients, using their skills to clean patients’ teeth and provide specialized treatments according to patient needs. Hygienists have a specialized skillset that allows them to support patients properly

Their daily responsibilities include:

• Carrying out dental cleanings and scaling
• Performing oral health assessments and screenings for disease
• Assisting with preventive treatments and procedures, like applying fluoride
• Conducting oral health assessments and preliminary exams
• Educating patients on oral care practices and habits
• Collaborating with the dentist and dental assistant to provide appropriate care
• Assisting the dental team with X-rays and other dental procedures
• Documenting the patient’s treatment plans and overall care needs

There is certainly a degree of adaptability that is necessary for a hygienist, but their day-to-day schedule varies less than that of a dental assistant. Although a hygienist’s responsibilities may vary depending on each patient’s unique needs, they often do the same daily tasks, supporting patients from procedure to procedure.

2. Education and Training Requirements

Although both types of dental professionals are valuable to a dental office, the types of daily responsibilities require different levels of education and training.

Dental Assistants

The educational requirements to become a dental assistant are often less demanding than those for becoming a hygienist. The typical entry-level education for the field is a postsecondary non-degree award, or in other words, a certificate program.

However, the requirements will largely depend on the state where you are seeking employment. Some states require certification and specialized clinical training while others are more flexible, and on-the-job training will suffice, so it’s crucial that you research the requirements through your state’s board of dental examiners.

Individuals interested in dental assisting should pursue classes like anatomy, biology, and chemistry starting in high school to start gathering the necessary skills. Dental classes, hands-on clinical training, and real-world simulations can all provide a valuable gateway following high school.

Dental Hygienists

The requirements to become a practicing dental hygienist are a bit more stringent and vary less between states. Professionals will need at least an associate’s degree and will need to be registered and licensed with their state’s Board of Dental Examiners to practice.

A dental hygienist’s educational pathway usually involves the following steps:

• Receiving a degree from an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• Completing clinical training either during or after the educational program
• Passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
• Fulfilling your state’s requirements to obtain licensure

Required subjects involved in the educational pathways include oral anatomy, radiology, and pharmacology. After completing this education, they will then need to study for and pass the national exam and any additional exams required by their state. Hygienists may also choose to specialize in an area like pediatrics or periodontics by obtaining additional certifications.

3. Salary Expectations and Job Outlook

Both professionals have important roles in functioning dental practices, but the salary expectations differ, as a dental hygienist often has a higher earning potential in their career. The differing salary expectations are a key factor when weighing your future goals.

Dental Assistants

Based on the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median salary for a dental assistant is $46,540 per year, or $22.38 per hour. As with any position, an assistant’s salary can vary depending on their level of experience, location, and additional relevant certifications.

The job outlook for dental assistants is expected to increase by 8% between 2022 and 2023, with an increase of 31,500 positions. This growth is considered faster than average for jobs, making it a safe career to pursue in terms of longevity.

Dental Hygienists

With their advanced level of experience, dental hygienists often have a higher earning potential than assistants. The most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data places the median pay at $87,530 per year, or $42.08 per hour. Keep in mind that these numbers will likely vary depending on an individual’s level of experience, their location, and any additional certifications.

Like dental assistants, the dental hygienist's career outlook shows considerable growth in the field over the coming years. Between 2023 and 2033, the job market is expected to grow by 9%, with a 19,600 increase in jobs, considered much faster than average.

4. Work Environment and Career Opportunities

Both types of professionals work in similar environments, but each has their own opportunities for career advancement and seeking flexibility in their careers.

Dental Assistants

Dental assistants work most often in dental offices, with 90% of assistants working in this environment. However, they may also work in physician offices, hospitals, or local clinics. Dental assistants are helpful in supporting emergency dental care, so they may have slightly greater potential to work in multiple environments than hygienists.

Opportunities for advancement in the dental assistant role include moving into office management and the ability to increase earning potential with a wider skillset. Assistants may obtain additional certifications or training to gain the opportunity to support with clinical tasks like coronal polishing, local anesthetic application, or fluoride treatments.

Some dental assistants may choose to eventually become a hygienist, but they would need to enroll in a specific dental hygiene program. Having key educational prerequisites fulfilled would make the transition from dental assistant to dental hygienist easier.

Dental Hygienists

Hygienists are most likely to work in dental practices but can also work in physician offices or even dental schools where they can offer their services from an educational perspective.

Many dental practices schedule cleanings for patients on set days of the week, meaning that the dental hygienist is only present in an office for part of the week. It’s not uncommon for hygienists to work across multiple practices to fill out their schedule. This also allows for more flexibility in building their own schedule based on set days or shifts they want to work.

Dental hygienists also have a variety of options for expanding into future roles. A dental hygienist may choose to advance their career by pivoting into teaching, research, or practice management. They may also pursue continuing education or specialized certifications that can expand their ability to serve patients, such as periodontics or local anesthesia.

5. Required Skills and Qualifications

With different roles in the same environment, assistants and hygienists need similar skills but with slight differences in the extent of these skills.

Dental Assistants

A dental assistant can begin working with a certificate or degree from an accredited educational institution. On top of this education, dental assistants should have a combination of soft and hard skills to thrive in their role.

Crucial skills to have as a dental assistant include:

• Organizational Skills: Strong organizational skills and attention to detail are necessary for handling tasks like maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, and coordinating with the dental team.
• Technical Skills: This includes the ability to assist in various dental procedures and patient care, including a familiarity with dental tools and when they are used.
• Communication Skills: These include customer service skills to make patients feel welcome as well as the ability to communicate with the dental team to understand and advocate for patient needs.

Some states allow dental assistants to practice simple procedures such as coronal polishing, which may require a wider technical skill set. However, they will need additional licenses and certifications to do so.

Dental Hygienists

Ultimately, to practice, a dental hygienist must be a licensed and registered dental hygienist in the state where they will work. This involves completing the necessary schooling and passing the proper exams. Beyond this education, hygienists can benefit from having a few key professional skills.

Registered dental hygienists benefit from having the following skills:

• Technical Skills: These include the skills necessary to conduct dental hygiene procedures, including a familiarity with dental tools, manual dexterity, and attention to detail
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills to provide patient education and collaborate with dental assistants and the dentist in the practice.
• Clinical Skills: Hygienists must have clinical skills and advanced medical knowledge that include the ability to work independently and make clinical decisions in a patient’s best interests.

Toothio Supports Dental Professions in Their Career Growth

A dental assistant supports the generalized tasks in the practice, while a dental hygienist directly provides cleaning treatments and procedures to patients. Although the educational requirements and daily responsibilities differ, both careers are promising and offer plenty of potential for growth in the coming years.

No matter whether you are a dental hygienist or dental assistant, Toothio can help you get connected with fulfilling, high-quality work opportunities in trusted practices. Our one-of-a-kind staffing platform provides dental professionals with the ability to pick up shifts on demand in their immediate area, serving 11 regions throughout the United States.

Sign up with Toothio and start exploring shifts today.