Choosing the Right Dental Career: Hygienist, Technician, or Assistant

Working in dental health can be highly rewarding, both personally and financially. While many people consider becoming a dental hygienist, technician, or assistant, it’s important to understand how each career is unique. This way, you can choose the educational path and career option that fits you best.

Dental Hygienist: The Highest-Paid Path

A dental hygienist earns the highest salary among these three careers, making up to $70,000 annually. To enter this profession, you need at least an associate’s degree from an accredited dental school.

Hygienists perform dental cleanings, take x-rays, and use specialized tools to maintain oral health. They also need a strong understanding of oral physiology and dental health. Since they work directly with patients, good communication skills are essential.

Dental Technician: Behind-the-Scenes Work

A dental technician works primarily in a laboratory setting, with little to no patient interaction. Their main role is to create dental prosthetics, such as crowns, bridges, and veneers, based on a dentist’s orders. Technicians also craft mouth models from molds.

This career path is heavily dependent on technology, which is evolving quickly. Of the three careers, dental technology has the highest risk of becoming obsolete. If you choose this path, staying updated on new advancements is crucial.

Dental technicians typically earn $30,000 – $35,000 per year.

Dental Assistant: A Hands-On Role with Growth Opportunities

A dental assistant works closely with dentists and hygienists. They assist with instrument setup, exam room preparation, and sometimes administrative tasks like scheduling and billing.

The salary for dental assistants ranges from $35,000 to $40,000 per year. Unlike hygienists and technicians, this career requires less formal education. In fact, Columbia College in Calgary offers a 33-week Dental Assistant Professional Diploma to prepare students for this career.

Columbia College: A Path to Success

Columbia College boasts a 95% graduation rate and a 92% employment rate. Graduates from the Dental Assistant Professional Program have a strong track record of high scores on the National Dental Assisting Board exam.

What’s Next?

In our next blog, we’ll discuss the top reasons to pursue a career as a dental assistant. Stay tuned!