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Dental Hygienists - 29-1292.00

The occupation code you requested, 29-2021.00 (Dental Hygienists), is no longer in use. In the future, please use 29-1292.00 (Dental Hygienists) instead.

O*NET-SOC Description

Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Dental Hygienist
  • Hygienist
  • Licensed Dental Hygienist
  • Pediatric Dental Hygienist
  • Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Administer local anesthetic agents.
  • Apply fluorides or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
  • Attend continuing education courses to maintain or update skills.
  • Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
  • Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
  • Conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.
  • Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
  • Expose and develop x-ray film.
  • Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
  • Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
  • Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.
  • Maintain patient recall system.
  • Make impressions for study casts.
  • Place and remove rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.
  • Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
  • Record and review patient medical histories.
  • Remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.
  • Remove sutures and dressings.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust dental devices or appliances to ensure fit.
  • Administer anesthetics or sedatives to control pain.
  • Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
  • Direct healthcare delivery programs.
  • Examine mouth, teeth, gums, or related facial structures.
  • Fabricate medical devices.
  • Maintain current knowledge related to work activities.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
  • Process x-rays or other medical images.
  • Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.
  • Record patient medical histories.
  • Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.
  • Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
  • Treat dental problems or diseases.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Advanced Dental Assistant (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Allergy/Immunization Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, National Registry Paramedic (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Allergy/Immunization Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, National Registry Paramedic (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Allergy/Immunization Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Helper, National Registry Paramedic (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Allergy/Immunization Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, National Registry Paramedic (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aerospace Medical Service Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Comprehensive Dentist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Comprehensive Dentist (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dental Assistant (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Craftsman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Craftsman, Dental Hygienist (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Journeyman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Journeyman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Journeyman, Dental Hygienist (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Corps Officer (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dental Hygienist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Officer General Practitioner (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dental Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Dental Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Technician, Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dentist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Advanced Clinical (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Comprehensive (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Dental Materials Science (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, General Clinical (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Hospital Dentistry (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (OMR) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Public Health (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Dentist, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Endodontist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Endodontist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Endodontist (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Executive Dentist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Field Medical Service Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • General Dentist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Health Services Management (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Journeyman, Health Information Technology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Hospital Corpsman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Medical Administration Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Naval Special Warfare Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Operative Dentist (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Facial Esthetics (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Maxillofacial Reconstruction (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Temporomandibular Joint (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Oral Pathologist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Orthodontist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Orthodontist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Orthodontist (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pediatric Dentist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pediatric Dentist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pediatric Dentist (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Periodontist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Periodontist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Periodontist (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Prosthodontist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Prosthodontist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Prosthodontist (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Prosthodontist, Area Dental Laboratory (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Prosthodontist, Dental Materials (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Prosthodontist, Maxillofacial Prosthetics (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Public Health Dentist (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Public Health/Preventive Dentistry Officer (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Special Forces Medical Sergeant (Army - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Dental Hygienist