Comments on: Dental Hygienists Are Paid about $36 an Hour: Survey Results

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:45:18 +0000

I am offended at the lack of respect some dentists seem to have for their hygienists. I have been reading posts on different websites, and some dentists have nothing but negative things to say about hygienists in general. I do not think hygienists are overpaid. Hygiene school is very demanding and very expensive! It takes at least 3-4 years to get a degree in DH, and I live in WA state and there are 4 board exams you must take to be licensed. You jump through lots of hoops, and invest alot of money, to become a dental hygienist. I make 33-36 per hour. I have to work at several offices to have 4 days a week, I get no benefits, vacation, sick pay, holiday pay… NOTHING, because I am a part-time employee at all of my offices. The offices where I work all the hygienists seem to work hard, and I feel that I work my tail off! I see my patients, and do everything I can to help in other parts of the office when I have time. I clean up operatories, sterilize instruments, I seat the doctor’s patients, anwser phones and etc. In a few offices, and one in particular the “slackers” are the assistants and front office. This is pretty outrageous, but in one of the offices the front office girls play on Facebook, text friends, and watch You Tube videos ALL DAY! I am not kidding! If the schedule falls apart, they don’t care to try to fill it! I even had several times where I was double booked because someone forget to put the patients name in the computer when they called for an appt. (Too busy on Facebook??) The assistants walk around, texting like they have no where to be. Here I am sweating, and rushing around trying to get things done, and I can hear the front office girls laughing and carrying on, I see the dental assistants shuffling slowly by the hygiene room, texting. I really makes me mad. I have worked at this particular office for 2 years now without a raise, however I heard a rumor that the front office girls got raises last year! WHAT! One of the assistants who only has 2 years of experience, told me she makes $17.00 per hour. I would say that she is overpaid for what little she does!!

By: educated

educated — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:35:20 +0000

I am amazed at how ignorant some dentist are these days. Dentist do the math if you are producing $100,000 a year off your hygienist even with over head and their salary that is a nice profit for you to do nothing. If you aren’t making that much in your office it is your fault learn how to run a business. Dentists also need to realize all the production the hygienist is bringing into your chair. Who do you think is explaining and selling your treatment? It is not the dentist!!! Patients usually see the hygienist more than they see the dentist furthermore a lot of patients would leave if they knew what office their hygienist moved to. Dentist grossly over pay their dental assistants and office managers and they produce nothing. WAKE UP DDS or at least learn how to do math and realize a good profit!

By: DQ--RDH

DQ--RDH — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:22:20 +0000

I couldn’t agree more w/ what the other hygienists are saying, a dentist should definitely get what he/she pays for. A hard working dedicated hygienist is the back bone of every successful practice. I, for one, work in an office that is pro-active in restorative and periodontal care, through effective communication of a skilled dental hygienist, patients understand and value the importance of their dental health! By gaining their trust and confidence, we, the dental hygienists, reinforce the dentists’ diagnosis and directly affect their treatment case acceptance. We all know that treatment case acceptance is what keeps the practice in business!
So now, you tell me what a competent, hard working registered dental hygienist, is really worth?

By: AmberRDH

AmberRDH — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:11:27 +0000

I have been a hygienist for 3 years. I started out at my first FT job making $45 per hour and am now up to $48 in the Washington DC area. I get 1 week paid vacation, 2 sick days, and half my health insurance paid, working 5 days a week and one Saturday per month.

When I was subbing I saw alot of laziness and the other hygienists I work with are also lazy. I do alot of work besides seeing my normal patient load. I usually see patients for 7 hrs a day. I do a lot of srp, sometimes 2 or 3 a day and I do all my own local anesthesia. I am going to start doing my own nitrous as well as soon as I find a class. I do all the ordering, the inventory, community and school events to promote the office and dental health, I meticulously maintain my room and equipment unlike many hygienists to my suprise, I run all my own instruments, and I help the assistants with their duties as well as the front desk.

The other hygienists rely on me for everything, god forbid I am on vacation and we run out of something or something breaks. It’s very difficult you see to pick up a phone and place an order. I have never seen anyone else sharpen an instrument EVER! Two of the other hygienists do not do their own local and make the same amount I do.

For my patients, I make all their treatment plans and go over everything with them, even basic insurance coverage and costs and I get everything together for their referrals and pre-auths. I also schedule their restorative and next cleaning appointments so it’s a lot for me to do in only 45 minutes. If my schedule falls apart, it’s my job to fill it and I also have to help fill the doctors schedules if they are empy. I hate running behind so I have to work quickly.

It’s exhausting and I literally sweat sometimes. I am totally beat at the end of everyday. Some days are easy but for the most part, I work really hard and I deserve to be paid well. It bothers me that I do so much extra work and make the same as the others.

We are expected to produce a certain amount of money and I usually get about 80% of that, but our goal is $2000/day which I think is high. Our fee is $185 for the cleaning, xrays, and exam but whatever insurance pays goes for my production, not our fee so it’s hard to do that well. Plus I always see the doctor’s friends who don’t pay and they do not give me the credit for those patients either.

We do sell products but I think we charge too much and alot of my patients are noncompliant and probably won’t use it anyway. So I would rather get them to schedule for their $1200 crown than try to get them to buy the $20 fluoride rinse if they won’t even brush everyday. I do stress prevention but I didn’t go to hygiene school to be a product pusher and the patients don’t like products to be pushed on them either. We didn’t even have a soft tissue management program implemented until I took the initiative to do so as a new grad.

A lot of hygienists are lazy divas but I most certainly am not.

By: colleen RDH

colleen RDH — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:07:44 +0000

I agree with Linda (above),
I started in this sprofession 25 years ago as a receptionist and part time dental assistant. I was never bored! Back then, there was harmony and hard workers in all the dental postions. Everyone worked hard. As a front desk person, I HAD TO MAKE SURE scehdule was filled for hygienist. Nowadays, I notice front desk people doing crossword puzzles, talking on phone, and hardly ever working. What’s up with that? When schedule is filled as it should be, I never stop, and I’m exhausted at end of day, while the others seem to be more concerned about their plans with their boyfriends for the evening. The immaturity and laziness level of many other staff members is maddening.

By: colleen RDH

colleen RDH — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:56:08 +0000

Also, your hygienist should be seeing 10 patients day (average 8 hour day), trying to help fill her own schedule, find work for the dentist, and be a team player. IF patients cancel, yes she/he should be paid since they committed their working day to the office and cannot just go out and find an hour’s pay somewhere else. The committment has to be honored. The problem I think is that a lot of dentists have lazy employees, and ones who don’t want to work for their money, then it jades their opinion of all hygienists. Its not fair

By: colleen RDH

colleen RDH — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:50:12 +0000

I think everyone has to look at each situation differntly.
If you are paying your hygienist 36.00 per hour with benefits, vacation, and she/he is not A TEAM PLAYER etc and not getting a good return, then yes you are overpaying. However most hygienists here in Pennsylvania get about 34 to 35 per hour and most dentists only want to hire part-time for as long as I’ve been in the profession. So 35/hr is not a lot in todays economy. Considering that it is hard to find work 40 hours per week since most dental offices only are open 4 days per week, also most dental offices do not pay benefits, 401K and vacation time. Bringing the average salary to about 25/hour. Now you can work in Walmart and get full benefits as a manger (with no college )and make about 45,000 to 50,000 per year, or with the potal office as a carrier and get 60,000 per year with overtime with full state benefits and pension. Hygienists on average bring in 1,000 to 1500 per day productivity, plus dental hygiene vists are the backbone to keeping the dentists chair time filled. Check up vists bring return visits from patients for future work needed. The real problem is not that hygienists are overpaid, but that most people in society are underpaid unless they are senators, docotors, surgeons or CEOs. I make about 50,000 per uear doing hygiene 4 days. I have no benfits or 401K or paid time off. I can only work 4 days since my back and neck are shot after 25 years. I really don’t think 50,000 per year with a college degree and license is a whole lot of money these days. Plus I have to pay my own health insurance, 401K etc etc. Can’t hardly ever find work on a Friday or a Saturday to get 40 hours in even if I wanted to. I make 35/hour, sound like a lot when I tell epople, but when I say I pay all my own benefits, their opinions change.

By: Linda RDH

Linda RDH — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:03:40 +0000

I am a Hygienist. I have been with the same Dentist 15yrs.I am paid a salary.I RARELY ask for any time off ,my vacations are when the Dr. is off.I provide excellant care to our patients.Recently I have 3-4 cancellations or no-shows per day (avg pts per day is 12)..the fee’s in our office are very low in comparison to other offices ( $24-$65 for prophy..w$85 being top w/ X-rays).Front desk rarely cares if the openings are filled.Instead she is talking on phone (personal phone calls,shopping,reading paper).The Dr. schedule is filled w/ rework (lost fillings, crowns off,failed RC’s).I reducing my hours in this office.I do NOT believe that MOST Hygienist are overpaid.I believe it is POOR MANAGEMENT of OFFICE!Because hygienist are generally highest paid staff it is easier for Dentist to look there for reasons to increase office income..HUGE MISTAKE!!

By: dawn rdh

dawn rdh — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:40:04 +0000

I believe you get what you ask for. Good communication is key. Discuss before you hire what is expected with every aspect: team work, expectations, duties, attitude, etc. I am sure there are hygienists worth 20/hr but many are worth much more in comparison to what they bring in, depending on time allowed for each appointment and services rendered. It also has to do with how you percieve things, positive attitude equals positive return.

By: Kay RDH

Kay RDH — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:10:53 +0000

I am a dental hygienist. You are all correct. Some hygienists are worth $20/hour and some $50/hour. Can she give anesthetic, can she sell needed dentistry, can she laser and root plane well? Doe she back you up when pts are doubtful? Do patients want to see her more than you? What would her services be worth if you had to perform her work? Does she put herself on a pedestal or does she jump in there as a team member? If you think she is overpaid your are probably correct…Go find one who is worth her keep. They are out there!