Most Dentists Pay Their Hygienists by the Hour

In our most recent survey, we asked dentists if they pay their hygienists an hourly wage, or if compensation is based on commission. Four out of five dentists report paying hygienists a base hourly wage. Only 19% say their hygienists are paid on commission. "Hygienists are a critical aspect of any practice," wrote a prosthodontist. One dentist said of hygienists, "Most are overpaid," while another commented: "Not a big profit center, but essential to the overall health of the practice."

Post your comments on dental hygienists to our blog, or read the full dental hygienist survey results.

Dental Surveys...

Cosmetic Dentistry

• Has the Media Increased Patient Demand for Cosmetic Dentistry? 8/07
• Cosmetic Dentistry: Dentists Split over Botox 7/07
• Tooth Whitening Gets Dentists' Approval 5/07
• Board Certification for Cosmetic Dentistry? Dentists Say No! 4/07

Dental Marketing

• Dentists Uncertain About the Value of Website Marketing 8/07
• Telephone Book Marketing for Dental Practices 8/07
• Dentists Torn over the Ethics of Dental Marketing 7/07

Dental Practice Management

• Most Dentists Have Had Trouble with Dental Associates 9/07
• Dentists Often Disappointed by Dental Consultants 6/07
• Most Dentists Have Been Embezzled 4/07
• Dental Consultants: Two Out of Five Dentists Use One 4/07

Dental Hygienists

• Dental Hygienists Generally Paid Hourly 9/07
• Average Hourly Pay Rate for Dental Hygienists Is about $36 7/07
• Dentists Don't Want Greater Independence for Hygienists 3/07

Dental Insurance

• Dentists Wonder If Dental Insurance is Broken 7/07
• Dentists See Insurance Companies As Enemies 4/07
• Four Out of Five Dentists Opposed to US Universal Health Care 1/07

Mercury Amalgam Fillings

• Dentists Split Over Amalgam 5/07
• Anti-Amalgam Dentist Raises Controversy Again 8/07

Family Dentistry

• Most Dentists Are Happy to Accept Pediatric Patients 6/07
• Dentists Agree: Not All Toothpastes Are Equal 5/07
• Are Female Dentists More Caring? Probably Not 3/07

Dental Specialists

• Dentists Would Rather Treat Denture Patients than Refer Them to a Prosthodontist 8/07
• Dentists Split Over ADA 2/07
• General Dentists Alienated from ADA 2/07

Dental Care

• Half of General Dentists Are Placing Dental Implants 6/07
• Half of Dentists Use Dental Lasers for Gum Disease 6/07
• High-Tech Equipment Leaves Dentists Disappointed 5/07

Hot-Button Issues

• Dentists Are Fond of Dental Continuing Education 6/07
• Four Out of Five Dentists in Favor of Universal Licensure 3/07
• Two Out of Three Dentists Won't Criticize Colleagues' Work 3/07

Other Surveys of Dentists...

• Powerful Men No More Likely To Cheat? 2/07
• Dentists Prefer Barack Obama to Hillary Clinton 2/07
• Most Dentists Prefer Children To Dress Like Children 1/07
• Three Out of Four Dentists Prefer Hillary Clinton to Nancy Pelosi 1/07