Occupations: Dental Hygienists
Dental Hygienists
Overview of the profession:
Dental Hygienists are key in helping patients maintain oral health and prevent dental issues. Dental Hygienists are trained professionals who perform dental cleanings and educate patients about proper oral hygiene practices, nutrition, and the importance of regular dental check-ups. To become a Registered Dental Hygienist in Michigan, individuals can complete an Associate or Bachelor-level dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Then, to be eligible for licensure, they must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene examination and the state-required American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. (ADEX) exam and submit a current basic life support or advanced cardiac life support certification to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Dental Hygienists work in private dental offices but also find employment in public health agencies, hospitals, and community health clinics. Their roles in interacting with patients, providing education, and preventative dental care make them invaluable members of the dental healthcare team.
Policy Highlights
Current Dental Hygienist Workforce Data
We've provided the latest data from Lightcast below. Lightcast gathers and integrates economic, labor market, demographic, education, profile, and job posting data from dozens of government and private-sector sources, creating a comprehensive and current dataset that includes both published data and detailed estimates with full United States coverage.
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2025 Hourly Wages
10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$35.33 | $36.95 | $38.92 | $39.95 | $44.16 |
Top Posted Job Titles
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Dental Hygienists
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Registered Dental Hygienists
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Hygienists
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Dental Assistants/Hygienists
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Dental Treatment Coordinators
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Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistant
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Dental Hygiene Assistants
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Hygiene Assistants
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Licensed Dental Hygienists
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Dental Therapists
Index Ranking
Ranked 35th (out of 36) "healthiest" profession according to the 2025 Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index.
Learn more here.
2025 Employment: 8,498
Projected 2035 Employment: 9,027 (+1%)
Highlighted Workforce Initiatives
Name: Internships and Student Placement
Prosperity Region: 4
Description: Family Health Care, a community health center, partners with Ferris State Pharmacy, Ferris State Dental Hygiene and University of Michigan Dentistry to provide unpaid clinical and nonclinical rotations and assignments. With these partnerships, Family Health Care hopes to teach students about community health services, help them appreciate the diverse cultures of patients that are served, and recruit these students to become long-term employees after they graduate. Family Health Care has six locations in Northwest Michigan (Lake, Newaygo, Mecosta, Missaukee and Wexford counties).
Name: Titans for Teeth
Prosperity Region: 10
Description: The Titans for Teeth initiative at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry is a school-based mobile health clinic that travels to local participating schools in Detroit and Wayne County to provide dentistry services for K-12 children. UDM Dentistry students perform the treatment under the supervision of a licensed dentist and/or dental hygienist faculty. The purpose of the Titans for Teeth initiative on the UDM side is for dental students to gain community-based experiences, which increases their skill and confidence in interacting with diverse patients and meeting dental care needs in the community.
Career Pathway
How to become a Registered Dental Hygienist in Michigan?
To become a Registered Dental Hygienist in Michigan, individuals need to complete an associate or bachelor-level dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. To be eligible for licensure through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, individuals need to pass two exams, the National Board Dental Hygiene examination and the state-required American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc (ADEX) exam, and hold a certification in basic life support or advanced cardiac life support.
What is the role of a Dental Therapist?
Dental Therapists are licensed professionals who work under the remote supervision of a dentist to provide oral healthcare to community members. They can perform oral health assessments, cleanings, some basic restorations, and extractions. The goal of introducing dental therapy into the Michigan oral healthcare workforce is to improve access to oral healthcare within dental shortage areas, which affect more than 1.5 million Michiganders. While dental therapy offers the opportunity for Dental Hygienists to advance in their careers, prior education or licensure as a Dental Hygienist is not required to become a Dental Therapist.
For current and comprehensive licensure requirements, please visit: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/dental
