nurses vs. dental hygenist salary

Genista, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

I don't know how much dental hygienists make. I guess you could look up specifics at salary.com. I agree nurses work very hard. I feel I am paid a decent wage, though. My pay as an RN has doubled since I graduated 8 years ago. :balloons:

Mirai Kangofu · Mar 14, 2006

This might have something to do with dentistry being less of a necessity than medical care, so people are willing to shell out more.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

I would guess that they earn more because of supply v. demand. I would guess that fewer people want to go to school for years to scrape teeth all day. Being a dental hygienist may require a tad more professionalism than nursing because it is an office based practice which must attract and maintain clients who will return. Also, don't underestimate the responsibility of some of the dental procedures they do, like with gum disease. I just think they have to be compensated more to attract people to do the work. Supply v. demand. Nursing on the other hand has a bazillion students on wait-lists trying to get into the profession.

Note: I am not saying RNs aren't professional. Not at all. But with what I have personally witnessed with nursing, I would guess that some of the behavior that I see *some* RNs display frequently would not be tolerated in a private dentist's office, by a hygienist. I know that they do more than scrape teeth all day, but still, it's sitting in a chair doing much of the same thing over and over.

mtnmom · Mar 14, 2006

I just could not spend my day inside other peoples' mouths!!! Monotonous and GROSS---

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

Yes, in this area dental hygienists start out at ~$30 an hour. I checked salary.com, and that seems about right according to them, although they can be a little liberal with their estimations, I think. Nurses do oral care, but I couldn't see doing it all day, every day. The monotomy would kill me. There is a great difference in the pay between the two professions, especially when the entry level in this area is the same as RN-associate's degree and/or bachelor's degree. Oh well. It would just be more money for "THEM" take in taxes every other week:lol2:.

mommy2BCD · Mar 14, 2006

Oh I am not under-estimating the work dental hygenist do. Like I said above I respect their position highly. And yes, I know what you mean about professionalism. My friend had a nurse in the ER over the weekend who told a 9 year old she had herpes "down below", cursed several times, and asked her if she was sexually active. At NINE ! I was apalled and it aggravates me that the few who act in this manor can give the rest of the wonderful nurses a bad rep. :angryfire

I would guess that they earn more because of supply v. demand. I would guess that fewer people want to go to school for years to scrape teeth all day. Being a dental hygienist may require a tad more professionalism than nursing because it is an office based practice which must attract and maintain clients who will return. Also, don't underestimate the responsibility of some of the dental procedures they do, like with gum disease. I just think they have to be compensated more to attract people to do the work. Supply v. demand. Nursing on the other hand has a bazillion students on wait-lists trying to get into the profession.
Note: I am not saying RNs aren't professional. Not at all. But with what I have personally witnessed with nursing, I would guess that some of the behavior that I see *some* RNs display frequently would not be tolerated in a private dentist's office, by a hygienist. I know that they do more than scrape teeth all day, but still, it's sitting in a chair doing much of the same thing over and over.

Altra, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

Oh I am not under-estimating the work dental hygenist do. Like I said above I respect their position highly. And yes, I know what you mean about professionalism. My friend had a nurse in the ER over the weekend who told a 9 year old she had herpes "down below", cursed several times, and asked her if she was sexually active. At NINE ! I was apalled and it aggravates me that the few who act in this manor can give the rest of the wonderful nurses a bad rep. :angryfire

This is totally off the topic of dental hygienists, but the reality is that in the ER, or in peds for that matter, there are sometimes 9-year olds who do indeed have herpes or other STIs. :stone Neither you or I were there to witness the ER nurse's language, but he/she may well have been trying to explain to the 9-year old in terms she would understand. Few 9-year olds will grasp "perineal area."

mommy2BCD · Mar 14, 2006

No , the nurse told the pt.that she (the nurse) had herpes down below. Why she told her that I am not sure? It was off the subject and not at all r/t the child's condition. The child did not have it.

This is totally off the topic of dental hygienists, but the reality is that in the ER, or in peds for that matter, there are sometimes 9-year olds who do indeed have herpes or other STIs. :stone Neither you or I were there to witness the ER nurse's language, but he/she may well have been trying to explain to the 9-year old in terms she would understand. Few 9-year olds will grasp "perineal area."

miss_fit · Mar 14, 2006

also, being a dental hygienist may require a tad more professionalism than nursing because it is an office based practice which must attract and maintain clients who will return. also, don't underestimate the responsibility of some of the dental procedures they do, like with gum disease.
note: i am not saying rns aren't professional. not at all. but with what i have personally witnessed with nursing, i would guess that some of the behavior that i see *some* rns display frequently would not be tolerated in a private dentist's office, by a hygienist. i know that they do more than scrape teeth all day, but still, it's sitting in a chair doing much of the same thing over and over.

yes.

even doing much more than "scraping teeth", it gets very monotonous. i did 4 long years of perio (gums). then i tried pedo, some travel, and general in a wonderful family practice.

i adored my patients, the $ was great, and the hours, and 4 days a week were nice, but

as multi touched on, it does teach one to respect the patients as a consumer who has choices of where to spend his time, trust, and $.

~missfit

- sahm, here trying to decide whether i want to be a nurse or pa when they're grown.

missmarley · Mar 14, 2006

well i am a dental nurse in the UK and i have to admit..... are pay is crap!

I am paid £6.00 an hour! And my boss makes an awful amount of money . Yet if i wasn't there she would be unable to practice as she needs a chaperone.

Plus dental nurses, like Nurses, have all the hard work to do and most of the time know exactly what the problem with the patient is and usually could do their bosses job with their eyes closed! Yet they still seem to complain about how hard they work!

Loads of b*llocks

Jo Dirt · Mar 14, 2006

How do you become a dental hygenist?