Prophylactic dental nurse salary

Salary and Job Market for Dental Hygienists

Dental hygienists, who are a specialized type of dental assistants, have an average salary of 29 700 Swedish kronor per month. Men in this profession earn an average of 27 800 kronor, while women earn slightly more, with an average salary of 29 800 kronor. This means that women earn 107% of what men do in this occupation. The salary trend has been positive, with an increase from 29 300 kronor since the last measurement.

Job Duties for Dental Hygienists

As a dental hygienist, you play a crucial role in dental care. Your work involves preventive dental care, helping patients maintain good oral health and prevent dental issues. This includes teeth cleaning, applying fluoride treatments, and providing advice on oral hygiene. You work closely with dentists and dental hygienists and may assist in more complex treatments.

Education and Qualifications

To become a dental hygienist, you need to complete a dental assistant education, which usually takes about 1.5 to 2 years. The education is offered at several vocational colleges in Sweden and includes both theoretical and practical components. After completing the education, you can choose to specialize in dental hygiene, which requires additional training and certification.

Job Opportunities

The job market for dental hygienists, including dental assistants, is considered medium-sized nationally. According to the Employment Agency, demand and recruitment are expected to remain unchanged in the next five years. This means that there is a balance between the number of trained dental assistants and the needs of the job market, making it relatively stable to pursue this profession.

Benefits and Working Conditions

As a dental hygienist, you may be offered various benefits depending on your employer. These may include paid training to further develop your skills, as well as other perks such as a company-paid mobile phone or subsidized dental care for you and your family. Working conditions are generally good, with regular working hours and the possibility of part-time work.

Considerations

If you are interested in becoming a dental hygienist, it is important to have a genuine interest in dental care and helping people. The profession requires precision, good communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and in a team. Being service-oriented and having a teaching inclination is also advantageous, as you will provide a lot of guidance to patients on how to best care for their teeth.