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Military Dental Hygienists and Assistants

Military Career

General Information

Description

Dental hygienists and assistants have many responsibilities, including teeth cleaning, examining patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and providing other preventive dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health and perform other miscellaneous tasks, such as equipment maintenance and supplies inventory.

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Work Environment

Dental hygienists and assisstants in the military usually work indoors in dental offices or clinics. Some may be assigned to duty aboard ships.

Comparable Industries

  • Health Science

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Enlisted
    • Hands-on/specialized
    • High school diploma required

Military Workforce

Dental Hygienists and Assistants in the Military

4,739

No Information for this section

Salary

Salary Information

Median Military Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$97,089

Military Salary Range Salary varies based on years of service, degree level, special pays, family status and location. Learn more about Military benefits.

$25,573 - $362,582

What makes up a Military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

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Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Associate's degree 75%
  • First professional degree 12%
  • Post baccalaureate 9%
  • Bachelor's degree 3%
  • High school 0%
  • Some college 0%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • Post-secondary certificate 0%

Military training

All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for dental hygienists and assistants consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in providing dental care. Training content may include: Basic principles and techniques of patient care Preventive dentistryRadiology (X-ray) techniquesDental office proceduresDental hygiene proceduresAnatomy and physiology

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Military training

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All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for dental hygienists and assistants consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in providing dental care. Training content may include:

  • Basic principles and techniques of patient care
  • Preventive dentistry
  • Radiology (X-ray) techniques
  • Dental office procedures
  • Dental hygiene procedures
  • Anatomy and physiology

Knowledge

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Psychology
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Chemistry

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.