Becoming a Dental Hygienist in Oregon
Now is a great time to become a dental hygienist in Oregon, as the career field offers strong income and dental hygiene employment levels are rising steadily. Dental hygienists are specialists trained and licensed to perform dental procedures, often under the supervision of a dentist, that focus on preventative care, treatment of oral disease and cleaning of the mouth and gums. Only two to three years of training is generally required for dental hygienists to become licensed in Oregon, while dentists must pursue graduate studies and residency before practicing. Some dental hygienists may even wish to eventually further their education and become dentists.
Requirements for Dental Hygienists in Oregon
To become a dental hygienist in Oregon, you must obtain dental hygiene licensure from the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have completed a course of study accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) before also successfully completing required dental hygiene exams on national, regional and state levels. A clean criminal background check is further required for all Oregon dental hygienist applicants.
Dental Hygiene Programs in Oregon
Oregon offers a selection of two-year, CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs across the state, including:
- Portland Community College (PCC). On the PCC Sylvania campus, Oregon students can earn a Dental Hygiene Associate Degree in Applied Science. Prerequisite courses including Microbiology, English and Algebra are required to be considered for this program. Work experience or shadowing in a dental office setting is also helpful for applicants’ success.
- Lane Community College. This public school, located in Eugene, also offers a fully-accredited Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene to Oregon students. Accepting just 20 applicants per year, the program is highly competitive and requires at least 39 prerequisite credit hours in courses including Human Anatomy, Nutrition and Psychology. Additionally, applicants who have completed at least 960 documented hours of work in a dental office setting may receive priority review.
See this page for information on dental assistant schools.
Dental Hygienist Licensure in Oregon
Under Oregon law, licensed dental hygienists can administer local anesthetics, operate certain high-speed dental cleaning tools and adjust dentures for patients. In order to administer local anesthetics, dental hygienists’ training programs must include appropriate anesthesia classes. With an additional Oregon anesthesia permit, Oregon dental hygienists can also administer nitrous oxide.
Dental Hygienist Salary in Oregon
In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that Oregon dental hygienists were paid a mean salary of $42.11 per hour, which was nearly four times the Oregon minimum wage of $11.50 per hour.
In 2018, 3,680 dental hygienists were employed across the entire state. The demand for these skilled professionals in Oregon is predicted to grow even more by the year 2028, with a 16 percent increase in the employment of dental hygienists.
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 120 | $35.41 | $73,660 |
| Bend-Redmond, OR | 180 | $38.86 | $80,830 |
| Corvallis, OR | 100 | $45.08 | $93,770 |
| Eugene, OR | 380 | $38.15 | $79,360 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 80 | $42.97 | $89,390 |
| Medford, OR | 270 | $40.97 | $85,220 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,510 | $36.72 | $76,390 |
| Salem, OR | 310 | $37.89 | $78,820 |
Working as a Dental Hygienist in Oregon
In 2020, the most Oregon dental hygienists were employed in the Portland area, followed distantly by Eugene, Salem and Medford. Out of all these areas, Salem offered the highest income to its dental hygienists, with a reported mean income of $43.92 per hour. However, those employed in the Grants Pass area were paid the highest in Oregon in 2020, at a mean income of $45.96 per hour. With Oregon’s increasing demand and strong pay rates for dental hygienists, this career is a great opportunity for those who want to get started in the dental field without a years-long program of study.