If you are thinking of how to start your online business, you should consider making money with dental hygiene reviews. Review websites are easy to set up and they can be a very good way to become knowledgeable about internet marketing with minimal financial risk.

You do not have to create your own product. All you have to do is to set up a website and find affiliate products to promote. A lot of people are interested in dental hygiene and you can find several related products to promote on your review site.

The following tips in this article will help you to make money with dental hygiene reviews.

• How Can I Make Money With Dental Hygiene Reviews?
• What Kind of Dental Hygienist Makes the Most Money?
• Is it Worth it Being Dental Hygienist?
• Where do Dental Hygienists Make the Most Money?
• Why do Dental Hygienist Get Paid so Much?
• What’s the Highest Paying Dental Job?
• What Are the Job Requirements for the Dental Specialty?
• What is the Hardest Part of Being a Dental Hygienist?
• What are the Disadvantages of Being a Dental Hygienist?
• How do I Ask for a Raise in Dental Hygiene?

How Can I Make Money With Dental Hygiene Reviews?

Set Up Your Website

To make money with dental hygiene reviews, you need a website or at least a simple blog. Your website is your retail store that is visible to everybody on the internet. It makes it possible for you to reach out to people from any part of the world without leaving the comfort of your home.

Read Also: Make money with home fumigation Service

If you do not have any money to spend, you can easily set up a free blog on platforms such as webs.com, blogger or WordPress. If you have some money to spend, you can outsource the setting up of the website.

Get Appropriate Content

Since your purpose is to make money with dental hygiene reviews, you need to have appropriate content on your website. You can write your articles by yourself or hire a freelance writer to write them for you. You should plan to have reviews of popular dental products as well as tips for proper dental hygiene.

You can also have categories that will provide information about different types of dental problems. Make sure that you provide valuable information so that your visitors will want to come back.

Selling Products And Services

To make money with dental hygiene reviews, you have to promote products and services on your website. You should not push your affiliate links in front of your visitor’s face. Insert your links within your articles and encourage your visitors to click on those links.

You should also place a few banner ads at strategic positions on your pages. Search for and register with affiliate networks that have dental hygiene related products. When your site becomes more popular, you can approach dentists in your local area for advert placements on your site.

Getting Visitors

When your site is ready, the next thing to do is to make it known to as many people as possible so that you can start getting visitors. Traffic is one of the most important factors that will determine the success or failure of your online business.

You can only make money with dental hygiene reviews if you have a reasonable amount of regular visitors to your website. There are many ways to drive traffic to a website and you can easily find free information about it on the internet. Your review site will provide you with an ethical way of generating recurring income on the internet.

What Kind of Dental Hygienist Makes the Most Money?

Dental Hygienists made a median salary of $77,090 in 2020. The best-paid 25 percent made $91,620 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $65,440.

Best-Paying Cities for Dental Hygienists

The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the dental hygienist profession are Santa Maria, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Fairbanks, and San Francisco.

Santa Maria, California – $133,730

San Jose, California – $120,340

Santa Rosa, California – $118,980

Fairbanks, Alaska – $117,760

San Francisco, California – $117,470

Best-Paying States for Dental Hygienists

The states and districts that pay Dental Hygienists the highest mean salary are Alaska ($115,050), California ($109,970), Washington ($95,450), District of Columbia ($94,650), and Nevada ($89,360).

Alaska – $115,050

California – $109,970

Washington – $95,450

District of Columbia – $94,650

Nevada – $89,360

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11% employment growth for dental hygienists between 2020 and 2030. In that period, an estimated 23,100 jobs should open up.

Dental Assistant – Average Salary, $42,310
A dental assistant works directly with patients, providing care and taking X-rays, and also works on the clerical side by keeping records and scheduling appointments.

Clinical Laboratory Technician – Average Salary, $55,990
A clinical laboratory technician conducts tests on collected samples that include body fluids and tissue.

Registered Nurse – Average Salary, $80,010
A registered nurse administers and coordinates a patient’s care, providing health care information to patients along the way.

Dentist – Average Salary, $180,830
A dentist identifies and treats problems concerning a patient’s mouth, gums and teeth.

Is it Worth it Being Dental Hygienist?

Dentist offices offer opportunity in nearly every city. Responsible for everything from cleaning teeth to taking X-rays, dental hygienists are the smiling face of these offices. Hygienists understand how to wear the many hats of dental care and know that a smile is a strong qualification.

Check out the pros and cons of pursuing a career as a dental hygienist to see if it is the right fit for you:

Pro: Growing employment

The field of dental hygiene is displaying a projection of rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that employment of dental hygienists is projected to increase by 11 percent between 2020-2030—faster than average.

Con: Lacking career variety

While some degrees lend themselves to multiple career paths, a job as a dental hygienist is pretty much the same no matter where you decide to live or work. This consistency can be great, particularly if you love what you do, but if you’re looking for more variety, dental hygiene may not be right for you.

Pro: The salary

Dental hygienists are in demand and integral to every dentist office, and often earn a decent wage. According to the BLS, the national median annual wage for this career in May 2020 was $77,090 or $37.06 per hour. This varies depending upon location, experience, and whether you are a full-time or part-time employee.

Con: Can be monotonous

Seeing that this career path has limited opportunities (as mentioned in the previous con), performing the same tasks every day can be repetitive. And while each day you will see different patients and different teeth, you will still be operating the same exercises.

Pro: Schooling is minimal

A dental hygienist career requires minimal schooling; those with an associate degree in Dental Hygiene can qualify. This means that you can usually enter the career field quickly. Once you have gained the license for the state in which you plan to be employed, you can begin your path of employment in dental offices, community dental clinics, and public health agencies.

Con: Occasional unpleasant patients

You may expect an occasional, perhaps disagreeable, encounter. Since the job requires contact with a person’s hygiene, you may run into a patient with bad breath, tooth decay, etc.

Pro: Flexible scheduling

Often, dental hygienists have the option for full-time or part-time work. The BLS reports that many dental hygienists worked part time in 2020. So, your schedule may be pliable if your employer allows it.

Where do Dental Hygienists Make the Most Money?

According to Indeed.com, the average annual salary of a dentist in the United States is $236,077. What about the average salary of a dental hygienist? Indeed.com reports that the average dental hygienist salary in the United States is $82,115 per year. So overall, occupations in the dental health field can be lucrative and secure, but it also depends on where in the United States you reside.

The top ten best-paying places for dentists based on annual mean wage are as follows:

1. Dover-Durham, New Hampshire — $286,540
2. North Port, Florida — $278,790
3. Gainesville, Georgia — $271,580
4. Burlington, Vermont — $266,760
5. Rapid City, South Dakota — $262,070
6. Longview, Texas — $251,760
7. New Haven, Connecticut — $250,430
8. Bridgeport, Connecticut — $250,410
9. Worcester, Massachusetts — $250,000
10. Providence, Rhode Island — $249,970

The top ten best-paying cities for dental hygienists based on annual mean wage are as follows:

1. Santa Maria, California — $133,730
2. San Jose, California — $120,340
3. Santa Rosa, California — $118,980
4. Fairbanks, Alaska — $117,760
5. San Francisco, California — $117,470
6. Santa Cruz, California — $116,960
7. Vallejo, California — $115,050
8. Napa, California — $113,870
9. Bremerton, Washington — $112,900
10. Riverside, California — $112,030

When observing both lists together, you may notice that the majority of the best cities for dentists are in the Northeast, while the majority of best cities for dental hygienists are on the west coast. Why do dental hygienists make so much in California?

There are many elements to that, but one of the reasons is that dental hygienists are in high and rapidly increasing demand in California. Dental hygienist jobs are projected to grow by 15.3% in the next decade years, which is much faster than the average growth rate of other occupations.

Here are the top five states that pay dentists the highest based on annual mean wage:

1. Rhode Island — $258,920
2. Vermont — $254,190
3. Alaska — $242,850
4. Maine — $236,060
5. New Hampshire — $222,430

Here are the top five states that pay dental hygienists the highest based on annual mean wage:

1. Alaska — $115,050
2. California — $109,970
3. Washington — $95,450
4. Nevada — $89,360
5. New Jersey — $88,150

Why do Dental Hygienist Get Paid so Much?

So, you heard that dental hygienists make a lot of money. You are thinking about becoming one but wondering if it’s a profession worthy of your hard work in college and, eventually, a dental office.

Dental hygienists are paid so much because they are licensed professionals working in the dental care industry. Oral health is important, and failure to take good care of the teeth and gums can lead not only to dental issues but other serious health problems, too, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Becoming a dental hygienist requires the same level of discipline and commitment as becoming a dentist. To become a licensed dental hygienist, one must have an associate or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene (ADH or BSDH) and then take and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE).

While being a dentist will put you at the top of oral health care providers, being a dental hygienist comes with many perks, too. And if it’s the profession you want, it is also something that can be rewarding.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the positives of choosing to work as a dental hygienist:

• Spending less time in college. Because dentists are medical doctors, they have to spend eight years in college. And if they want to specialize in one of the 12 dental specializations, they have to do two to three years of residency. On the other hand, dental hygienists have to be in college for two to four years only.
• Enjoying plenty of career opportunities. Just because you are a dental hygienist doesn’t mean that you can only work as a clinician at a dental office or hospital. If you want, you can become many things — an educator, a consumer advocate, researcher, consultant, sales marketer, etc.
• Helping people. Do you enjoy interacting with people and helping them have better lives, too? Then you will surely find being a dental hygienist a fulfilling career. Besides patients who wish to have a beautiful smile, as a dental hygienist, you also get to lend a hand to dentists with a lot on their plate.
• Making lots of money. Last but not least, working as a dental hygienist allows you to get a handsome paycheck every month. It makes it possible for you to enjoy a well-paying career in the healthcare field without spending tons of time and cash in college to become a dentist or any other type of medical doctor.

What’s the Highest Paying Dental Job?

Dental professionals are healthcare experts who provide oral care for patients. The national average salary for all dentists is $236,768 per year, but this amount can vary depending on location, experience, education and specialty. A dental professional may specialize in a certain type of treatment or procedure. Common high-paying specialties in dentistry include:

Periodontist

Periodontists specialize in gum health and care. Their duties may include performing gum surgery, placing implants and treating gum sensitivity. On average, they make a salary of $203,121 per year .

Prosthodontist

A prosthodontist specializes in treating and replacing missing teeth. Their duties can include making molds of replacement teeth, adding bridges to teeth and evaluating a patient’s replacement fixtures over time to ensure they fit correctly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), prosthodontists make a national average salary of $208,000 per year.

Endodontist

An endodontist is a dental professional who specializes in oral preventative care. They may perform root canals, treat decay and add tooth implants. They may also perform surgery after injuries or accidents to help save teeth. Endodontists make a national average salary of $236,768 per year.

Orthodontist

Orthodontists are dental professionals who specialize in oral alignment. They treat misaligned teeth and jaws with braces, headgear and retainers. An orthodontist makes a national average salary of $254,622 per year.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs surgery on teeth and the facial area around the mouth, including the jaws, neck and face. Their duties may include performing jaw realignment surgeries, removing impacted teeth, assessing a patient’s symptoms and creating treatment plans for patients. The national average salary for surgeons in the U.S., including oral surgeons, is $288,550 per year.

The highest-paid dental specialty is oral and maxillofacial surgery. Surgeons, including oral and maxillofacial surgeons, make a national average salary of $288,550 per year. These professionals are highly trained in both dental care and medical surgery. Their salary can vary depending on their professional experience, education, location and area of focus.

What Are the Job Requirements for the Dental Specialty?

The requirements for becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon may vary depending on your geographic location. You can check your state guidelines to ensure you meet all career specifications for your area. The most common requirements for oral surgeons include:

Education

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must first complete a four-year bachelor’s degree program. There may choose from a variety of majors, but some choose to study pre-med, anatomy, chemistry or biology to help prepare them for their careers. After earning their bachelor’s degree, they can study for the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). They use these test scores to apply for dental school programs.

Dental school often takes four years to complete. In these programs, aspiring dentists learn about oral care and general dentistry. After completing dental school, these professionals may have a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree, depending on their area of study. They may work as a general dentist now or complete more training to begin their oral surgery career.

Training

After completing dental school, oral surgeons complete a residency program through a healthcare organization or medical school. In these programs, they train to become surgeons. These residency programs usually last four to six years. During the residency program, aspiring surgeons may study a branch of oral surgery. These additional specifications may take more time to complete.

These branches can include:

• Mouth and neck cancer
• Cosmetic facial procedures
• Cleft lip and palate surgery

At the end of the residency program, some students earn their medical degrees. This may be optional for some oral surgeons, depending on their focus and location. The additional degree may help aspiring oral surgeons qualify for advanced roles with higher salaries.

Licensure

After completing their dental and medical training requirements, oral surgeons may obtain licensing. Most states require dentists and surgeons to have a license before practicing. If you’re interested in this career path, consider checking the license requirements in your state. The guidelines can vary, but typically aspiring oral surgeons need to submit proof of education, training and complete a board exam when applying for their license.

What is the Hardest Part of Being a Dental Hygienist?

Today, hygienists are in high demand and every dental office needs them. Your services include cleaning teeth, checking the gum health, setting up patients for success, and educating them about oral hygiene, nutrition, and lifestyles. In addition, you add value to a dental practice by keeping up with medical technology as part of your continuing education requirements.

Few people realize the daily challenges of your job. Getting good at it takes effort, dedication, and time. Your career presents many obstacles that make it hard for you to do your job. Here are some of them.

1. School was challenging.

It wasn’t easy for you to start your career. Dental schools with allied dental programs have strict admissions guidelines. Not only do they look for the best-qualified students, but also students who are enthusiastic about dentistry and have a high GPA. The best dental hygiene programs have a long list of prerequisites. Before applying to a school, you had to study hard just to get in.

Then, there were the board exams. The written board exams lasted eight hours. Additionally, there was a clinical, a clinical anesthesia board, and a written anesthesia board exam. Now, you must still fulfill continuing education requirements to maintain your medical skills, such as first aid, CPR, and infection control, and to keep up with the latest technology.

2. The job market is unpredictable

You may or may not have landed your dream job.

If you work in a small office with just one dentist, you now enjoy your work because you assist the dentist in providing general medical care to patients, performing dental surgeries, providing oral health education to patients and staff, performing oral cancer screenings, and helping patients manage their oral health needs. You find your work rewarding.

There’s also another scenario. Perhaps you work in a large office with several dentists and other dental hygienists. Your role is monotonous because you’re limited to a few tasks, perhaps only educating patients about dental hygiene, repeating the same concepts all day long. Or perhaps, you’re only asked to take x-rays.

Despite your proficiency in many aspects of dentistry and your excellent grades in school, the dental practice that hired you doesn’t need you to clean teeth, mouth, and gums, or any of the other things you had expected to do.

3. You suffer from chronic aches and pains.

Using your arms to clean your teeth in a repetitive motion one patient after another doesn’t give you much time to rest. If you only perform one or two tasks a day, it is crucial to be aware of your arm and hand movements to reduce your risk of long-term injury.

Taking x-rays, examining teeth, and using dental tools most of the day can lead to injuries like carpal tunnel or a ruptured disc in your spine. You spend more time at a chiropractic office or a massage therapist than you do with your family just to reduce the aches and pains caused by leaning over patients for long hours day after day.

4. You work fast all the time.

You’re always on the go because you have so much to do for each patient. When you work in a busy dental office, it can seem like your day never ends. During a dental appointment, you must do numerous tasks quickly and efficiently to maintain the oral health of patients within a limited time frame.

Your work includes:

* Reviewing the health history of each patient
* Taking vital signs
* Discussing dental concerns with patients
* Assisting the dentist during surgery
* Monitoring gum health 
* Performing X-rays 
* Checking for oral cancers
* Cleaning. polishing, and flossing teeth
* Discussing home care recommendations with patients
* Preparing charts 
* Sterilizing and preparing the room for the next patient

5. You don’t get the respect you deserve.

As healthcare professionals, dental hygienists often go unappreciated by the public despite the essential role they play in patient care. Although the profession has been around since 1923, the year the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) was founded, it remains one of the most underappreciated careers in the healthcare industry.

Despite your vital role in helping patients stay healthy, the public just thinks you do routine work, like scraping teeth, assisting dentists during an exam or surgery, and offering words of comfort to nervous patients who hate visiting a dentist.

You can manage your career-related stress and hardship in three ways:

First, reflect and detach. Researchers have found that people who examine their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to their experiences can detach themselves from their emotions. They can remain calm and focused at work even when they are running behind schedule and they must deal with one crisis after another.

Second, even if you hate your job, you can still love your career. Having a monotonous and repetitive job at the dental clinic makes it tough to stay motivated. If you remember how enthusiastic you were when you started out in this career, you’ll quit feeling stuck and realize all the things you’ve achieved. As a dental hygienist, you help people improve their dental health every day. You educate them about oral health and teach them how to brush and floss correctly.

Third, think about all the good things you do every day. Remember all the times you helped patients feel better. Perhaps you helped them overcome their fears of dental treatment, gave them hope that they would get past their infection and pain, assisted with a dental operation, or encouraged someone to stick with their treatment plan.

What are the Disadvantages of Being a Dental Hygienist?

When you think about the idea of being a dental hygienist, it might be easy to imagine what kind of things a day would entail. You may picture yourself in a white coat assisting the dentist with procedures and providing cleaning and care for patients.

However, not everything is as glamorous as you might have thought! Yes, there are many pros to being a dental hygienist, but some cons come along with the territory. Below are some of them.

1. You will need formal training to be a dental hygienist.

The first step you must take if you want to become a dental hygienist is to complete an accredited dental hygiene program in your state. Every state requires dental hygienists to possess a license, and some states require an associate degree before you receive it. Most dental hygienists choose to complete an Associate degree program which can be completed in two years.

The second option is to complete a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program which will take you four years to complete. The third option is to complete a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene which will require you to complete an additional one to two years on top of the Bachelor’s of Science in Dental Hygiene. Two to six years is a long time to be devoted to school, especially when you need to get out there and make money.

2. You will need to pay for your dental hygienist schooling.

When you are evaluating the pros and cons of being a dental hygienist, looking at what it is going to cost you to achieve this goal should be one of the first steps. The cost of becoming a dental hygienist varies from program to program.

The cost of your schooling will depend on several different factors, such as what type of degree you choose to pursue, where you get your education, financial assistance, and what area of the country you plan to work.

According to a Dental Hygienists’ Association survey, the average cost of becoming a dental hygienist with an associate’s degree is $22,692, a bachelor’s degree is $36,382 and a master’s degree is $30,421. Wow those tuition fees really start to stack up.

3. You will need a license to work.

Dental hygienists must be licensed in most states to work legally. You will need to pass a written exam before beginning work. However, the requirements and costs of entering this profession will vary depending on your location.

To be eligible to take the test, you must meet specific requirements set by your state. Some of these requirements include practicing your skills for a certain number of hours, taking specific coursework in dental hygiene, and passing an exam.

4. You will find there is very little reciprocity of your license between states.

As a dental hygienist, just because you are licensed in one state, it does not mean you can take a job as a dental hygienist and work in another state. Each state has its own rules and regulations for licensed dental hygienists who want to practice within their states’ borders.

The fact that there is very little reciprocity between states and that each state has individual regulations makes it very difficult for dental hygienists to cross state lines to work. One of the biggest disadvantages of being a dental hygienist is that the lack of reciprocity will make it difficult for some dental hygienists to find employment or to relocate.

5. You may have an undesirable schedule at times.

As a dental hygienist, you may find at times that you will be required to work shifts you would rather not be at. While it can sometimes be necessary to take a shift at any time, being required to come in on weekends or after hours may prove difficult for some people.

In order to maintain an excellent work-life balance, you might have to sacrifice some things. One thing that may be difficult to give up is time with your family. If you have a partner or children or just spend time with friends and family, it can be hard to give up the opportunity to do those things because of a shift you have been scheduled for.

6. You will lack variety in your every day.

One of the biggest cons to being a dental hygienist is the lack of variety in your workday. A dental hygienist typically works in a dental office and sees the same type of patients every day and performs the same tasks every day. Over time this can lead to boredom and losing focus on what needs to be done.

This may cause you to want to quit because you no longer have the motivation to do your job. Now let’s think about all the time and money you spent to get here, and then you may want to quit?

7. You may not be able to work full time.

When evaluating the pros and cons of being a dental hygienist, you will need to determine if you truly need to work full-time hours. Many dental hygienists do not work full-time. This is due to no full-time positions being available. Many dentists do not hire dental hygienists to work full-time. This is because of how cost-effective it is to the dental practice using a part-time dental hygienist.

8. You may not receive benefits.

As a dental hygienist, you may not be eligible to receive benefits because you are unable to work full-time. In that case, you will not be entitled to benefits such as health insurance, retirement, and paid vacation time.

Having benefits is vital because if you are in need of medical attention or need time off, you will be able to receive these things. Employers are not required to offer benefits with part-time positions. Still, they are required to provide benefits for full-time positions.

9. You may have a heavy workload.

One of the cons of being a dental hygienist is that you may have a heavy workload that you will have to accomplish on a daily basis. This heavy workload may lead to minimal breaks and working several days in a row with minimal sleep and even less time to yourself. If you cannot complete this workload, the dentist you are working for will indeed find somebody who can. Then you are at square one with a job search.

10. You may not get a break.

As a dental hygienist getting a break from your busy day seems like a luxury. Often you will work long hours trying to meet the schedule of a demanding dentist. There may be no time for you to eat or use the bathroom. You might remember hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but that doesn’t always apply here.

11. Your physical well-being may be at risk

As a dental hygienist, your physical well-being may be at risk due to your job. Dental hygiene is a very physically demanding job, leading to bodily injury and even chronic conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Many dental hygienists put their health on the line every day by continuing to work through the pain and ignoring warning signs for these occupational hazards.

Dental hygienists have been known to experience bodily injury to their neck, shoulders, back, or wrists. These injuries are all associated with postures and repetitive tasks performed throughout the workday daily.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation conducted a study that showed high prevalence rates of occupational musculoskeletal disorders among dental hygienists. The study found that 4 out of 5 dental hygienists reported chronic musculoskeletal symptoms.

12. You will be exposed to bodily fluids

One of the most significant disadvantages of being a dental hygienist is that you will be exposed to bodily fluids. You will be exposed to blood, saliva, and other various fluids when working with different patients. This can put you at risk of infection.

At your place of employment, you will likely have personal protective gear such as gloves and face masks in order to reduce the risk of becoming infected by a patient’s bodily fluids. That is great and dandy but even that protective equipment can fail at times. Then what happens to you?

13. You will have to work with challenging patients at times

If you decide that becoming a dental hygienist is something you want to pursue, you must keep something in mind. You will have to work with complex patients at some point in your career. A difficult patient can be someone who is uncooperative or shows hostility during treatment.

You may have to deal with nervous, anxious, fearful, or just plain grumpy patients! Many times, these patients do not like coming to the dentist. If you choose this career, it is essential to know how to handle various patient types and personalities. If you can’t, you should consider another profession.

How do I Ask for a Raise in Dental Hygiene?

Asking for a salary raise in any situation can be daunting. Add in an unstable economy and it becomes downright terrifying. But do not be put-off! There is no black-and-white approach when it comes to this issue. In fact, it depends entirely on your situation and the dental office.

Though you don’t wish to be the hygienist who survived mass layoffs and furloughs only to turn around and request for a salary raise, you also don’t want to be severely underappreciated or underpaid.

If you feel that your hourly pay could be adjusted a bit, then you are well within your rights to seek an audience with your employer. Use the tips we discuss below to ensure a fruitful salary raise negotiation.   

1. Approach The Topic Gracefully

Start by admitting that times are hard. Say something like, “I know it is not a discussion to have right now; however, here is what I have accomplished so far,” advises David Ginchansky, a professional and career coach at Korn Ferry Advance.

You will have to show the value that you have added to the practice, above and beyond your daily responsibilities. Read your job description carefully to identify the extra duties and roles that you have assumed. Ask yourself, “What employer expectations have I surpassed?

In short, you should note any undertakings that have benefited the dental office through boosting productivity, saving costs, or implementing new business processes, along with any input you made that was more than your job demands. They say actions speak louder than words; thus, ensure you have solid evidence to support your claims. 

2. Let Your Employer Know What’s In It For Them

When negotiating for a salary raise, your employer does not care about your vacation requests or your pending mortgage payments. Your employer wants only to know what’s in for them.

You have already outlined what you have done, but you also need to spell out your plans for the dental office. Make a presentation of your goals, how those goals will benefit the dental office, and how you will attain those goals. You should only request a raise if you really deserve it—not just because you need it.  

3. Know In Advance What A Competitive Salary For Hygienists Looks Like

One of the main reasons why a hygienist or any dental staff would ask for a salary raise is because they are presently underpaid. Ask your colleagues in other dental practices what they are making. In addition, visit sites like Salary.com, Payscale.com, and bls.gov to see how your salary compares.

Another place to confirm dental salaries is your state’s employment department website. Most states have a breakdown of salaries for occupations based on the specific city or county. You can also check out recent dental classified advertisements to see the benefits, pay scale, and bonus structures being offered in other practices.

Knowing the typical wages in your field and what other hygienists in your city earn will help your case. Hygienist salaries vary significantly from city-to-city, as well as county-to-county and state-to-state.

Besides location, consider how many years you have practiced as a hygienist and how long you have worked for your employer. These factors will help establish where you fall in the range. But note: when you are negotiating, don’t be greedy or cocky.

If you have only served at an entry-level role for a year or two, waiting for a substantial raise, a hefty bonus, or prestigious promotion is perhaps unrealistic unless you truly outdid yourself. In other words, going into salary negotiations with a sense of entitlement might actually hurt your chances.  

4. Consider Negotiating Benefits, Bonuses, And Perks

A raise doesn’t always have to be in the form of money. Before entering into a negotiation, consider other areas you may be willing to negotiate, such as flexible work hours, tuition reimbursement, or vacation time. You may also consider bargaining for a more prestigious title or even a week at a hygienist conference happening in another state or foreign country. 

If perks and benefits are more preferable to you than money, you may prioritize that in your negotiation pitch. And still, even if you prefer money, keep a few possible perks or benefits in your back pocket in the event that the boss declines a monetary raise. 

5. Provide Your Raise Request In Writing

Perhaps your boss has other stakeholders with whom they have to talk to about your salary raise request. Have a handout ready that summarizes your request, similar pay ranges, and the benefits the practice derives from your efforts.

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In that handout, also document ways that you have improved the hygiene department and relevant patient reviews that you have collated during your self-appraisal. Provide numbers where possible. Data moves people and your boss is no exception.

After The Raise Request

There is a possibility that your boss might be unresponsive to the raise idea during that initial meeting. In most instances, they might need some time to discuss your request with other decision-makers before getting back to you. It is advisable to ask for a time frame when the final decision will be made. You can ask something like, “Is it OK if I check back with you two weeks from today if I haven’t heard anything?”  

What’s more, be prepared for an absolute no. A negative response can be based on factors you have no control over or know nothing about. If that happens, inquire what else you can do to be considered for a raise in the future. A good dentist or dental practice owner will furnish you with the reasons for declining your request and advise how you can improve your prospects for better wages in the future.

If you get a positive response, maintain your professionalism. Remember to express your gratitude. Affirm your desire to continually look for ways on how you can help grow the practice. It is also vital to maintain good relationships with your colleagues. If you boast to others about your salary raise, your boss might regret helping you and might decline your future requests.

Keep in mind that asking for a pay raise can be uncomfortable and nerve-racking, but there is nothing to lose by trying. Sometimes dental office owners only need to be reminded of how valuable you are.