How to become a Dental Hygienist

Assesses, diagnoses, treats, manages and educates to prevent oral disease, and promotes healthy oral behaviours. This may include non-surgical periodontal or gum treatment, preventative services and other oral care.

Main tasks

• Assesses, diagnoses, treats, manages and records patients' oral health status
• Performs dental cleaning to remove plaque and calculus from teeth
• Applies fluoride treatments and dental sealants
• Takes dental radiographs (X-rays) to assist in diagnosis
• Provides oral hygiene instructions and education to patients
• Performs non-surgical periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing) to treat gum disease
• Collaborates with other dental practitioners to ensure optimal patient care

Ways in

• University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $114,920 a year
• About 7,500 people work in this job group now, and about 9,100 are projected by 2035. (+20.6%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Dental Prosthetist
• Oral Health Therapist or Dental Therapist
• Dental Specialist
• Dentist
• Environmental Health Officer
• Health Promotion Officer

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Dental Hygienist?

Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees.

How much does a Dental Hygienist earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $114,920 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Dental Hygienist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 7,500 to about 9,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Dental Hygienist?

Not always. 42% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees.

Will AI change the work of a Dental Hygienist?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04