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Dental Hygiene Instructor information

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$42.5K

$76.1K

$146.5K

How much do dental hygiene instructor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for dental hygiene instructor in the United States is $76,132.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,500.00 and $80,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a dental hygiene instructor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Dental Hygiene Instructor, you need a solid background in dental hygiene, teaching credentials (often a bachelor's or master's degree), and current licensure as a dental hygienist. Familiarity with educational technologies, dental simulation tools, and learning management systems is typically required. Strong communication, mentorship abilities, and organizational skills help instructors effectively engage students and foster a positive learning environment. These skills ensure that future dental hygienists are well-prepared, competent, and confident in clinical and classroom settings.

What does a dental hygiene instructor do?

A dental hygiene instructor prepares prospective students to become dental hygienists by teaching them the fundamentals of oral hygiene, cleaning techniques, and dental x-rays as per the guidelines of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. In this career, you may use a variety of multimedia materials to illustrate your lessons. You should have several years of clinical practice at a dentist office and the necessary licensure as required by the state before pursuing a career as a dental hygiene instructor. Your duties may also include administrative tasks, such as creating lesson plans, assessing your students’ progress, and attending faculty meetings.

What is a dental hygiene instructor?

Dental Hygiene Instructors are licensed dental professionals who teach and train students in dental hygiene programs, typically at colleges or universities. They provide both classroom instruction and hands-on clinical training to prepare students for careers as dental hygienists. These instructors cover topics such as oral health, preventive care, dental procedures, and patient management. They also evaluate student performance, ensure compliance with industry standards, and may participate in curriculum development and research.

What are some common challenges faced by dental hygiene instructors when transitioning from clinical practice to teaching?

Dental Hygiene Instructors often find the transition from clinical practice to education challenging due to the need to develop effective teaching strategies and adapt to curriculum planning. Unlike clinical work, teaching requires strong communication skills to convey complex concepts and mentor students with varying learning styles. Balancing administrative responsibilities, classroom management, and staying updated on educational methodologies can also be demanding. However, most programs offer mentorship and professional development to support new instructors in this transition.

What is the difference between Dental Hygiene Instructor vs Dental Hygienist?

AspectDental Hygiene InstructorDental Hygienist
Required CredentialsDental degree, licensure, teaching certification (if applicable)Dental hygiene degree, licensure, possibly additional certifications
Work EnvironmentEducational settings, classrooms, labsDental offices, clinics, hospitals
Employer & Industry UsageColleges, technical schools, universitiesDental practices, clinics, public health programs
Primary FocusTeaching and curriculum developmentPatient care and oral health services

While both roles require dental hygiene credentials and licensure, Dental Hygiene Instructors focus on teaching students in educational settings, whereas Dental Hygienists provide direct patient care in clinical environments. The roles differ mainly in their work environment and primary responsibilities, though both contribute to oral health education and services.

More about Dental Hygiene Instructor jobs
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Dental Hygiene Instructor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Dental Hygiene Instructor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $76,132 per year, or $36.6 per hour.

Dental Hygiene Instructor

Kentucky Community and Technical College System

Lexington, KY • On-site

$4.0K - $5.1K/mo

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

Dental Hygiene Instructor
Job no: 496619
Work type: Full-time
Location: Lexington, KY
Categories: Faculty
Title: Dental Hygiene Instructor
Salary Range: $4098-$5123
Contract Term Length: 10 Months
Standard Hours: 37.5
Work Location: On-Site
FLSA Status: Exempt
College: Bluegrass Community & Technical College
Campus Location: Bluegrass C&TC - Newtown Pike Campus
Department: Academics, & Student Services
Total Rewards
Bluegrass Community & Technical College offers a competitive benefits package and an attractive work environment that supports excellence, innovation, and creativity, including:
  • Exceptional health care, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family
  • Tuition reimbursement/waiver for you, your spouse, and dependents
  • 403(b) retirement plan: a 5% employee contribution receives a 10% employer match
  • Vacation/Sick Time
  • Work-Life Balance
  • 9.5 Paid Holidays
  • 2 Weeks Institutional Closing Pay (Last 2 weeks of December) for qualifying positions
  • Employee Assistance Program

Job Summary
Provide classroom and lab instruction in competencies for dental hygiene in the Associate of Applied Science program. These include the evaluation & supervision of students, working collaboratively with full-time faculty and staff, and completing professional development requirements.
Note: This is Grant Funded Position
Job Duties:
  • Provide didactic dental hygiene instruction for classroom (if applicable) and/or clinical instruction for laboratory settings.
  • Demonstrate current knowledge in dental hygiene instrument use, digital charting, digital radiography, and a willingness to learn additional technology used in the dental hygiene clinic.
  • Work collaboratively with faculty & staff to provide education, evaluation & supervision to students who are working on patients from the community.
  • Complete required professional development trainings, both online and in-person as needed.
  • Attend scheduled sessions that coincide with the posted Academic Calendar.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Current KY dental hygiene or dentist licensure
  • Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene or related field
  • Minimum 5-years clinical experience

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Digital dental software experience
  • Local anesthesia and laser certifications

Additional Skills Requested:
  • To be considered for a faculty position, please upload a copy of your unofficial transcript at the time of your application

Employee Rights - Employee Polygraph Protection Act
Equal Opportunity Employer - The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution.
Advertised: 02 Jul 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 15 Aug 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
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