Dental hygienists typically work in private dentists offices performing a variety of dental procedures like:

    * Cleaning teeth
    * Educating patients on oral hygiene
    * Preventative dental care

In some states, dental hygienists perform tasks that in the past could only be performed by dentists including:

    * Administering anesthetics
    * Placing and carving filling materials
    * Temporary fillings
    * Preparation of clinical and lab tests
    * X-ray machine operation 

One of the most flexible and well paying jobs in the health care industry is a career in dental hygiene.  Job prospects are excellent over the next decade.