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Dental Hygienists

The short answer

This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to grow over the next decade, with about 1,004 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.

How much AI could touch this job

Less exposedband 2 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

This job is in the second least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.

AI can help with or automate about 31% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Record and review patient medical histories.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  2. Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  3. Expose and develop x-ray film.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  4. Attend continuing education courses to maintain or update skills.

    AI could do much of this on its own

  5. Maintain patient recall system.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Apply fluorides or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Dentists, General

    Very similar work
    +72% pay351 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 72% more—$188,185 vs your $109,104 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a doctoral or professional degree.

    Getting ready typically takes more than four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Near Vision
    • Active Listening
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Control Precision
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Reading Comprehension
    • English Language
  • Physician Assistants

    Very similar work
    +52% pay1,935 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 52% more—$165,381 vs your $109,104 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a master's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes more than four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Near Vision
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Active Listening
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Biology
    • Therapy and Counseling
    • English Language
    • Education and Training
    • Mathematics
  • Nurse Anesthetists

    Similar work
    +202% pay88 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 202% more—$330,017 vs your $109,104 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a master's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes more than four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Near Vision
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Active Listening
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Biology
    • Physics
    • Education and Training
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

    Similar work
    +223% pay26 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 223% more—$352,307 vs your $109,104 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a doctoral or professional degree, plus internship/residency.

    Getting ready typically takes more than four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Near Vision
    • Active Listening
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Biology
    • English Language
    • Control Precision
    • Administration and Management
    • Reading Comprehension
  • Respiratory Therapists

    Somewhat similar work
    +2% pay517 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 2% more—$110,829 vs your $109,104 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires an associate's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes one to two years.

    Skills you already have

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Active Listening
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Near Vision

    New skills to build

    • Education and Training
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • English Language
    • Physics
    • Biology