Employment Outlook
In Montana, employment for dental hygienists is projected to grow faster than the statewide average for all occupations through the year 2014.
As the population grows, the demand for dental services will increase. Dentists are expected to hire hygienists to do tasks that dentists once did. For example, hygienists will perform preventive dental care, such as cleanings. As a result, one dentist may now employ several hygienists. In the past, each dentist rarely employed more than two hygienists.
Job prospects for dental hygienists should be good. Besides growth in the occupation, many more job openings will arise from the need to replace dental hygienists who leave the field.