Dental Hygienists
Machines can already do 14% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 36%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Dental Hygienists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 14% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2040, and 36% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 222,740 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $98,100 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 90% for contact with people.
- Also called: Dental Hygienist, Hygienist, Licensed Dental Hygienist, Pediatric Dental Hygienist.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments | 38% | 3% to 25% | |
| Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public | 10% | 3% to 25% | |
| Record and review patient medical histories | 8% | 64% to 81% | |
| Expose and develop x-ray film | 8% | 3% to 25% | |
| Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease | 6% | 3% to 25% | |
| Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist | 6% | 63% to 81% | |
| Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments | 6% | 18% to 51% | |
| Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease | 5% | 3% to 25% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills dental hygienists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses33% of tasks by 2035 · US median $64,400
- Prosthodontists29% of tasks by 2035 · US median $311,180
- Dentists, General31% of tasks by 2035 · US median $170,950
What should you do about it?
Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.
Watch This Job
Get told when the outlook for this job changes.
Free planSkills to learn next
The skills that make this job, or the next one, last longer.
In the StarburstCheck your readiness
Ten quick questions on how ready you are.
FreeAsk Vantage
Ask what this job means for you and get a sourced answer.
Free to askFutures Academy courses
Courses matched to your gaps.
Coming soonPay trend
Where pay for this job is heading.
Coming soonTeam plan
Every role in your team, side by side, with a plan for each.
Pro and CorporateShared workspace
Work through it with your team, with notes and decisions kept.
Pro and Corporate
Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Dental Hygienists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2040. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of dental hygienists?
Machines can do 14% of the tasks of dental hygienists today and 36% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-1292.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Dental Hygienists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/dental-hygienists/