dental hygienist

noun

: a licensed dental professional who cleans and examines teeth

Examples of dental hygienist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hart intends to become a dental hygienist. Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026 Speech language pathologists, nurse injectors, and dental hygienists all make into the six-figures. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026 Other survivalists competing for the $250,000 prize include Amey, a dental hygienist; Summer, a general manager; Rhoman, a sales liaison; Katie, an administrative assistant; Olsen, a student; Luke, a construction worker; Polly, a math teacher; RJ, a project manager; and Doug, a business consultant. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025 In 2022, the BLS reported that health care occupations with particularly high concentrations of women included speech-language pathologists (98 percent), dental hygienists (96 percent), dental assistants (94 percent), and nursing assistants (90 percent). Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dental hygienist

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dental hygienist was in 1916

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dental hygienist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dental%20hygienist. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

dental hygienist

noun
: a person who assists a dentist especially in cleaning teeth

Medical Definition

dental hygienist

noun
: a person who assists a dentist especially in cleaning teeth

More from Merriam-Webster on dental hygienist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster