The average annual salary for dental hygienists exceeded the average household income in most states, except for three. 

The University of Rochester is the best college in the U.S. for periodontics and pediatric dentistry, according to universities.com.

Teledentistry company SmileDirectClub and dental technology company Align Technology were recently ranked on Financial Times' list of the fastest-growing companies in 2022. 

SmileDirectClub was recently included on Forbes' "Best Employers for Diversity" 2022 list.

Dental hygienists in Alaska — the highest paid in the U.S. — make on average about $45.19 more than the state's minimum wage, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Labor.    

Dental assistants make roughly between $9 to $17 more than the minimum wage in each state, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Labor.    

Colgate was recently ranked as the second most chosen global consumer brand on Kantar's "Brand Footprint 2022" list.

The average hourly wage for dentists largely exceeds the minimum wage in each state, with some making up 15 times more, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Labor.  

Dental hygienists make more than double the average base cost of living in most states, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator.

Dental assistants typically earn salaries just above the base cost of living in each state, but they make slightly less in four states — Hawaii, Louisiana, New York and Utah — according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator.

New York University is the best college in the U.S. for dental hygienist degrees, according to universities.com.

The University of Rochester (N.Y.) is the best college in the U.S. for periodontics, according to universities.com.

University of Rochester (N.Y.) is the best college in the U.S. for pediatric dentistry and pedodontics, according to universities.com.

The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia is the best college in the U.S. for oral and maxillofacial surgery, according to universities.com.

Hawaii is the top paying state for orthodontists, where they earn an average annual salary of $330,386, according to ZipRecruiter.

From the highest earning states to the percent of workforce reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic, here are eight statistics about dental hygienists to know:

Massachusetts is the state where oral and maxillofacial surgeons earn the most, with the average annual salary being $365,376, according to ZipRecruiter.

Connecticut was ranked No. 1 for place with the best dental health, according to a study from dental provider Express Dentists.

The top paying state for general dentists shifted from Rhode Island in 2020 to Delaware in 2021.

State government and community relief services are among the top earning industries for dental assistants and hygienists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.