Beginning with a statement on the profession of dental hygiene and the two types of professional preparation available in the field, the pilot study then presents a two-part summary of its findings and an explanation of the methodology employed. Part I of the main portion of the report concerns employment characteristics (status, age, residence, number of hours, professional education, preferred number of hours in work week, work settings, work functions, work experience), back ground characteristics (marital status, age, residence, professional education, location of training, retention of Washington educated dental hygienists), continuing professional education, and reported reasons for inactive status for dental hygienists residing in Washington. Part II is devoted to comparisons of the 1969 and 1966 data in a four-page discussion of the trends in numbers and distribution, employment characteristics, and background characteristics. Two appendixes are provided: one, the questionnaire used; and two, data tables selected for additional detail to the textual discussion and to provide actual numbers for manpower planning. A list of six references completes the report. (AG)