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The Best Shoes for Dental Hygienists in 2024
My top recommendation out of the 6 best shoes for dental hygienists is the Hoka Bondi 8. They are becoming increasingly popular in the dental hygiene profession and will provide top-level support and comfort for many years.
In this article, I will share the 6 best shoes for dental hygienists and discuss why I think they will help improve your job. I rate the overall fit, comfort level, breathability, durability, and structure of the sole to help you make the best decision for you.
Table of Contents
The Best Shoes for Dental Hygienists: Our Top 6 Picks
Dental hygienists and other dental professionals spend long hours on their feet and often move around frequently. Therefore, comfortable and supportive shoes are essential to prevent fatigue and foot-related issues.
I considered several different factors when searching for the best shoes for dental hygienists. All the following ratings were given using the same system. The rating factors include:
- The Overall Fit
- Comfort Level
- Breathability
- Durability
- Sole Structure
Nike Winflo Series
Nike has a wide range of styles that provide support to many different physical needs. It’s also one of the most popular shoe brands on the planet and many people’s first choice when considering style.
My favorite pair Nike’s for the best shoes for dental hygienists is the Nike Winflo Series.
The Nike Winflo Series comes in various colors to match your scrubs, ranging from neutrals to bright colors. They are very sleek shoes with a slimming appearance.
Here are my ratings for the Nike Winflo Series.
The Fit: 4/5
These shoes run true to size and will hug your feet just right. If you need extra room in the toes, you may find this slightly too narrow.
Comfort Level: 4/5
This line of Nike shoes is lightweight and makes each step effortless. They have a balanced level of comfort and support. The insole of the shoes is smooth helping with the comfort level.
Breathability: 5/5
The constructed mesh on top of the shoe comes with a high level of breathability. These shoes are light and airy without exposing your feet. They are a great option for dental hygienists whose feet get hot.
Durability: 3.5/5
The Nike Winflo Series have a very strong mesh-to-sole connection. The sole will also hold up no matter how many steps you take in a day. However, the mesh around the toes may be the first part of the shoe to breakdown.
Sole Structure: 4/5
The outsole of the shoes has a defined design leading to good traction. The sole comes with multiple layers to protect your feet from the floor.
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Asics Gel-Kayano 29
Asics are known for their high-performing running shoes that provide support for any endurance activities. The Asics Gel-Kayano 29 are the most comfortable shoes for dental hygienists in their lineup.
Asics come with a distinctive sleek look with their athletic shoe lines. The Asics Gel-Kayano 29 has several different color patterns for you to choose from.
Here are my ratings for the Asics Gel-Kayano 29.
The Fit: 5/5
These shoes run true to size and give you plenty of space for your feet to take up. They hug your feet just right while giving plenty of room for your toes to spread out.
Comfort Level: 5/5
These shoes are very comfortable. Each step gives them a perfect balance of support while also letting you have enough room for your foot to flex.
Breathability: 4/5
The strong mesh layer gives room for a decent airflow for your feet. They aren’t as breathable when compared to the Nike Winflo Series, but very close to it.
Durability: 4/5
Asics makes solid footwear for all your needs. The connection between the mesh topping to the sole is well-integrated. The mesh topping is similar to the Nike Winflo Series and can be prone to break down around the toes overtime.
Sole Structure: 3.5/5
The outsole comes with an intricate design leading to decent traction. The bottom of the shoe does seem like it would wear down over time faster than the other choices.
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Hoka Bondi 8
The Hoka brand has grown significantly in popularity in the medical and dental fields. They produce high-performing shoes focusing on running, hiking, and other heavy endurance activities.
The Hoka Bondi 8 series is a great balance of high endurance performance that makes it one of the best shoes for dental hygienists on the market today.
They are known for their defined multi-layer sole. They come in plenty of colors and patterns to match your scrubs.
Here are my ratings for the Hoka Bondi 8:
The Fit: 5/5
The Hoka Bondi 8 provides a very supportive hug around your feet. They fit the curves of your feet without being too tight. They are very light weight, even for being a bulkier shoe.
Comfort Level: 5/5
Hoka’s athletic shoes are known for their extremely high level of comfort. Their distinct multi-layer sole provides the perfect amount of support between your feet and the floor.
Breathability: 5/5
The woven mesh stitching provides a high level of breathability and airflow to the feet. The pattern opens up in a design that helps with temperature control.
Durability: 5/5
The outsole has a solid design that provides a high level of strength and traction. I’ve found this mesh to be more durable than the other shoes on this list, which is a major reason why I love them so much.
Sole Structure: 5/5
Hokas are known for their distinct sole design. Their unique sole design includes multiple layers creating a higher bed of soft foam cushion. The sole construction does not lead to that feeling of being higher up or having a trip hazard.
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Dansko Professional Clogs
Dansko Professional Clogs are highly recommended among medical and dental professionals. They come with the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Approval making them one of the best shoes for dental hygienist careers.
The Dansko Professional Clogs come in multiple patterns and colors. They also have other styles that have the signature sole support like clogs and sandals.
Here are my ratings for the Dankso Professional Clogs:
The Fit: 5/5
Dankso technology comes with a unique fit that reduces stress on the body. The engineering of the shoe propels you forward reducing fatigue
Comfort Level: 4/5
Although they are not as soft as our other picks for the best shoes for dental hygienists, they still are very comfortable. These are very unique shoes that may come with a short adjustment period to get used to the feel.
Breathability: 3.5/5
The Dankso design comes with a heel cup that helps with the engineering of nonrestrictive movement and breathability. Unfortunately, this is the only area that promotes airflow.
This is due to there being no mesh incorporated into the design, unlike all the other shoes on this list.
Durability: 5/5
These clogs are incredibly durable and will last you many, many years. They hold up for even the longest days and last way longer than traditional sneakers. They’re by far the most durable shoes on this list.
Sole Structure: 5/5
Dansko shoes come with a slip-resistant rubber outsole providing the best traction. The entire sole of the shoe provides a supportive platform for the feet.
Take Home Smile Overall Score
New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4
New Balance has created a line of engineered foam sneakers called Fresh Foam X. The strategic placement of cushion zones reaches a new level of support making the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 one of the best shoes for dental hygienists.
New Balance has many great shoes for all levels of endurance. The foam support in this shoe can help support the busiest of days in your office or clinic.
Here are my ratings for the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4:
The Fit: 5/5
This is a great shoe that fits true to size. They support your feet from all angles leading to a perfect from heel to toe.
Comfort Level: 4.5/5
These shoes are very lightweight and you can tell you are walking on a solid foam layer. The foam sole flexes with the shoe supporting every step.
Breathability: 5/5
These shoes have a nice level of airflow to the entire foot. The mesh opens up in a woven pattern to help with temperature control.
Durability: 4/5
These shoes have a decent outsole but some wear over time is to be expected. Along with some of our other choices, the mesh may be the first area to break down because it does appear to be thin.
Sole Structure: 4/5
The outsole of the shoe comes with a solid pattern that will help with traction and support. The foam sole of the shoe hits all points of comfort zones for an even balance.
Take Home Smile Overall Score
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22
Brooks shoes stand out by providing motion-control support to the entire body. With over 20 years of innovation and engineering, Brooks is always a competitor for the best shoes for dental hygienists.
The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 offer a perfect balance of comfort and support to keep up with the endless miles of steps you take. They’re a great choice for high-volume offices and clinics where you’re on your feet a lot.
Here are my ratings for the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22:
The Fit: 5/5
Brooks are very supportive shoes, especially at the ankle and heel. The shoes fit true to size and hugs the entire foot.
Comfort Level: 5/5
These shoes come with a soft insole that creates a perfect balance of comfort and support. That balance can get you through any workload and avoid fatigue to the body.
Breathability: 4/5
These shoes are breathable but more toward the front half of the shoe. The extra support around the heel and ankle may hinder airflow toward the back of the foot.
Durability: 4/5
Just like some of our other choices for the best shoes for dental hygienists, the sole is solid with a durable outsole pattern. The trendy mesh pattern may break down and weaken at the toe area of the shoe.
Sole Structure: 5/5
Brook’s sole design is incredibly sturdy and made to withstand most physical exercises. The insole is also very comfortable leading to a supporting platform between the feet and floor.
Take Home Smile Overall Score
Recommendations for Best Shoes for Dental Hygienist
There are so many great footwear options when it comes to the best shoes for dental hygienists, but for me, the Hoka Bondi 8’s are in a league of their own.
They provide every type of structural support you could need while also being comfortable, breathable, and durable.
All of the options listed above can help support you on your busiest work day helping patients. These are the most comfortable shoes for dental hygienists while providing the best structural support.
For more support, check out our For Dental Hygienist Articles.
Take Home Smile Store
Visit our Take Home Smile Store for educational products and printables to help with oral hygiene in patients and improve your daily workflow. Certain products even come with a customizable feature to support your dental office.
