I'm 18 and obtained my certification through my HS magnet program when I was 16 this seems like a fun job especially going into college making more than my other friends at they're minimum wage jobs
Dental assistants are awesome. They take care of so many things for not just the dentist but also for the patient. What would dentists do without them?
+Erika Vega Hello erika, ive been really been looking into becoming a dental assistant and i might actually go through with it but i keep hearing that it sucks and the pay is bad. So i saw your comment and i thought maybe they were wrong. I just wanted to ask how long have you been a dental assistant? How much were you paid when you first became one? and where in the world do you live?
Erika, it would be interesting to know where you live.....salaries are so varied but having over 25 years of experience before I retired 2 years ago, I never earned anything near what you are paid.
Yeah but that can depend on a lot of things because anywhere you work, each Dentist is different as a person and also where you exactly work. Also if they know you have had education/training (1-2 years) they actually will treat you with more respect since they know you take your job seriously. And lastly "3 years" it took you to make just as much as it cost you to go to school? Wow! Sad, I would like to know where the hell you went for school, because you should of at least got Financial Aid.
I'm studying next year to be denttal assitant. I'm 48 years of age, It's good to see someone around my age as an assistant. I've worked in aged care for around 8 years and I'm over it! I'm looking forward to starting my course.
I'm a dental assistant , I love my profession and to take care of my patients! I think it's important if you like what you doing and be multitasking and hard working, these are what will give you good pay, respect, appreciation. Working for 9 years and I absolutely love it! Of course it helps if you have good team. Because some assistants there can be very lazy.
raynerazzle : hi, To be honest with you, if I was younger I would go to be a dental hygienist I was nervous too, being a foreigner with not perfect English I still earned respect from Doctors I worked and working. My first job was in the multi specialty practice , I started with general dentist, after 6 month manager put me in schedule with Oral Surgeon, ones a week, but other days still was working with General dentist , and in one year I became a head assistant for oral surgeon, than my manager also asked me if I want to work with periodontist, with whom I worked twice a week and than I also was added with pediatric dentist. So my whole week was with specialists and one day with General dentist. I loved it, I know how to assist to most specialists Exsept orthodontist. Of course it wasn't everyday nice and smooth. And remember dentists not always nice and might fuss at you in different situations, but don't take it personal. Good luck with school!! I hope you will like it!
Dilya Stankosh Hello Dilya! I have a few questions, I hope you can answer.. would you recommend this job to someone with a light stomach? I don't do well with seeing blood, is their alot of it? Would I get used to seeing the surgeries over time? how many surgeries do you assist in an average week? What hours do you work a day? and is the pay OK. Would you recommend this job to a young woman OR would you tell me to go into another field, I want to get an associates degree in something, not quite sure in what yet but I've been looking into dental assistance! Thanks for your time!
Dilya Stankosh Hello Dilya! I have a few questions, I hope you can answer.. would you recommend this job to someone with a light stomach? I don't do well with seeing blood, is their alot of it? Would I get used to seeing the surgeries over time? how many surgeries do you assist in an average week? What hours do you work a day? and is the pay OK to support myself a husband and 2 kids(in the future) my husband is going to school for bachelors in interactive multimedia... Would you recommend this job to a shy young lady OR would you tell me to go into another field, I want to get an associates degree in something, not quite sure in what yet but I've been looking into dental assistance! AND how long did it take for you to graduate? Thanks for your time!
armywife1-4 Hello , I will be honest with you , if you have a light stomach I wouldn't go for any healthcare field. See I can deal with blood, rotten teeth and advanced gum disease ( smell awful) but I can't deal with poop that's why I didn't go for Registered Nurse. Yes they have CNA's to clean people but not every hospital have them enough and nurses have to do that. And it doesn't matter whether you young or mature it's all depends on the person. In back home I did 3 year med school that's why I'm comfortable with blood. I can't tell you for sure how many extractions we have. It's depend on the dentist. Some dentists refer patients to Oral surgeons some do them self.
armywife1-4 maybe you would like to find info for a pharmaceutical field. It's clean no bad smell. Lol. but if you can go for a bachelor. You would get payed better. Good luck!!
You should try it but I would recommend go for hygienist because they make more money and usually always are treated better because hey bring in more money. Sadly a lot of dentist you work for might only be after money. I worked for a few that always tried to make a lot of money and overwork the assistants
