Contemplating Starting a Denal Assisting Career, HELP!

cassie in Taunton, Massachusetts said: hi, i have been working as a nursing aid for four years, i love my job and wanetd to take up nursing but cant seem to get in one nursing school. some schools have you wait five years to get in. so im thinking about DA. its just that all the lefting i do at work it really hurting me now and i just need a job thats less stress for the body. i can take mental stress really weel and im good with people. so i just want a little bit more info on the job and the school. it seems my state get pay well.

Just RUN

Katti in Tualatin, Oregon said: I've been thinking of becoming a dental assistant for some time now. However after reading some of the dicussion boards.. I'm getting a little nervous. I have not yet started any schooling, and was wondering if someone could give me some advice. I'm 21 and I will have no help whatsoever to cover the costs of school. I want to make sure I make the right choice. I love working with people, and am looking for a career that will have flexible hours. How is the pay in Oregon? Do dentists look down on schools like Concorde? What schools here in Oregon are reccomended? How long does schooling take? I appreciate ANY and ALL advice!! Thanks!

becomeadentalassistnat.blogspot.com/ has two really cool videos and will lead you in the right direction.

Wanda in San Antonio, Texas said: I'm in Tx. and about to finish DH school. I had no DA experience, but I had a lot of work experience in customer service and a lot of volunteer work.. I think the schools like to see the volunteer work because now that I'm here community is emphasized a lot. God Bless you!

Hi, what school you are going? I try get in FH school, and they are not ranking me, sed. Thanks, for you opp.

Hi! Make sure you go to an ACCREDITED school!! Becoming a CDA RDA will be your best bet... rather than on the job training, just getting your radiology license, or just becoming a CDA. I don't know what the qualifications are where you live but in NJ becoming a CDA RDA has gotten me a higher pay and more job oppurtunities. CDA (certified dental assistant RDA (registered dental assistant---- expanded functions)

Dental assistant is one of the most rewarding careers! I am now working on getting my BS to teach dental assisting. Good luck, it is a good career choice if you are great hands on and good with people! Make sure you take care of your teeth, because you cannot stress enough to patients how to take care of theirs! You will take many x-rays, impressions, cement temporary crowns, and do much more as a CDA RDA. It is a lot of fun to work 1 on 1 with the patients. When you work for a doctor, make sure you get along with him or her! Also, make sure you work in an office you like such as general, endo, ortho, pedo, perio.

Lin in Woodbury, New Jersey said: Hi! Make sure you go to an ACCREDITED school!! Becoming a CDA RDA will be your best bet... rather than on the job training, just getting your radiology license, or just becoming a CDA. I don't know what the qualifications are where you live but in NJ becoming a CDA RDA has gotten me a higher pay and more job oppurtunities. CDA (certified dental assistant RDA (registered dental assistant---- expanded functions)

Dental assistant is one of the most rewarding careers! I am now working on getting my BS to teach dental assisting. Good luck, it is a good career choice if you are great hands on and good with people! Make sure you take care of your teeth, because you cannot stress enough to patients how to take care of theirs! You will take many x-rays, impressions, cement temporary crowns, and do much more as a CDA RDA. It is a lot of fun to work 1 on 1 with the patients. When you work for a doctor, make sure you get along with him or her! Also, make sure you work in an office you like such as general, endo, ortho, pedo, perio.

Great career if you don't mind crappy benefits, fighting for a personal day or time 0ff to attend a childs function, being at a dentists beck and call, losing hours and money when dds goes on vacation, and sooo much more!!! Also, the dental asst. in the office is easily replaceable and your boss will always be sure to remind you of that. It doesn't matter how good you are at your job. A new dental asst. grad is eventually trainable and is cheaper to employ ie.. lower pay and benefits for a "new" grad. Most dds's don't want to pay for an experienced rda. GOOD LUCK!!!! you are going to need it! I would choose a different career path if you're looking long term-PERIOD.

TheUrbanToothFairy in Duluth, Georgia said: I was a dental assisting instructor for a year and a half here in Atlanta, Ga. I've been in the dental field for almost 11 years now. I've been a dental assistant, lead assistant, instructor and now a scheduling cordinator/treatment plan coordinator. Dental assisting has opened many doors for me. The best part about assisting is the diversity and the opportunities to excel professionally. I currently make $17.75 at my new position and I'm set to make $18.50 at my 3 month eval next month and I know I should be happy with that but, my office manager let it slip today that our dental hygienist makes $325 a day. All of the sudden I'm feeling like it's time to go back to school. Dental Hygiene is a highly respected profession, pays well, and the stress is minimal.

Stress is minimal? I don't think so. I have been a RDA, a dental receptionist, a dental office manager and now a RDH and let me tell you the stress as a RDH is NOT minimal. Yes, we get paid very well but it is well deserved. The repect? Barely there. I am not putting down my profession by any means but it is the hardest job I have done in the dental office. While some of the other dental personnel get a few minutes down time to eat or run to the restroom, we are tearing down our rooms, writing up our charts, setting up our rooms or doing something else. We are paid a salary which is illegal. We should be paid by the hour like the rest of the staff but then that would be too expensive. I would really think about going into dentistry if I were you. There are up and downs in every profession. While RDH's get paid very well we do not get benefits, holiday pay, or paid time off "because we make too much money." I would really think before you dive into hygiene. By the way, I make over $500 a day when I should be paid per hour. I would be making more.

TheUrbanToothFairy in Duluth, Georgia said: I was a dental assisting instructor for a year and a half here in Atlanta, Ga. I've been in the dental field for almost 11 years now. I've been a dental assistant, lead assistant, instructor and now a scheduling cordinator/treatment plan coordinator. Dental assisting has opened many doors for me. The best part about assisting is the diversity and the opportunities to excel professionally. I currently make $17.75 at my new position and I'm set to make $18.50 at my 3 month eval next month and I know I should be happy with that but, my office manager let it slip today that our dental hygienist makes $325 a day. All of the sudden I'm feeling like it's time to go back to school. Dental Hygiene is a highly respected profession, pays well, and the stress is minimal.

Stress is minimal? I don't think so. I have been a RDA, a dental receptionist, a dental office manager and now a RDH and let me tell you the stress as a RDH is NOT minimal. Yes, we get paid very well but it is well deserved. The repect? Barely there. I am not putting down my profession by any means but it is the hardest job I have done in the dental office. While some of the other dental personnel get a few minutes down time to eat or run to the restroom, we are tearing down our rooms, writing up our charts, setting up our rooms or doing something else. We are paid a salary which is illegal. We should be paid by the hour like the rest of the staff but then that would be too expensive. I would really think about going into dentistry if I were you. There are up and downs in every profession. While RDH's get paid very well we do not get benefits, holiday pay, or paid time off "because we make too much money." I would really think before you dive into hygiene. By the way, I make over $500 a day when I should be paid per hour. I would be making more.

TheUrbanToothFairy in Duluth, Georgia said: I was a dental assisting instructor for a year and a half here in Atlanta, Ga. I've been in the dental field for almost 11 years now. I've been a dental assistant, lead assistant, instructor and now a scheduling cordinator/treatment plan coordinator. Dental assisting has opened many doors for me. The best part about assisting is the diversity and the opportunities to excel professionally. I currently make $17.75 at my new position and I'm set to make $18.50 at my 3 month eval next month and I know I should be happy with that but, my office manager let it slip today that our dental hygienist makes $325 a day. All of the sudden I'm feeling like it's time to go back to school. Dental Hygiene is a highly respected profession, pays well, and the stress is minimal.

Stress is minimal? I don't think so. I have been a RDA, a dental receptionist, a dental office manager and now a RDH and let me tell you the stress as a RDH is NOT minimal. Yes, we get paid very well but it is well deserved. The repect? Barely there. I am not putting down my profession by any means but it is the hardest job I have done in the dental office. While some of the other dental personnel get a few minutes down time to eat or run to the restroom, we are tearing down our rooms, writing up our charts, setting up our rooms or doing something else. We are paid a salary which is illegal. We should be paid by the hour like the rest of the staff but then that would be too expensive. I would really think about going into dentistry if I were you. There are up and downs in every profession. While RDH's get paid very well we do not get benefits, holiday pay, or paid time off "because we make too much money." I would really think before you dive into hygiene. By the way, I make over $500 a day when I should be paid per hour. I would be making more.

have been in the dental field since i was 18... was trained on the job, worked for many specialist and became Radio/ Expanded duties certified.. no 24yr experience finding it near impossible to find a decent office where my skills are paid at a decent rate. What this person posted is so very true, the dental field is really hard very stressful, alot is expected of you and there will be no one to cover for you should you need time off, for any reason.. If the Dr's wife works in the office or his sister or child... it will be even worse, they tend to treat staff as nothing more than "the help", with little concern for the health, or wellbeing of anyone they do employee. Benefits are a joke!! most have min if any health benefits, I for all of my years in the dental field, can only get my own work done, if i nag and nag just to have a cleaning, so that my office can process my benefits!!! i needed a crown and several fillings,yet had to wait over a year to have my own work done!! Great enviorment! Morale is often low, for assistant as we are the lowly, of the lowest in the dental office.. often blamed for anything that goes wrong, yes Dr's will throw instruments, or rinn holders, smack you on the fingers, snatch instruments out of your hand, and it will not matter how cute you are, little new graduates the "honeymoon phase" working in the dental office last aprox 1 month if that long, then the you see the real animal...I choose this field when I was very young, thinking it would be a great stable career choice, however the jobs I have left in the past have mostly been due to the abuse levels I suffered at the hands of my employer.. can you think of anyone else that would mentally abuse their staff and get away with it? Well Dentist do, everyday.

CButler26 in Austell, Georgia said: I am starting my externship as a dental assistant Monday at a cosmetic dentist. How many hours are you required to have to take exam? I work at walmart and I would like to find a better job. I am currently attending University of phoenix online. I received my dental assistant diploma fom penn foster.

after receiving your diploma from penn foster what tests did you have to take? and did you feel you were properly prepared for them? i'm just curious because i am currently enrolled in penn foster and not exactly sure what im doing.

tired in San Rafael, California said: Stress is minimal? I don't think so. I have been a RDA, a dental receptionist, a dental office manager and now a RDH and let me tell you the stress as a RDH is NOT minimal. Yes, we get paid very well but it is well deserved. The repect? Barely there. I am not putting down my profession by any means but it is the hardest job I have done in the dental office. While some of the other dental personnel get a few minutes down time to eat or run to the restroom, we are tearing down our rooms, writing up our charts, setting up our rooms or doing something else. We are paid a salary which is illegal. We should be paid by the hour like the rest of the staff but then that would be too expensive. I would really think about going into dentistry if I were you. There are up and downs in every profession. While RDH's get paid very well we do not get benefits, holiday pay, or paid time off "because we make too much money." I would really think before you dive into hygiene. By the way, I make over $500 a day when I should be paid per hour. I would be making more.

I thought the DA was supposed set up & tear down rooms, and charts. I switched my major from RDH to Nursing b/c of the lack of full time hours , ergonomics & pain involved........... but I am training to to be a DA so I can have a viable job while in school.

KNEEC in Bronx, New York said: I thought the DA was supposed set up & tear down rooms, and charts. I switched my major from RDH to Nursing b/c of the lack of full time hours , ergonomics & pain involved........... but I am training to to be a DA so I can have a viable job while in school.

Also,how many hours do you work per week? Why don't you report the Dentist if the way you're being paid is illegal? Secure replacement employment first of course!