pay rate

I feel your pain i dont want to go to work tomorrow either. I found a awesome dentist to work for but he is retireing. The office is now going threw a transition with two new drs. my personality doesnt work with either one of them. Need to move on after 10 yrs. Totally burned out

folks that have a degree dont get it twisted that dental assistant just do is put bibs on patients and hold a spit cup, in some states assistants do dental filling .the only diff between a degree and a certificantion ,a degree u spend more time in book work and a cert is more hands on training !!!!!!

I feel your pain. I use to work for a doctor who was a total ahole. They think that just because they are dentist that they can treat people that work for them like crap. Look for something else because your health is very important. And if your stressed out your body will break down and you will not be able to function. You will be dreaming about the job and everything. Don't quit until you find something else like I did. I couldn't find a job for months but I had a piece of mind and someone to help me pay my bills until I get a job. I'm sorry your working under that kind of stress. Just pray and just keep looking and when you find something just leave.

Teresa Wright in Oxford, Alabama said: I feel your pain. I use to work for a doctor who was a total ahole. They think that just because they are dentist that they can treat people that work for them like crap. Look for something else because your health is very important. And if your stressed out your body will break down and you will not be able to function. You will be dreaming about the job and everything. Don't quit until you find something else like I did. I couldn't find a job for months but I had a piece of mind and someone to help me pay my bills until I get a job. I'm sorry your working under that kind of stress. Just pray and just keep looking and when you find something just leave.

Not only im i stressed out im depressed im not sleeping or eating. It is deffinetly takeing its tole on my body could barley function today. Iv mailed 8 resume im hopeing my phone rings soon. Why do some peaple make life so difficult. I just wanna be a Dental Assistant in a fun energetic team oriented office.

Things will get better think positive. Be strong. Just do what you have to do until you can make your move. Maybe you can get some type of communication with the doctor and explain to him/her in a nice way how your feeling maybe you all can iron out some things. See how that works. You shouldn't have to work like that it's just not healthy. Especially if you have a family (kids)to go home to. Just think positive things will get better. Good Luck!!!

Veronica in Atlanta, Georgia said: I LIVE IN ATLANTA GEORGIA ,IM THINKING ABOUT ATTENDING SCHOOL TO BE A DENTAL ASSISTANT.DOES ANYONE RECOMMEND ANY GOOD SCHOOLS? ALSO DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE HARD FINDING A JOB FRESH OUT OF DENTAL ASSISTANT SCHOOL?

I also live here in GA. I did got to Medix many yrs ago and it kinda was a waste of time and tons of money. I would never recommend that place. Lainer Tech is a great start. Depending on where you live here in GA. I started out with a low pay. That was nearly 12yrs ago. Now I have close to 13 yrs of experince and also Expanded Duties Certified Dental Assistant and work in Alpharetta making $21.hr. I so agree that we are underpaid.

A 1 ASSISTANT in Cleveland, Ohio said: I HATE MY JOB NOW AND I DREAD GOING TO WORK TOMORROW.THIS IS THE MOST HUMILIATING JOB IVE EVER HAD! TACO BELL BACK IN 99 WAS BETTER THAN THIS CRAP. DOCTORS ARE A HOLES. WE ARE NOTHING AND WRONG FOR EVERYTHING. IM SO ANXIOUS IVE MADE MY SELF MENTALLY SICK BUT I NEED MY JOB. I HATE IT.

Sounds like you need to get find a new doctor to work for. I have worked at a place and not looking foward to work and dealing with all the drama for 6yrs. Then I was very lucky to find a great doctor and the girls actually like eachother. Not saying it's perfect but it is so much better then the last place.You need to really start looking around. life is to short not have a better place of work. You will wish you had done it along time ago.

I have worked for 2 very mean doctors. The first one I lasted 3 months. That was just because I was lacking experience, and needed to learn. I quit literally when I was at 90 days. The second one I already had 1.5 years of experience...This time I was out the door in 3 weeks. I walked out in the middle of my shift. Nobody deserves to be talked down to, or disrespected EVER. Least of all at your workplace. This is nothing short of abuse, and noone should have to put up with that kind of behavior. You are a viable commodity. If the doctor doesn't have respect for you, start faxing out your resume. There is no shortage of nice doctors, and also nice staff.

kristen in Lawrenceville, Georgia said: folks that have a degree dont get it twisted that dental assistant just do is put bibs on patients and hold a spit cup, in some states assistants do dental filling .the only diff between a degree and a certificantion ,a degree u spend more time in book work and a cert is more hands on training !!!!!!

What you said is right but it is a vague description-it is as if you said life is what's between birth and death....
Dentists, doctors decide at a young age to become a doctors/dentists and they study hard for years and years. I am a dentist...all I did all my life is study.
I treat everyone at work with respect.
Please don't generalize like that because you would not want to hear that dental assistants are people who were lazy in school....that would not be fair either. Would it?

Krista in Logan, Illinois said: I think the most frustrating part of the pay is we do most of the work and when the assistant is really good we actually increase the dentist profit. A dentist office can run without a hygienist but can a dentist actually do all the work without an assistant? Even if he or she could, the time it would take to preform the functions would cut the profits well over 75%. In some offices the assistances not only assist but also cover the front desk when needed. I wonder what dentist would do if all their assistances called in sick for a week. :-) Just a thought

Of course dental nurses play a key role in increasing profits but so do everyone else. the key thing is to work in a team environment... Not every dentist nor every assistant is horrible. BTW, did you know most of a dentist's earnings goes towards paying back their student loan....so first they studied for 100 years and then they can work hard for another 100 to pay their loan back. Everyone has problems, don't think for a moment it is only hard for you.

lucy85 i have a ? for u , i bet wait , i more then bet my life that u learned more hands on ,then book work .all im saying when u get a degree u learn more doing then studying reading and sitting in a class room dont mean a hill of beans u get more by doing.

Hello Kristen, thanks for your response. Yes, of course it is experience that makes all the difference - the books just give strong base.
However, I am sure you are aware how it is the assistants that give the hardest time to novice dentists. Pretty much saying look - she is a dentist and I know more about "xyz" than her....yes, you do-but you work in a clinic for years - and she just started work. Dental school and real life are 2 different worlds.
I was a novice dentist once and my message to all the assistants who gave me a hard time is that in dental school we are not prepared for real life but we worked very very hard to get the legal right to start working as dentists. The rest,who we become, what kind of dentists, teamworkers, it is up to us...

I like both of your comments. I am a Certified Dental Assistant, and there actually is alot of skill in Dental Assisting. I know, because right out of school, I barely had any of these skills. You develop these skills as you work with patients. What the Dentist was saying is also very true. There is a HUGE difference between a degree, and a certification. The difference IS all of the hard work and dedication. I went to a 4 year University right out of college and just finished 2 years of coursework. Dental Assisting was my plan B because I just wanted to hurry up and be in the workforce! I wouldn't call it laziness though...college is not for everyone. : )

give it time a dental assistant will have to have a degree to ,now they come out with opa cert. which is oral preventive assistant i think a assistant can get their cert in. whats so bad here in ga most dentists are behind serious. not professonial what so ever. they can pull somebody off the streets and train them to me that's crazy i guess thats why they dont pay to good. here's what a oral preventive assistant duties are . scaling ,floride sealants, coral polishing and also other duties to.when u add up all the duties a dental assistant has to do u would think the dentist would pay a little bit better then they do. i think the problem is if they make a assistant have to have a degree the doc's have to pay out the money and the doc's dont wanna deal with that. like i tell a new assitant dont sale yourself short ask for 15 bucks a hour no less.

I need to get some information ----on the hourly pay in north Jersey ---Dover,Parsippany,PIne Brook,Wayne Area----I was thinking on becoming a denatl assistant ---Thanks! ---ALSO I need to know which are some credited schools in which I can enroll ---THANKS !!!

TINA in Waco, Texas said: TSTC COLLEGE IN WACO TEXAS

I live near waco, texas and im currently going to school for dental ass at ATI in waco, its only 10 months and they work with you im about to go to externs in 2 weeks it is a very good school.

So as it looks dental assistants make more than me. I'm a nurse in the hospital with a Bachelors and 3 years experience. I got into the WRONG field! They also make more than my husband who has to have 3 weapons on his person at all times!

nightmomma in Villa Rica, Georgia said: So as it looks dental assistants make more than me. I'm a nurse in the hospital with a Bachelors and 3 years experience. I got into the WRONG field! They also make more than my husband who has to have 3 weapons on his person at all times!

Dental Assistants don't make more than you....those numbers are wrong....

I am appalled to hear that!

no a dental asistant doesn't earn more then a nurse, but i also think that a dental assistant should make the same as a nurse .thats the problem most people have no clue what dental and orthodontic assistant does . people look it up on the net to see what a dental assistant job duties are but it doesn't post all of the job duties, plus diff states might have u do more like dental fillings so sometimes the net is misleading!!!!

kristen in Lawrenceville, Georgia said: no a dental asistant doesn't earn more then a nurse, but i also think that a dental assistant should make the same as a nurse .thats the problem most people have no clue what dental and orthodontic assistant does . people look it up on the net to see what a dental assistant job duties are but it doesn't post all of the job duties, plus diff states might have u do more like dental fillings so sometimes the net is misleading!!!!

I agree that most dental assistants are underpaid, and highly under-appreciated but unless you have your Bachelor's in Dental Assisting, you should not be paid the same amount as an experienced BSN. Otherwise why would anyone bother obtaining that level of education?

im sorry that people seem to think that assistant shouldn't get paid as same as nurses then maybe the nurses need to do a dental assistant job !!!! like i said most have no clue!!

How much do you make as an RN? I make 17.70 as a dental assistant, and was thinking about going back to school to be an LPN. Then, doing the RN bridge.

I amin school for dental assisting.... is it better pay to work for a dentist, orthontics office or a orothontics lab?

I work for a general dentist but I have heard that specialties offer a little more to start.

Lose my mind in Bismarck, North Dakota said: Not only im i stressed out im depressed im not sleeping or eating. It is deffinetly takeing its tole on my body could barley function today. Iv mailed 8 resume im hopeing my phone rings soon. Why do some peaple make life so difficult. I just wanna be a Dental Assistant in a fun energetic team oriented office.

Sorry that you are going through that. I worked at an office right out of school that I honestly thought was giving me ulcers! NO JOB IS WORTH YOUR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH!!!! In this economy you really can't afford to be without a job but breathe deep and get those resumes out there and remember that employers are just as replaceable as employees! We work too hard to not be given respect at the very least. You have every right to demand it and expect it. I wish you well.

Jen in Powder Springs, Georgia said: I live just west of Atlanta, GA and am looking into getting my certificate for Assisting, but I am SOOOO confused! From what I've read, all you really need is the certificate from an accredited school, but OJT is so much cheaper and much shorter training. My question is, I guess, is it really worth going to an accredited college for 8-10 months, or am I just wasting my time and money? I know some dentists do weekend classes for only 8-10 weeks at much less. What to do?

Also, is there a school around the ATL area that offers dental hygiene courses that are NOT during the day? Seems impossible to find. I would rather do hygiene, but cannot afford to quit my day job, so it seems I am forced to do Assisting instead.

I was in your same position. I started taking the prereqs for Dental Hygiene after going through the dental Assisting program. Then I realized that I would never be able to not work. Those Dental Hygiene programs are usually 8-5 Monday through Friday. Students are advised to not work, because of the heavy courseloads. Now after 5 years of Dental Assisting, I still want something more. I am going to try to get back in school for Practical Nursing this year. These programs are usually 1 year in length, but I found one in my area that is 2 year, part time program. I'd rather do it in a year, but between having to work, and needing time to study I think this is the better route. A local hospital will pay my tuition, with a work agreement. Yay! Paid training. Practical Nurses in my area usually start at 18, but can make up to $30 hrly. Usually, the ads that I see are between 20-25 hrly. Have you ever considered Nursing instead of Dental Assisting? After obtaining your LPN liscense, you can bridge to RN online. RNs usually earn in the 30's I believe and then up to like $50 hrly. Anyway, just thought I'd give you some food for thought.

Tanya in Saint Paul, Minnesota said: Sorry that you are going through that. I worked at an office right out of school that I honestly thought was giving me ulcers! NO JOB IS WORTH YOUR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH!!!! In this economy you really can't afford to be without a job but breathe deep and get those resumes out there and remember that employers are just as replaceable as employees! We work too hard to not be given respect at the very least. You have every right to demand it and expect it. I wish you well.

I really feel like you are being abused to be going through this amount of stress. Have you ever considered quitting, and saying that there was abusive behavior going on in your office? I think that you can still get unemployment. Maybe visit a doctor and then, quit and apply for unemployment. Noone should be not eating, and not sleeping because of work stress. You need to put yourself first. Good luck....: )

I'm getting ready to start a dental assistant program, and I was just wondering if anyone knows what the starting pay is in my area. I hope it will be worth my time and effort!

I live in Portland or. and get paid $20 hr,plus 3 weeks paid vacation,medical paid in full,parking pass or buss pass.our boss takes us on a trip once a year.last year is was a carnival cruise. i did have to get expanded functions certificate which took alittle over a year. i only have 3 years experience and i heard the top out rate in Portland or. is $25.
what other cities pay high?

heather in Kansas City, Missouri said: i am from a smaller town in missouri. i started working as a dental assistant two years ago with no experience for $8.00 i am now making $9.40, do you think that is fair or do you think i should ask for a raise. again i didnt take any schooling for it but i did pass the basic skills examination test.

Where do you get the right to ask for more money when you have no schooling. Basic skills test means just that basic skills. Take a course get your certification then ask for a raise.

yes april ask for more money stand your ground d.a shouldnt be earning no less then 15.oo bucks starting out!!!!!!

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Please reconsider this line of work.
You won't think of these things when you are in your 20's
My father died when I was 7. raised by a single parent. there was not a collage fund. Afraid to borrow loans for collage for fear of ruined credit from instant debt. not able to make enough money to ever pay them back. I began a dental assistant course/radiology certification. I have continuously worked as a dental assistant for over 30 years for various dentists. I have sacrificed and worked very very hard. Most of the time going without breaks, lunches, running constantly under stress at high speed carring out all my many responsibilities my diabetic health is always at risk. But who cared. Always last one to walk out at night until everything was sterilized, ordered, lab cases packed, rooms stocked, next day room set ups, xray processor, trash to dumpster/vacuume. cleaned the office and toilet once a week because the hygenist or front desk person would'nt. The dentist would not stand up to them in many offices I worked in with the same problems of prima donnas. Depressing to think I sacrificed and enabled all these disrespectful arrogant rude dentist,hygenists, to make overwhelming amounts of money. Never was I entitled to any profit sharing, 401k, pension or bonuses, I have nothing to live on for my future. social security will be exhausted when I will be eligile. As an experienced efda dental assistant pay $19.00. 32 hrs a week, After bugeting household bills, morgage, doctor/medicine. used car, I can only afford to shop discount stores, resale stores, and discount grocery. Nothing left to put in savings. While their sitting retired on the beach. I'll be in the soup line sleeping at the shelter. By the way after 5 yrs of service I was terminated to hire some one cheaper. Michigan economy 6 mos still have not found work yet. Its really embarrassing to ask for money from your 80 yr old Mother. This is reality. Please go into a different field.

I agree with you..although I however don't even make 19 ..let alone 15. I live in WV and I only make enough to pay my husband the amount that he needs for bills..and then the rest can't even all the way pay my school loans off ...let alone gas to last me until next pay check. I'm supposed to work from 9-1 and then 2-5..and most days we don't even work until 5 due to hygienist's finishing early or we leave due to people not showing up in the evenings.I haven't been at my job that long but...I've been there long enough to have my raise as they've told me before they hired me. I feel more happy for you all that you're getting paid more than me and wish you all the best of luck with your plans that'll end up making you happy. I don't know..but I'm considering another job to hygienist once my husband and I can afford to go back to school.

I feel sad when I read all of that. It's so true, I know it from my own experience. The problem is that we don't have Labor Laws in the USA. Have you ever heard that if u work in the office/or company with less than 50 employees, your employer can do what ever he/she wants, and u can't sue him/her. I guess, dentists know it. Have u heard about Bullying on workplace Institute? I recommend u to go on their Website, u will find there a lot of interesting information. We, guys, need Trade Unions. Who else can protect us? We can't afford lawyers. All the laws, that to protect private businesses and their owners, but not employees! It's ridiculous, that people here don't have normal vacations (1 month), like in other countries. Do u know about it? Pregnant women have to work all the term and come back right away after delivery. It's not right! Those low wages-just mockery at employees...

This comment is for doctors, who wrote here...If u think, that assistants are just lazy or stupid people, who are unable to become hygienists or doctors, why do u need them? Work without them...It's so mean to say that. Someone has to be a dental asst too...What do u think? If everybody become doctors who is going to do other jobs?! Any profession has the right to be respectful!!! If everybody become rich... who is going to work...and create those money for rich? Just think about it...how ridiculous u sound...

Jaquelin, don't believe to their( dentist's) tales about bad economy...please, don't be so naive. Dentists earn $1-7 million $$$ every year. They are just laughing at us, like at "losers" and abuse us every working day...

josie in Lebanon, New Jersey said: Go for hygiene or better yet- Nursing! Hygienist makes big bucks and they have flexibilities. Over here, they make abt. 35-40/hr. whereas assistants only makes 15-25/hr. If you want to try working in the dental field first to see if this is for you, then you should work as an assistant first.

Nursing - right. My sister who is 54 years old is a head nurse in a hospital - she makes great money, but is on her feet all day, works THIRTEEN hour shifts and is beat! Consider dental assisting or hygiene: work Mon - Thur 8am-5pm and you get to sit while you're assisting with a patient.

Kathy in Orlando, Florida said: I feel sad when I read all of that. It's so true, I know it from my own experience. The problem is that we don't have Labor Laws in the USA. Have you ever heard that if u work in the office/or company with less than 50 employees, your employer can do what ever he/she wants, and u can't sue him/her. I guess, dentists know it. Have u heard about Bullying on workplace Institute? I recommend u to go on their Website, u will find there a lot of interesting information. We, guys, need Trade Unions. Who else can protect us? We can't afford lawyers. All the laws, that to protect private businesses and their owners, but not employees! It's ridiculous, that people here don't have normal vacations (1 month), like in other countries. Do u know about it? Pregnant women have to work all the term and come back right away after delivery. It's not right! Those low wages-just mockery at employees...

Depends on if you get hired off the street or go to a CODA Accredited tech / college and pass your CDA, doesn't it? I just graduated DA II from a CODA accredited 1-yr program. I've always had a high work ethic, work for an employer as if I owned the business, always keep busy. Unions make people lazier. Any person who is dependable, team player, good attitude will stand out in the crowd and be valuable. Shadowing assistants and on clinical rotations I've seen lots of assistants being lazy, ripping their employers off by being on Facebook, emailing, reading newspapers. I get rave reviews for doing whatever needs to be done-it's easy to be excellent! I heard of a hygienist who was on her cell phone talking while cleaning a patient's teeth! She rightly got fired. I've had over 30 jobs in retail/customer service in my life. Most coworkers complain about the boss who is employing them, goof-off and do as little as they can to just keep their employment. Suing an employer would be ridiculous! Find another career if you think it's so horrible!

Restorationgirl. I respect your opinion and glad for u that u got lucky to find a good employer. I'm not from "the street", believe me.I'm BOARD CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANT.And I graduated 1 year school as well with an excellence and perfect attendance. I'm a hard worker, I used to work in the office when we could see 50-60 patient per day (3 assistants). I do my expanded functions perfectly and very very fact. The problem is that no any employer appreciate this...no any. I'm not even talking about low wages...I'm talking about the way how they treat assistants...like slaves. We need LABOR UNIONS! And I don't like lazy people too...

To sue an employer or not...is not concern of yours!OK? What should I do...look for another profession or not...is not your business as well. I'm just wondering, why you defend employers so much?...Agh...May be because You Are employer...have nothing to do like read Dental Assistants Forum!...Go to your patients...

public defender in Paramus, New Jersey said: i think you guys need a union same as everyone else. it wouldn't be a bad idea if all the dental assistants in one state would strike or alone the whole country but a state would be a first. just a thought to show the dentists that he/she needs you and not only the hygienists! besides answering phones, scheduling pts all day, do billing and deal with unappreciative people but at the same time MUST ALSO HELP THE DENTIST TO X RAY AND FILE. RAH. What I don't get in dentists' office, why is there not a lead wall to protect you and only the patient? Distance helps but how far can you go when you are about to press the exposure button and the concrete wall is this much thick to protect you. just another thought to ponder around. it is very small radiation but it is still radiation that you will be doing for the rest of your life if you choose to do so.

6 feet from xray head = zero radiation

Exactly...if the machine is new and checked regularly...but, if the dentist is cheap, you never know how much radiation you get. I used to work for dentists, who "advised" assistants to stay in the room and hold a sensor ( or a film), and other assistant pushed the bottom, since they believed it's faster than to use holders and change them constantly. I always refused to do that way...why should I sacrifice myself for someone's money???It made those dentists really MAD on me. One even asked, why I don't want to "learn" from him? Learn WHAT? How to expose myself to RADIATION? Such mean and stupid people...

And another thing...I don't know who taught them...that to save money for gloves, they take them underside and then use them again. And they strongly suggest assistants to do the same...what a suks? The problem is that in 80% of cases no dentist, no assistants can't do that properly. Gloves break, or fit horribly, that it's impossible to work in them! Hands sweat in gloves, we use lotions also...so trying to do that "weird" way has no any success! Believe me, it's just wasting time. Trying to explain to "stubborn" dentists has no success ether. Who don't like to learn...I thing them...especially...from assistants.

I am working very hard to get all the credentials I can in this profession. I've considered getting my EFDA, but just not the right time nor have the $ for it. I've been a dental assistant for the past 6 years, just received my CDA license from DANB a year ago. I also received my Coronal polishing cert and I'm getting ready to take the COPA (Certified Oral Preventative Assistant) Exam. As of right now, I'm making $20.75 with very little benefits in one office and another office for $17. How much do you think I should ask for a merit increase from my two boss now?

Hi,
Does anyone know the type of pay range that in Huntsville AL? I have over 15 yrs. experience in ortho and general dentistry. Thanks for any help!

I just started about 2 weeks ago to work at a dental office. Im a CDA since Sept 8th, 2010. Im getting paid $18 per hour. He explain to me that he would pay me this amount since I do not have any previous working experience, so i believe CDA earn much more with experiece. I live in Massachusetts.

omg here in GA THE PAY IS WAYYY TO LOW FOR DENTAL ASSISTANT

In Florida is the same. LOW. To be CDA is the same as to be uneducated at all. They pay less, and hate any conversation about money. They prefer to "kick u out" and hire someone cheap. Even don't try to talk about any raise. They start to "jerk" and "jump". Do u want to laugh? They give ads about jobs and demand to write essay for them and explanation "why do u think that they should hire u", "write 3 references for them: from previous dentist, from cowoker and personal" lol What hell does it mean - personal? From my husband, from my cat or from my mother in law? lol. "We hire "right" person". What do them mean "right"? So any other, which they didn't hire are "not right"?