Dislike Dental Assisting but loves Hygiene??

Believe me the Dentist needs us more than we need them....What are they going to do when they can't even put their own gloves in the garbage. We need to know that we are a great part of this "GOD"world that the Dentist thinks he is in. If it wasn't for us...they would be lost....believe me.....

Expect more for yourself......

I think you're right about that. The dentist will always have his favourites. Even if those favourites seem to be the bullies of the office. The boss knows about it and so does his wife, "the office manager". They take her aside and give her a tap on the hand and tell her to be good once in a while. Though i believe its in her very nature to be controlling and micro-managing..thanks to those atributes she will make it to the top with the boss thinking that she has good managing skills. However, dont think that my boss(the head dentist) or his wife are unaware of her jackel and hyde personality...shes up and down depending on the day. Somedays she tries to be your best friend while other days she's glued to your hip looking for ways to control your every move. It's ok though, I not the only one who complained to the boss about her..the other DAs have as well...
Our whole office seems to be in constant turmoil..staff turn-overs mainly in reception! Reception has a lot of responsibility and all the newbies arent being taught everything there is to know. Sometimes the dental assistants including myself have to fill out preauths and send them away with the radiographs/pictures attached. We are supposed to make POST OP calls for each patient each day..hahah..we try, but sometimes we lag behind..We have staff meetings every Wednesday and it seems like at least one person each meeting has a mental break down! I just go about my buisness though, try to make the best of it..One of the dentists and I joke about renting a room in the office considering it seems like we live there anyways..we get off work so late some nights! We work for however long it takes..latest was 9pm for me. At least we have weekends off though. I find it really hard to go home and study after a hard days work..weekends and every other Friday, if Im not called into work is the only time i have to crack the books. Some say I should just force myself to be more motivated..perhaps perhaps

sarah in Mesa, Arizona said: I have been a dental hygienist for four years and I hate it. I already have hand problems, as well as neck and back issues. I can't stand dealing with office politics. I am so sick of dirty teeth, the same small confined area...saying the same thing over and over. I despise the rush all day. I wish I had done something else!!!!!

Hello, Sarah, I totally agree with you! The daily rush has burned me out. I've been practicing for 15 years and I hate all of hygiene. The office politics are full of mean back-stabbing gossip. Also, I feel like I'm "ball and chained" to the dental chair. Sometimes I imagined that I should be wearing a striped prison suit and hat. Oh, yes, and I should be wearing Depends, because I never have time to go to the bathroom. And, when I do get to the bathroom, I've had a front-desk person or an assistant bang on the door, "Hurry up, you're running behind and the patient wants to know when he or she can be taken!"

TashaDawn24 in Grande Prairie, Alberta said: Feb 3rd/09

I'm a drifter, concious of my every day of going through the motions
Nothing changes, everything although differing in ways, tends to have nothing more than simple similarities.
I am not pouting, nor am i whining...I've just come to realize the obvious.
I'm floating down a river, not sure where it goes...I'm just enjoyinging the view..going where It needs to go.
Living and breathing and at the same time fullfilling my daily responsibilies..
All for a cheque at the end of the month, a cheque that seems to dwindle fairly quickly..
Most of it goes to groceries and rent...survival isnt cheap and I believe thats all we're doing..
That's the extent of it..

Hello, Tasha, Very poignant philosophical point of view. Hygiene's repitition can often make us feel this way. So, what inside you make's you happy? What are your interests? Give me a dime tour of who you are. I'm not intentionally getting nosey. I went through a life-coach program and maybe I can help. Because, I'm tired of the bad news being reported on tv, and world problems. So, maybe we can turn a negative into a positive path where you'd be happy. I'm on my journey, and it started with one of my coaching class leaders daring me to reach out and contact someone I've admired. My dream is to work the wild mustangs of western U.S.

Then find a new career and stop whining!!!Come on everyone!! At least you are EMPLOYED!!!!

Ya, wow that is an awesome dream! I grew up on an acreage and broke horses. My horses are still in BC with my parents..I miss them, the whole country life-style...the horses the dogs:) I can't exactly have all that living in the city, studying Dental assisting/working full time and renting a nice home. My landlords wont even let me have a dog, It's understandable that owning pets may bring down the value of a home, but it doesnt change the fact that I love dogs so much and will never be able to own one until I own my own home...my landlords will never allow such a thing:( My brother doesnt even have a job right now...Grande Prairie is in recession! Maybe once he gets a job I can think about he and I renting our own place without several roomates but until then I highly doubt it.
So I guess this is my real dream! "I was runner up grande prairie stompede rodeo queen in 07," a Prairie Duster in 08...who knows what this Summer. Thats what I want though, to one day live on an acreage or ranch with horses and dogs and whatever else! Staying in rodeo, trainging border collies in agility! That's just one of my dreams. There are many different aspects to people in general..and I don't just come on here to complain about my life...I just figured that this was a forum where people like me in Dental assisting or hygiene can try to relate and help eachother thats all.
There's nothing wrong with expressing ones feelings. If everything was good all the time, how would we be able to connect on this forum? I have my good days and my bad, but for the most part I do enjoy my job..my boss has been more appreciative lately and everyone in the office seems to get along..well except for the odd girl out..but she just has her moody ups and downs, we work around her and seem to get through the day unscathed...as far as we know:)
"Say what you want and express how you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"
Dr. Seus :)

j in Calabasas, California said: Then find a new career and stop whining!!!Come on everyone!! At least you are EMPLOYED!!!!

Oh yes, right ..okay then....lets start with.....let say....a whining employer...and we should be so lucky to be employed wow

That made my day.

I've been a CDA for 3 years now, and I know the dentist who you work for plays a big role in a dental office. It's hard to find that perfect one to work for... I still haven't , which makes me want to quit. Dentist wives are always involved which makes it harder. I've worked with male and female dentist, I prefer male dentist... They are more easygoing, yet they are both moody. LOL. Today I had to work through lunch and after lunch, of how far behind we were just because the Dentist decided to keep talking with one of the patients. My hours keep getting cut every week... And because of recession Its so hard to find another job. I'm a core assistant which means I look after the main assistant , clean after, set up, develop x-rays, mount them, sterilize intruments, disinfect all rooms, then I get to assist rarely when the main assistant is still busy, like making a temp or something. Then when I rarely asssist, the Dr. Expects me to really predict what she needs next, which ok I do know 90% of the time, but if I get it wrong she gives me dirty looks and doesn't even try to be nice about it, then grabs it herself quiclky and angrily . Never makes conversation with me, I've quit trying. I've cried so many times. She always finds something to be angry about... I think it's her favorite mood. It is a private practice husband and wife dentist . I love him and everyone hates her. I'm always busy doing something or helping out, but she fails to see that, then asks me why something hasn't been done yet, like I don't know how to prioritize. Then if anythng comes in between finishin any core duties like to seat their next patient, she"ll get angry and will ask me why I didn't finish whatever I was doing . If I do otherwise and don't seat their next patient, then she gets mad. Nobody understands her. Ok I feel better now. All in all, I need a new job with a super cool dentist... But I'm really thinking about going to school for hygiene or changing
career .

Does any one know how much more money I would get if I had a B.S. in dental hygiene instead of a A.S.???

apalms in Apo said: Does any one know how much more money I would get if I had a B.S. in dental hygiene instead of a A.S.???

If you work in private practice, there is no difference.

If you go into the military and become a commisioned officer you are required to have a BS and the pay is more also. But Susann is right about private practice or corporations. It makes no difference because your license is the same. You can go into teaching or marketing with a BS. I have noticed now that I am searching for a job that many require a BS in a health care field and wish I had mine.

RDH Chicago in Chicago, Illinois said: Hello, Sarah, I totally agree with you! The daily rush has burned me out. I've been practicing for 15 years and I hate all of hygiene. The office politics are full of mean back-stabbing gossip. Also, I feel like I'm "ball and chained" to the dental chair. Sometimes I imagined that I should be wearing a striped prison suit and hat. Oh, yes, and I should be wearing Depends, because I never have time to go to the bathroom. And, when I do get to the bathroom, I've had a front-desk person or an assistant bang on the door, "Hurry up, you're running behind and the patient wants to know when he or she can be taken!"

When I just read this I had to look to see if I wrote it! You speak the truth...

dj in Glen Allen, Virginia said: Yeah, I've been a dental assistant for 12 years; At one time i thought i was going to go to hygiene school. I have finally came to a conclusion that i just hate the dental field. Working in a dentist office feels like such a dead end. You don't make nearly as much as you should and you are doing all the grunt work. The worse part is working for a lazy ass dentist that can't even throw their gloves in the trashcan and you have to go behind them to pick them up. It is the World's Most Annoying Job!!! You might as well be someones personal assistant 'cause that is what you are. I also love the fact that some dentist get stressed out. "It's not open heart surgery, it's just a tooth!" I think a brain surgeon should be more stressed.

ur comment really made me laugh. i'm an asst. and i do everything for my dentist from getting him coffee to washing his scrubs. Dentists have extreme mood swings one day he's cool the next an ass. I really want to go back to school for hygiene, I can't picture myself as an assistant forever thats for sure.

stressedoutasst. in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts said: ur comment really made me laugh. i'm an asst. and i do everything for my dentist from getting him coffee to washing his scrubs. Dentists have extreme mood swings one day he's cool the next an ass. I really want to go back to school for hygiene, I can't picture myself as an assistant forever thats for sure.

Please rethink going into Dental Hygiene! If you have read further on this site, other forums, MA and surrounding states don't have alot of R.D.H. employment available. I just don't want to see young people spending hard earned $$$, or loan's on a questionable career at this point in time. I'm not saying don't pursue it in maybe 5+ years...but with the Oversaturation, you're VERY fortunate even to find 1 day....and that's with all the R.D.H.'s using agencies, on your own, word of mouth.....ie- Nursing would allow you a CAREER, Benefits, retirement.... R.D.H.'s , I'd say 90+% DON"T receive these.....Sincerely, a Vet. R.D.H.

stressedoutasst. in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts said: ur comment really made me laugh. i'm an asst. and i do everything for my dentist from getting him coffee to washing his scrubs. Dentists have extreme mood swings one day he's cool the next an ass. I really want to go back to school for hygiene, I can't picture myself as an assistant forever thats for sure.

Just curious, do you think you won't have to get his coffee or wash his scrubs if you're the hygienist? I had to many, many times! Get there 15 minutes early off the clock and have the coffee ready and get this: No one else was allowed to have any!! He made me a checklist for each day of the week for trash, stocking the ops, scrubs washed dried and hung up, and also cleaning the bathroom. I had more of the "other" jobs than any other staff member and his reason was because I was the best at it and he could depend on me to have it done. I was also expected to work out of 3 ops on 15 - 30 min prophy's while doing all of the above. The asst's usually were outside taking a smoke break. They never once offered to help.

LOL, the dentist i work for throws her dirty gloves in the sink of my operatory and lets them piles up until i give up and have to clean up after her.

Katei in Lethbridge, Alberta said: Believe me the Dentist needs us more than we need them....What are they going to do when they can't even put their own gloves in the garbage. We need to know that we are a great part of this "GOD"world that the Dentist thinks he is in. If it wasn't for us...they would be lost....believe me.....

Expect more for yourself......

rdhme in Rosemead, California said: LOL, the dentist i work for throws her dirty gloves in the sink of my operatory and lets them piles up until i give up and have to clean up after her.

Hi, I've worked for the "slob" Dr.'s too. Unfortunately, if you want to keep your job, you have to just clean up their mess. I worked for one that would leave stuff everywhere and he was very anal and picked on all of his staff because he felt he was the authority....instead of putting things in the bucket, etc....Some are like this. I hope that he sees the light someday, and he changes (not, he's definitely one of those Dr.'s on a pedastal (sp).

TashaDawn24 in Grande Prairie, Alberta said: I heard of office politics from other dental assistants before I even decided to be one... I guess Im just a very sensitive person, though I can joke back when Im not having one of those days if you know what I mean. I know what it feels like to be the assistant now..the entire office is your boss and everybody wants you to know it! It's really stressful. I guess no matter where you go there's a pecking order but I don't want it to drive me mad! When people demand me to do things without discretion or tact whatsoever it can wear me down. When co-workers make jokes like.."youre like my little b****", how am I supposed to respond? Smile and joke back by saying..."Be careful or Ill b**** slap you," or what? Sometimes I just laugh, brush it off, do what Im supposed to cause that's what I'm being paid for right?..But I don't want the lack of respect and belittling thats going on or sooner or later I'm going to just end up hating my job. I don't want to boss others around to make up for how I'm feeling, thats just not in my nature. Welcome to the hierarchy of the dental office, I sure hope I figure out how to hold on to my self-respect and that of others when I get pushed to my limit. I guess thats when prayer comes in to play..good luck to all of you:)

Get out of that office! I have worked as an assistant for 15 yrs now and while having ups and downs with the girls, I can't imagine being treated that way! You/no one deserves that! You need to find an office that runs as a team, that one sounds disfunctunal, and I blame the dentist for allowing it to go on! Run girl, run before it breaks your spirit! No job is worth that!!!!

That's a hostile work environment if I ever heard of one! How people can be so rude and condescending I'll never understand. That doc needs a wake-up call.

C in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey said: Get out of that office! I have worked as an assistant for 15 yrs now and while having ups and downs with the girls, I can't imagine being treated that way! You/no one deserves that! You need to find an office that runs as a team, that one sounds disfunctunal, and I blame the dentist for allowing it to go on! Run girl, run before it breaks your spirit! No job is worth that!!!!

C in New Jersey is so right Dawn. Whatever it takes either step up and tell them to piss off or leave that toxic enviroment! It can and likely will make you physically sick. What kind of petty losers are these people? I hate to tell you this but I've been in this industry for over 30 years(what the what, how did that happen?) and there are more people like that than not. What is it about dentistry that makes people so mean? 525

I wonder the same thing! You can work at minimum wage jobs (unfortunately I have had a couple in the past 2 years) and the people at Cracker Barrel and Bob Evans are friendly and helpful. What is it about dentistry that makes people snap? I have never encountered such hateful and backstabbing people anywhere else. I would go to the office with a smile and looking forward to the day and be greeted with "what's so freakin good about this day" or maybe ignored altogether. But it sounds like Tashadawn is being harrassed, bullied, and humiliated. She has a lawsuit on her hands!! Girl, write everything down and get out as soon as you can...

I am seriously shocked by what I have been reading about dental offices. If my daughter was treated by anyone any where the way I am reading some people are treated in dental offices I would be in those peoples faces. No one any where should be treated with such abuse, dental office or not. I would rather scrub toliets.

I worked for a doc who would throw dirty floss, his gloves, mirrors whatever on the floor during his exam then just get up and walk off. I picked it up for about 3 months then one day I just went to the break room, got on my cell phone and when he stormed in there screaming I had a pt, I told him I was waiting on the maid to come pick up his trash then I'd seat him and get right on it. Ha-ha. He was irate! He sent the asst to get everything. Then the next time he started to throw the floss I said "ought oh, you almost threw that on the floor".
"we wouldn't want our patients to report us to the board of health!". I quit shortly after but I felt better sticking up for myself. Some docs are just plain a%&holes. God complex.

Get a life!!!!!!! If you don't like it, find another career!!!!!!!!!

LQQKING in Fort Worth, Texas said: I am seriously shocked by what I have been reading about dental offices. If my daughter was treated by anyone any where the way I am reading some people are treated in dental offices I would be in those peoples faces. No one any where should be treated with such abuse, dental office or not. I would rather scrub toliets.

Believe me..there are many great offices out there, also. Please don't stereotype all dentistry because of a few posts from employees that have been in difficult situations.

j said: Get a life!!!!!!! If you don't like it, find another career!!!!!!!!!

You are a ....! If you are not an R.D.H., you don't know what some have encountered...are you a Dentist?....??? We are stating what happened...maybe you (if you are an R.D.H.???), are fortunate to have found a wonderful practice...stop being nasty.

There are a few great offices out there. As well as the many horrible offices where the assistants are treated with a condecening attitude, treated terribly, yelled at, sexually harassed, etc.

That's the reality. Find a good office; it's great. Otherwise, be prepared. Be prepared to get fed up with it and change careers. Sad reality, but true.

The dentist who treat their staff this way should be ashamed. They know who they are. I have moved on and have my own successful business (hello, dentists...there are some great assistants/hygienists out there that you treated so poorly and turns out...wow...they really are smart after all!)

And we treat our employees decently and can retain staff and not have the constant turn over. 'Nuff said. heh heh heh

Jenny in New Port Richey, Florida said: There are a few great offices out there. As well as the many horrible offices where the assistants are treated with a condecening attitude, treated terribly, yelled at, sexually harassed, etc.

That's the reality. Find a good office; it's great. Otherwise, be prepared. Be prepared to get fed up with it and change careers. Sad reality, but true.

The dentist who treat their staff this way should be ashamed. They know who they are. I have moved on and have my own successful business (hello, dentists...there are some great assistants/hygienists out there that you treated so poorly and turns out...wow...they really are smart after all!)

And we treat our employees decently and can retain staff and not have the constant turn over. 'Nuff said. heh heh heh

what type of business do you have now?

I have been reading this board trying to find closure and it really is helping me to read what it could be like. I could share my sad story but am afraid that someone would read it.....not that it should matter because it doesn't.

Susann in Columbus, Ohio said: Believe me..there are many great offices out there, also. Please don't stereotype all dentistry because of a few posts from employees that have been in difficult situations.

I was only responding to what I was reading... not just on this message board but others as well...I guess it all just got to me..there are posts about mean bosses on other boards that are just shocking and uncalled for....no one should have to put up with abuse from anyone at any job.....

Everyone has a bad day. I'm not talking about one bad day.

I worked in a great office for many years. Treated very well and well paid. Then I moved.

Maybe a different culture and lack of work ethics in this area. I went from a job where I was well paid and treated with respect to an absolute nightmare. And I did something I had never done before. Moved from job to job for a few years trying to find the right "fit."

I didn't fit in the offices where I was harassed and treated like less than a human. My bad. lol

I actually always got along with my co-workers, hygienists, front office. I am easy going and easy to get along with. Patients liked me. The dentists were another story.

To make it short, they were very mean. I refuse to live my life being humiliated in front of patients and made to feel as if I am not an educated individual. I think it's very sad that people treat others that way. I loved assisting until I worked in some really bad environments which had really great staff, but horrible, impossible to please, dentists.

And they are probably sitting there right now still wondering why they have such high turnover.

It costs them, as a business. In higher insurance costs, the costs of training, etc.

What I'm doing now is far removed from dentistry. I miss it, but I love what I am doing and you have to decide your own path in the end.

Get out of the Dental field. I have been a Hygienist and only a Hygienist for 20 years. It is a dead end career with no advancement except Dental school. You have to constantly, in my experience chase the Drs or management around, sometimes for 2 plus years just to get a raise, which is a measly dollar.
The front desk squeezes my patients in like cattle. I get a half hour per quadrant for a Class III or IV perio. patient. That includes the time to probe and administer aneth. The patients are getting ripped off from quality care, but don't have a clue. I am leaving this office, as I have hit the bottom of the barrel in this one. But believe me, they are all not good.. Maybe once in a blue moon someone will find a decent one, but all in all the field is miserable. All my college friends from 20 years ago are hating this job as much as me and their offices are pretty much the same. Stressful, cheap and you do not get as much respect as you may think. Find a better and happier way to go to college and study hard for four years.. Hygiene was the BIGGEST mistake of my life.
I don't know one college grad. who has been doing it over ten years that says if only I knew, I would have NEVER done this..

Beccann61 in Westerly, Rhode Island said: Get out of the Dental field. I have been a Hygienist and only a Hygienist for 20 years. It is a dead end career with no advancement except Dental school. You have to constantly, in my experience chase the Drs or management around, sometimes for 2 plus years just to get a raise, which is a measly dollar.
The front desk squeezes my patients in like cattle. I get a half hour per quadrant for a Class III or IV perio. patient. That includes the time to probe and administer aneth. The patients are getting ripped off from quality care, but don't have a clue. I am leaving this office, as I have hit the bottom of the barrel in this one. But believe me, they are all not good.. Maybe once in a blue moon someone will find a decent one, but all in all the field is miserable. All my college friends from 20 years ago are hating this job as much as me and their offices are pretty much the same. Stressful, cheap and you do not get as much respect as you may think. Find a better and happier way to go to college and study hard for four years.. Hygiene was the BIGGEST mistake of my life.
I don't know one college grad. who has been doing it over ten years that says if only I knew, I would have NEVER done this..

I have been in the dental field for over 27 years as a receptionist, assistant & hygienist. I get bored of the field but I really do like what I do as a hygienist. I have run across some bad offices but generally most of the offices I have been in were great. I left most jobs due to life circumstances. I may have worked in smaller centers where the dental community was closer knit but I didn't apply for the "stay away from that office" offices. There is definitely reasons to stay away from those offices. As for a dead end job, I don't find it so dead end with the advent of private clinicss, teaching in both the assisting & hygiene programs, research assistants, hospital dental. You just have to find your space.

smile in Calgary, Alberta said: I have been in the dental field for over 27 years as a receptionist, assistant & hygienist. I get bored of the field but I really do like what I do as a hygienist. I have run across some bad offices but generally most of the offices I have been in were great. I left most jobs due to life circumstances. I may have worked in smaller centers where the dental community was closer knit but I didn't apply for the "stay away from that office" offices. There is definitely reasons to stay away from those offices. As for a dead end job, I don't find it so dead end with the advent of private clinicss, teaching in both the assisting & hygiene programs, research assistants, hospital dental. You just have to find your space.

Something else I wanted to add. I HATED dental assisting. That is a dead end job with very few opportunities outside a dental office. It doesn't matter how good the dentist is, believe it or not, that job is more repetitive than hygiene. & I didn't pay for an education to clean which is a huge part of the job. Cleaning ladies make more money than an assistant & they didn't go to school. As hygienists, you feel taken advantage of but some assistants do have it worse. This, I do believe, causes alot of anamosity in offices. Nobody is shown any appreciation for the work they do. Most hygienists I know do like their jobs. Those that don't are the 1s that went in for the money. Don't do anything just for the money. Take a look at all the miserable dentists out there that did.

I just started as a dental assistant in a pediatric office and I must say that I work my ass off in that place. Cleaning, setting up, taking blows from the doctor who is so egotistic it'll make you sick. I HATE IT. The other day we had a patient come in and asked to permanently see another doctor due to the way she saw him treat one of the assistants. And I'm damn happy about that! I'm glad that others are seeing the way we're treated and are demanding to see a differnt doctor. I strongly dilike being the doctors b****.
For those of you that love it, congrats. More power to you!
Its definitely not something I can see myself doing forever. Working six days a week doing the dirty work for someone else. Might as well take the same job title as Janitor.

I'm really trying to make the best of my job, I'm not a super hero like some of the favourites but I try as a student assistant. At our office we are expected to do many expanded duties..even reception dealing with preauths, insurance, payments, booking crown and bridge. There is so much to remember and its so easy to make a mistake. The sad thing is that I want to make the boss happy, I want to learn how to be well rounded, but the more that I am responsible for, chances are, the heat falls down on me. Little things can really upset me when I do something wrong that I don't realize or I don't remember because I havent retained the information that I need, I dont do it enough. For instance, there was a pt named Tim and I was the one who was supposed to send out his preauth, check for it when it comes back 3 weeks later, call him up if we havent received it and then try to book him in for a consult. So I called him back and he got the info from Manulife and did not want to go through with treatment! Supposively insurance was only going to cover like $500 of the crown and the crown was between $1400-$1600..understandably; I wrote a note in the computer saying that Tim doesnt want to go through with treatment. I elaborated a little more but you get the idea. Anways, a receptionist came to the back while I was cleaing a room and took a tantrom because I didnt delete Tim's pre-booked crown appt. What was she talking about I asked myself? Why would someone prebook an appt when he didnt even want to go through with it and we had no idea what his insurance was covering.I was the one following through with this pt,why was someone else pre-booking him an appt? I asked. I guess I learnt that all crown and bridge appts are pre-booked and that I should have looked in the computer and noticed the 10 unit appt.There are other mistakes that I make sometimes and the receptionists compare me to the other assistants, I go home feeling empty. Am I a late bloomer?

mpjp in Bristow, Virginia said: I was a dental assistant for 7 years before getting into hygiene and I love it you dont get the slave feeling

I've been an assistant for 15yrs and I've never felt like a slave, nor would I ever work for someone who treated me that way. Too bad you did for so long.

I am a Hygienist, my education is underappreciated by everyone, It's hard to find a job more and more hygiene programs are opening and dental schools are closing and since dentists regulate everything a hygienist does the outlook for hygiene is not great, if everyone was educated about what a hygienist does and the education required to become a hygienist maybe we could align our forces to make the occupation go somewhere. I do love Hygiene I love seeing someone health and smile improve and I like working on my own....but not finding a job for so long after college put me deep into debt and I wouldn't do it over again, I would have research another health profession.

I am from Grande Prairie and want to get into dental assisting. I have always been intrested in the Dental feild but from reading all this makes me think twice. It seems like nobody really like there job. Is there anyone out there who actually enjoys it!?

Natasha in Grande Prairie, Alberta said: I am from Grande Prairie and want to get into dental assisting. I have always been intrested in the Dental feild but from reading all this makes me think twice. It seems like nobody really like there job. Is there anyone out there who actually enjoys it!?

Natasha, I LOVE my job as an assistant. I'm actually a Registered Dental Assistant. The thing is that you need to find a doctor you are comfortable with. Best thing to do, is to become a DA, then become a RDA (or CDA depending what there is where you're from).